Welcome back to Driving the Dream — the podcast by US Dealer Licensing where we sit down with real wholesale auto dealers to hear their stories, their struggles, and their success. In this episode, USDL’s own Jenny Fieler sits down with Rafael Godinez of Grand Motors in southern Chicago — a longtime USDL partner who first got licensed back in 2016.
Rafael’s journey is one of the most honest and relatable stories we have heard. He went from a nine-to-five automotive technician with no schedule control to a licensed wholesale dealer, LLC owner, nonprofit partner, and first-time father who did not miss a single doctor’s appointment. If you are on the fence about whether getting your wholesale dealer license is worth it, Rafael’s story will answer that question for you.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
In this conversation, Rafael walks us through:
- What pushed him to leave the nine-to-five grind and find a better way
- How he discovered USDL through an auto auction and what happened next
- The moment he drove an hour with a failing transmission just to sign his paperwork
- How getting his wholesale auto dealer license changed his daily life and gave him freedom of time
- How he now partners with nonprofits and teaches others through his LLC structure
- Why he calls operating as a proper business entity one of the best moves you can make in this country
From Automotive Technician to Business Owner
Before partnering with USDL, Rafael was working as an automotive technician — skilled at his craft but stuck in a schedule he did not control. He wanted to break free but was not sure how. A friend had already gotten a dealer license through another route, and Rafael explored a trade arrangement that never materialized. That dead end turned into a turning point.
“If somebody doesn’t want to teach you the game, you’ve got to go out and learn it,” Rafael said.
He started doing his own research, and that research led him to an auto auction in the Chicago area. While he was there picking up a vehicle for his employer, he asked around at the dealer’s desk — and that is where he met Dino from US Dealer Licensing.
The Hour-Long Drive With a Failing Transmission
What happened next is the kind of story that sticks with you. Rafael was so ready to move forward that he drove an hour to the USDL office in Chicago Heights — even though his transmission was going out.
“I said, you know what, either I’m gonna break down and get stranded somewhere, or I’m gonna go sign this paperwork today,” Rafael told Jenny. “Made my down payment. Next thing you know, I’m up and running.”
That level of commitment is exactly what separates the people who talk about getting licensed from the people who actually do it. Rafael was done waiting.
What Life Looks Like After Getting Licensed
Ten years later, the difference is clear. Rafael controls his own schedule, runs a legitimate business entity, and has built partnerships that extend well beyond buying and selling cars. When his daughter was born, he was present for six straight days during labor and did not miss a single prenatal appointment.
“Those times are priceless,” he said. “Being able to experience that at my tender age of 36, first time father — to me it means the world.”
He now uses his LLC structure to partner with nonprofits, teach automotive repair, and help others understand how to operate as a proper business. His access to dealer-only auctions gives him an unlimited supply of vehicles and parts. The dealer plates alone, he says, feel like an American right — the ability to move freely on the road without the usual registration hurdles.
What Is a Wholesale Auto Dealer License?
A wholesale auto dealer license gives you legal access to dealer-only auto auctions across all 50 states — Manheim, ADESA, Copart, IAAI, and more. Without one, most states limit you to buying and selling only a handful of vehicles per year. With one, those restrictions are gone and you are operating as a legitimate business entity.
At US Dealer Licensing, we handle the entire process — LLC or Corp setup, state application, zoning, FEIN, and wholesale dealer plates — getting you licensed in 30–60 days. You focus on your business. We handle the paperwork.
About Grand Motors
Grand Motors is a wholesale auto dealer operation based in southern Chicago, owned and operated by Rafael Godinez. In the 10 years since getting licensed through USDL, Rafael has grown from a solo dealer to a business owner with nonprofit partnerships, auction access across all 50 states, and a reputation for teaching others how to operate in the automotive space. Grand Motors is proof of what is possible when you take the right first step.
Ready to Write Your Own Story?
Rafael’s story started with one decision — to stop waiting and go sign the paperwork. Dealers like him across all 50 states have trusted US Dealer Licensing to get them licensed and into the auction lanes.
If you are ready to take that step, get started today. You can also learn more about how the process works, browse our frequently asked questions, or explore what a wholesale dealer license can do for your business. Whether you are brand new or already in the automotive world, we can get you licensed.
New episodes of Driving the Dream drop regularly. Subscribe on YouTube so you never miss a conversation.
