Selling a car on Sunday in Michigan is legal if you’re a private owner, but off-limits for licensed dealerships in any county with more than 130,000 residents. The restriction comes from Act 66 of 1953, codified at MCL 435.251, which makes Sunday vehicle sales by a business a misdemeanor in those counties.1Michigan Legislature. Michigan Code 435.251 – Sale of Motor Vehicles on Sunday (Excerpt)
Where the Ban Applies
MCL 435.254 exempts counties with fewer than 130,000 residents based on the most recent federal census.2Michigan Legislature. Act 66 of 1953 – Sale of Motor Vehicles on Sunday Based on the 2020 Census, 17 counties are covered:3Michigan Legislature. Official 2020 Census Counts for Michigan Counties, Cities, Townships and Villages
- Wayne
- Oakland
- Macomb
- Kent
- Genesee
- Washtenaw
- Ottawa
- Ingham
- Kalamazoo
- Livingston
- Saginaw
- Muskegon
- St. Clair
- Jackson
- Monroe
- Berrien
- Calhoun
Dealerships in the Detroit metro area, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Kalamazoo, and the other population centers are closed for sales on Sunday. In the state’s smaller, more rural counties, a dealership can operate normally that day, and buyers sometimes find a lot open just across a county line.
What Counts as a Sunday Sale
The statute reaches well beyond signing a contract. A covered dealership cannot sell, trade, offer, negotiate, or handle paperwork for a vehicle on Sunday, and must keep the business closed for any sales-related purpose.1Michigan Legislature. Michigan Code 435.251 – Sale of Motor Vehicles on Sunday (Excerpt) Service and parts departments are outside the law’s scope, so repairs and parts sales can continue on Sunday.
Online transactions aren’t carved out. The 1953 statute has never been updated to address digital sales, and Michigan’s Uniform Electronic Transactions Act treats e-signatures and electronic records as equivalent to paper.4Michigan Legislature. Uniform Electronic Transactions Act A dealership in a covered county that processes an online purchase, takes a digital deposit, or e-signs a sales contract on Sunday is likely violating the same prohibition that applies on the showroom floor.
Private Sellers Are Not Affected
The law targets businesses “in the business of” selling vehicles. If you’re selling your own car to a neighbor on a Sunday afternoon, Act 66 doesn’t apply.1Michigan Legislature. Michigan Code 435.251 – Sale of Motor Vehicles on Sunday (Excerpt) The distinction is commercial activity versus a private, one-off transaction, and the county you live in makes no difference for a private sale.
The Sabbath Observer Exception
MCL 435.252 exempts a dealer who genuinely observes the Sabbath from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday and closes for all vehicle sales and secular business during that period.5Michigan Legislature. Michigan Code 435.252 – Conducting Business on Sunday; Exception Few dealerships use it, because giving up Saturday means losing one of the strongest shopping days of the week.
Penalties for a Dealership
A violation is a misdemeanor. The statute lets the court impose a fine, jail time, suspension or revocation of the dealer’s license, or any combination.6Michigan Legislature. Michigan Code 435.253 – Violation of Act; Penalty Because Act 66 sets no specific amount, Michigan’s general misdemeanor provision governs: up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $500.7Michigan Legislature. Michigan Code 750.504 – Misdemeanor; Punishment When Not Prescribed The license consequence is the one that drives compliance. A $500 fine is minor; losing the license to sell cars at all is not.