Sale of motor vehicles on Sunday prohibited, exceptions
In Missouri, car dealers, distributors, and manufacturers are not allowed to open their business on Sundays to buy or sell cars. There are exceptions — this rule does not apply to things like motorcycles, ATVs, boats, manufactured homes, recreational vehicles, car repairs, towing, gas, tires, or car shows with five or more dealers. A dealer group encouraging members to stay closed on Sundays does not break trade laws. Breaking this rule is a class C misdemeanor.
Classifications stated in the statute. Actual outcomes vary.
578.120. Sale of motor vehicles on Sunday prohibited, exceptions — encouragement by certain associations to remain closed on Sundays not a violation of laws — violations, . — 1. any in this chapter to the contrary, no , or licensed under section 301.559 may keep open, operate, or assist in keeping open or operating any established place of business for the purpose of buying, selling, or exchanging, or offering for sale, or exchange, any motor vehicle, whether new or used, on Sunday. However, this section does not apply to the sale of ; the sale of recreational motor vehicles; the sale of motorcycles as that term is defined in section 301.010; the sale of motortricycles, motorized bicycles, electric bicycles as defined in section 300.010, all-terrain vehicles, , vehicles, , or other motorized vehicles customarily sold by licensed sections 301.550 to 301.560; washing, towing, wrecking or repairing operations; the sale of petroleum products, tires, and and accessories; or new vehicle shows or displays participated in by five or more or in towns or cities with five or fewer dealers, a majority.
2. No association consisting of motor vehicle dealers, distributors or manufacturers licensed under section 301.559 shall be in violation of antitrust or statutes under chapter 416 or thereunder solely because it encourages its members not to open or operate on Sunday a place of business for the purpose of buying, selling, bartering or exchanging any motor vehicle.
3. Any person who violates the of this section shall be guilty of a .
Tap any gold-underlined word to see what it means.
Source & history notes
(L. 1985 H.B. 154 §§ 1, 2, A.L. 1986 H.B. 1153, A.L. 1988 H.B. 1512, A.L. 2014 H.B. 1735 & 1618, A.L. 2021 S.B. 176)
Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.