Thanks to the nation's Christian heritage, numerous blue laws remain in effect across the country. These regulations restrict or prohibit sales of specific goods and certain activities on Sundays, covering items from liquor to apparel and even horse racing events. In the 1961 Supreme Court decision McGowan v. Maryland, justices upheld these measures as providing a consistent rest day for employees while preserving the separation between religion and government.

Among these rules are restrictions on automobile transactions. This explains why many dealerships stay quiet on Sundays in certain regions. Laws differ by state, much like varying traffic regulations that change upon crossing borders. Thirteen states enforce blue laws that specifically prohibit car sales on Sundays, sparing buyers from typical showroom pressures on that day. Additional states impose hour limits instead of full bans or allow alternative days off.

State-Specific Bans and Limitations

The following thirteen states maintain Sunday restrictions on vehicle sales: New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, and Wisconsin. Pennsylvania prohibits buying, selling, exchanging, or trading new or used motor vehicles and trailers on Sundays unless a notary authorized by the state transportation department is present, which can be difficult to arrange.

Several other states set operating hour limits for dealerships on Sundays. Maryland handles rules at the county level, allowing full bans, time restrictions, or shifts to another weekday off. Texas and Utah permit dealerships to select either Saturday or Sunday as their closed day. Michigan, Nevada, North Dakota, and Rhode Island also cap Sunday hours.

Not all such laws date back to state founding eras. Illinois enacted its Sunday ban only in 1984, and later proposals have sought flexibility similar to Texas and Utah by recognizing that Jewish and Muslim communities observe different holy days. Blue laws persist today, affecting thirteen states with outright bans or limits on Sunday car sales. Buyers planning purchases should check local rules, especially when traveling between states.