New York · NY · Vehicles
New York: Can car dealerships open on Sundays?
Sunday sales allowed
New York allows Sunday car sales; its old Sunday selling ban was struck down by the state's top court in 1976.
General Business Law § 9, which bans most public selling on Sunday, is still printed in the state's laws, but New York's Court of Appeals declared it and § 12 unconstitutional in People v. Abrahams (1976). Other old Sabbath sections on Sunday labor remain on the books but were not part of that ruling. The dealer registration law has no Sunday rule, so this answer is an inference.
What the law says
pervasive ambiguity of section 12 we declare both of these sections unconstitutional
Sources
- N.Y. General Business Law § 9 (Public traffic on Sunday) Official · nysenate.gov
- N.Y. Vehicle and Traffic Law § 415 (dealer registration) Official · nysenate.gov
- People v. Abrahams, 40 N.Y.2d 277 (1976), excerpt via CourtListener Secondary · courtlistener.com
Confirm with the state
- Agency
- New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (businesses regulated by DMV)
- Website
- dmv.ny.gov
How bordering states compare
- Connecticut Sunday sales allowedConnecticut allows Sunday car sales; its old Sunday business ban is still printed but was held unconstitutional by the state Supreme Court.
- Massachusetts Sunday sales allowedMassachusetts lets stores and shops open and sell at retail on Sunday, and has no Sunday rule aimed at car dealers.
- New Jersey Sunday car sales bannedNew Jersey bans buying, selling, or exchanging motor vehicles as a business on Sunday statewide.
- Pennsylvania Sunday car sales bannedPennsylvania makes it an offense to be in the business of buying or selling cars on Sunday.
- Vermont Sunday sales allowedVermont has no state law that stops car dealers from selling on Sunday.