Entry: wholesale auctions (Manheim foremost) restrict bidding to holders of state dealer licenses. Verified requirements for such a license, sampled across several states: application with background check, surety bond, commercial premises meeting zoning, insurance, and periodic renewal. The restriction is structural — trade pricing requires a trade-only pool.
Buyer-relevant finding: 'auction-sourced' claims by retail sellers are only verifiable through the license chain. The index asks sellers for the license or credential that made their purchases; the quality of the answer is recorded in their case file.