If you are planning on selling or arranging travel on land, air, or water in the state of California, you will first need to get licensed as a California Seller of Travel.
California Seller of Travel law is the strictest and most complex of all state seller of travel laws. Contact the California Department of Justice if you have questions about the process.
- Email: Sellers.Travel@doj.ca.gov
- Phone: (213) 269-6564
Short on time? Check out our “4 Easy Steps To Get Your Seller of Travel License” post.
How to Become a Registered Seller of Travel in California
Step #1: Complete California Seller of Travel Application
Step #2: Obtain only ONE of the following 3 financial requirements:
- A trust account – an account that holds client payments in trust
- A California Seller of Travel Bond
- Consumer protection deposit plan – only via application to the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) More information can be found here.
Many applicants choose to purchase a California Seller of Travel Bond from a licensed surety bond provider. A CA Seller of Travel Bond protects the clients you serve and guarantees that any travel funds or bookings you collect will be properly transferred to the appropriate individuals.
Your CA Seller of Travel Bond must be “adequate” to cover the amount that would be required to be held in a trust account if you were to have chosen that option.
The price you’ll pay to get your bond is a small fraction of the entire bond amount. You can see how much you’d pay by clicking the link below to generate free quotes.
Get free California Seller of Travel Bond quotes
Step #3: Include the registration fee with your application
Registration fee calculator can be found on page 6 of the application packet.
Step #4: Participate in the Travel Consumer Restitution Fund (TCRF) if necessary
Requirements are listed on page 7 of the application packet.
Step #5: Submit
Submit your California Seller of Travel License Application packet and all other paperwork to the address below:
Seller of Travel Program
Office of the Attorney General
Department of Justice
300 South Spring Street, Suite 1702
Los Angeles, CA 90013-1230
You can also email or fax your forms.
Email: sellers.travel@doj.ca.gov
Fax: (213) 897-8846
It can take up to 14 business days to process your seller of travel forms.
If you have questions about the application process, visit the California Department of Justice California Seller of Travel FAQ page.
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