NAICS 423110

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the federal standard for classifying business establishments to support statistical reporting on the U.S. economy. Developed under the Office of Management and Budget and first adopted in 1997, it is revised every five years; the current vintage is 2022. It was jointly developed by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to ensure comparability across North America. ¹

NAICS 423110 covers merchant wholesalers primarily engaged in distributing new and used passenger automobiles, trucks, trailers, and other motor vehicles (including motorcycles, motor homes, and snowmobiles). It applies to inventory-bearing establishments selling on their own account; agents and brokers are classified elsewhere (see NAICS 425120). Retail dealers of new or used motor vehicles fall under the Retail Trade sector, not 423110. ²

See also on G2X:

• G2X — NAICS 423110 overview
• G2X — NAICS 423120 (Motor Vehicle Supplies and New Parts)
• G2X — PSC 2310 (Passenger Motor Vehicles)

What this NAICS covers

• Wholesale distribution of new and used passenger automobiles and light trucks to retailers, fleets, and other institutional buyers. ²
• Wholesale distribution of medium- and heavy-duty trucks, truck tractors, and specialized motor vehicles. ²
• Wholesale distribution of trailers for on-road motor vehicles. ²
• Wholesale distribution of “other” motor vehicles such as motorcycles, motor homes, and snowmobiles. ²
• Sales conducted on the merchant wholesaler’s own account (inventory-bearing), not as commission-only agents or brokers (see NAICS 425120). ²
• Ancillary wholesale services typical of merchant wholesalers (e.g., sorting, labeling) without transforming the vehicle. Not specified by official sources. ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

SBA small business size standard for NAICS 423110

• The SBA size standard for NAICS 423110 is 250 employees. ³
• Wholesale and Retail Trade firms offering supplies may qualify as “nonmanufacturers” at 500 or fewer employees if they meet the requirements of 13 CFR 121.406. ³

Boundary and exclusion notes

• Retail sale of new automobiles and light trucks is classified in NAICS 441110; retail sale of used cars is NAICS 441120. ²
• Agents and brokers arranging sales on a commission or fee basis are classified in NAICS 425120, not 423110. ²
• Wholesale of new/used tires is NAICS 423130; wholesale of used motor vehicle parts is NAICS 423140. ²

Federal market context

• Census’ Annual Wholesale Trade Survey reported 2022 sales of $1,106.9 billion for the broader Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers subsector (NAICS 4231), underscoring the scale of wholesale channels that include 423110. ⁴
• The Economic Census publishes national and selected geographic statistics for Sector 42 (Wholesale Trade), including industries related to 423110. ⁶

Frequently asked questions

• What businesses fall under NAICS 423110?

  • Establishments that wholesale new and used passenger vehicles, trucks, trailers, and other motor vehicles (e.g., motorcycles, motor homes, snowmobiles) on their own account. Commission-only agents and brokers are excluded and placed in NAICS 425120. ²

• Does NAICS 423110 include retail car dealerships?

  • No. Retail new car dealers are classified in NAICS 441110 and retail used car dealers in NAICS 441120. Wholesale merchant wholesalers of vehicles remain in 423110. ²

• What is the SBA small business size standard for 423110?

  • The current SBA size standard is 250 employees for NAICS 423110. The nonmanufacturer rule may apply at 500 employees when offering supplies, provided all criteria in 13 CFR 121.406 are met. Check solicitations for clause usage. ³

• Which PSC codes commonly align with wholesale motor vehicles?

  • Common PSCs include 2310 (Passenger Motor Vehicles) and 2320 (Trucks and Truck Tractors). Depending on the scope, 2330 (Trailers) may also be relevant for trailer transactions or combined vehicle-trailer procurements. ⁵

• Where can official statistics for this industry be found?

  • The Economic Census Sector 42 pages provide detailed tables for Wholesale Trade. Time-series estimates for the motor vehicle wholesaling subsector (NAICS 4231) are published in the Annual Wholesale Trade Survey releases. ⁶

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 423110
• U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS overview: https://www.census.gov/naics/
• U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 NAICS search for 423110: https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=423110&year=2022
• U.S. Small Business Administration — Table of Small Business Size Standards (effective March 17, 2023): https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/Table%20of%20Size%20Standards_Effective%20March%2017%2C%202023%20%282%29.pdf
• U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 Economic Census, Sector 42 (Wholesale Trade): https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2022/econ/economic-census/naics-sector-42.html

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS: https://www.census.gov/naics/
2. U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 NAICS search result for 423110: https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=423110&year=2022
3. U.S. Small Business Administration — Table of Small Business Size Standards (effective March 17, 2023): https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/Table%20of%20Size%20Standards_Effective%20March%2017%2C%202023%20%282%29.pdf
4. U.S. Census Bureau — Annual Wholesale Trade Survey (2022 results): https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2024/annual-wholesale-trade-survey.html
5. Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement PGI 208.70 — Coordinated Acquisition (PSC references 2310, 2320, 2330): https://www.acquisition.gov/dfarspgi/pgi-208.70-coordinated-acquisition
6. U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 Economic Census, Sector 42 (Wholesale Trade): https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2022/econ/economic-census/naics-sector-42.html