We know. The title probably made you screw up your face and ask “why would selling a car on a Sunday be illegal?” Well, follow us down this short, but informative rabbit hole…
Evidently, it is illegal to buy and/or sell a car on the first day of the week (which settles the debate on whether the week starts on Sunday or Monday, yea?). Fortunately, this law only applies in 19 of the 50 United States of America.
With the auto industry being such a staple of American business, it’s surprising that there would be a restriction on what day cars could be purchased. Where exactly did that bit of legislation come from?
Blue Laws
The origin of the law forbidding the purchase of cars on Sundays is in blue laws: legislature created based upon religious reasoning. Blue laws originated in 1781 and impacted everything from car sales to liquor purchases. Ultimately, most of them were eventually repealed.
However, there are still some Blue laws that are still enforced and go beyond the scope of religion. In regards to car sales, dealerships are often open every day of the week with customers never in short supply. The laws remain in order to give those dealerships a day off.
The “No Sunday Sales” States
While the law barring sale and purchase of cars on Sundays is no longer nationwide, there are still 19 states that adhere to it. 12 of these states take the heavy-handed approach and bar the sale of cars on Sundays within their borders completely. 7 of them have only limited Sunday car sales to specific hours within particular counties.
12 States with Outright Ban
- Pennsylvania
- Maine
- Missouri
- Minnesota
- Wisconsin
- Indiana
- Oklahoma
- Colorado
- Iowa
- Illinois
- New Jersey
- Louisiana
7 States with Partial Restrictions
- North Dakota
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Nevada
- Rhode Island
- Utah
- Texas
Sunday Sales Ban Reception
With one less day to sell cars, you would think that dealerships under this jurisdiction would be against the legislation. However, the opposite is often true. Many dealerships actually champion the protection and enforcement of this particular piece of legislature.
Dealership owners and car salespeople have pushed back on lifting the ban on Sunday sales, citing the logistical complications that repealing the ban would cause. Their inability to negotiate with financial institutions on Sundays (because banks and credit unions are closed then) would make their car sales process more complex.
Furthermore, that extra day of work meant there was no objective “rest day” for the staff, which would likely lead to increased turnover rates.
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How Can I Legally Sell A Car On A Sunday?
If you’ve got a car to get off your hands, but you’re in a state and/or county that doesn’t allow car sales on Sunday, don’t fret. That’s exactly why CarBrain operates the way we do.
CarBrain provides an online platform with a focus on convenience for the customer. If you’ve got a car to get off your hands, but are within a region where car sales are restricted on Sundays, contact us!
Once you’ve been connected with one of our associate buyers, you’ll receive a quote for your vehicle. There’s no obligation and your offer is valid for up to seven days. However, if time is of the essence, then our associate will immediately connect you with one of our local service providers.
Service providers will schedule a tow at your convenience, with 24-28 hours being the earliest. They will send a tow truck, FREE of charge, to haul your vehicle away. In exchange, they hand over the amount you were quoted — no haggling whatsoever!