Maine: Can car dealerships open on Sundays?
Maine bans buying, selling, or trading new or used cars on Sunday, and bars dealers from opening their lots.
The ban covers being in the car business on Sunday, opening a dealership or lot to do that business, and buying or selling vehicles that day. A violation is a Class E strict-liability crime, and a dealer can lose its dealer plates. There is an exception for motor homes, and a general state exemption for people who observe Saturday as their Sabbath.
What the law says
1. Sales of motor vehicles on Sunday prohibited. Except as provided in section 3203-A, on Sunday a person may not: A. Carry on or engage in the business of buying, selling, exchanging, dealing or trading in new or used motor vehicles; B. Open any place of business or lot in which that person attempts to or does engage in the business of buying, selling, exchanging, dealing or trading in new or used motor vehicles; or C. Buy, sell, exchange, deal or trade in new or used motor vehicles. 2. Penalty. A person who violates this section commits a Class E crime.
Sources
- 17 M.R.S. § 3203 (Sales of motor vehicles prohibited) Official · legislature.maine.gov
- 17 M.R.S. § 3209 (Saturday as holy day) Official · legislature.maine.gov
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Dealer Licensing
- Website
- maine.gov
How bordering states compare
- New Hampshire Sunday sales allowedNew Hampshire repealed its Sunday business law in 2016 and has no rule against Sunday car sales.