Iowa: Can car dealerships open on Sundays?
Iowa bars licensed dealers from buying or selling new or used cars at retail on Sunday.
The ban covers doing business on Sunday and also advertising or presenting yourself as doing business that day. It applies to licensed dealers directly and through their agents, salespeople, and employees. The only exception in the provision is for large mobile homes, which are outside this topic.
What the law says
A person licensed under this chapter shall not, either directly or through an agent, salesperson, or employee, engage in this state, or represent or advertise that the person is engaged or intends to engage in this state, in the business of buying or selling at retail new or used motor vehicles, other than mobile homes more than eight feet in width or more than thirty-two feet in length as defined in section 321.1, on the first day of the week, commonly known and designated as Sunday.
Sources
- Iowa Code § 322.3(9) (2026) Official · legis.iowa.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Iowa Department of Transportation, Vehicle Services Office (dealer licensing)
- Phone
- 515-239-1101
- Website
- iowadot.gov
How bordering states compare
- Illinois Sunday car sales bannedIllinois bars car dealers from being open to sell or lease new or used cars on Sunday.
- Minnesota Sunday car sales bannedMinnesota bans car dealers from buying, selling, or opening a lot to sell motor vehicles on Sunday.
- Missouri Sunday car sales bannedMissouri bars licensed car dealers from opening to buy, sell, or trade motor vehicles on Sunday.
- Nebraska Sunday sales allowedNebraska's motor vehicle dealer law contains no rule against selling cars on Sunday.
- South Dakota Sunday sales allowedSouth Dakota has no state law that stops licensed dealers from selling cars on Sunday.
- Wisconsin Sunday car sales bannedWisconsin bans car dealers from staying open on Sunday to buy, sell, or lease vehicles.