What are the texting rules for car salespeople in the US?
Short answer
Text people who asked to hear from you, like a lead who inquired about a car. Stop the moment someone says stop. Keep sales texts between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. in the customer’s time zone (earlier cutoffs apply in some states, like Florida). Be careful with marketing blasts to people who never inquired. And send from a registered business number, because US carriers block unregistered business texting. This is general information, not legal advice.
The federal basics
- Texts count as calls. The FCC applies the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) to text messages.
- Consent. Someone who gave you their number when they asked about a car has generally agreed to hear back about that inquiry. Marketing to people who never inquired needs more, often written consent.
- Quiet hours. Federal telephone solicitation rules allow 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the recipient's local time.
- Opt-outs. Honor a stop request made in any reasonable way, not only the word STOP.
- Do Not Call. Sales texts to numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry need an existing business relationship or written permission.
- AI voice. The FCC treats AI-generated voices in calls as artificial voice, which needs prior consent.
State rules that are stricter
| State | Example of a stricter rule |
|---|---|
| Florida | Telephone solicitation only 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and limits on repeat attempts (Florida Statutes 501.059) |
| Oklahoma, Maryland | Their own telephone solicitation laws, with hours and attempt limits |
| Texas | Telephone solicitation registration rules with exemptions, expanded to texts in 2025 |
Check your own state before sending anything that looks like marketing.
Carrier rules: A2P 10DLC
Separate from the law, US carriers require businesses that text from a regular 10-digit number to register a brand and a campaign. Unregistered business texts are blocked. Carriers also follow CTIA messaging principles: identify yourself, honor STOP and HELP, and get consent before marketing.
A simple routine that keeps you out of trouble
- Text people who asked to hear from you.
- Say who you are in the first text.
- Keep texts between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. in the customer's time zone, earlier in states like Florida.
- Stop the moment someone asks you to.
- Do not send mass marketing texts to people who never inquired.
- Send from a registered business number.
What Relay Solo does, and what stays on you
Relay opts a customer out automatically when they reply STOP, files your carrier registration, never texts contacts you import, and only sends AI replies and automated texts between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. in the customer's time zone. Blast is not offered in the US at launch. You are still responsible for having consent and following federal and state law and your dealership's policy.
Common questions
Can I text a lead after 9 p.m.?
Federal telephone solicitation rules use 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the recipient’s time zone, and some states end earlier. Waiting until morning is the safe habit.
Do I need consent to text a lead who filled out a form?
A person who submitted their number asking about a car has generally agreed to be contacted about that inquiry. Marketing beyond that, or to people who never inquired, needs more. Ask a lawyer about your case.
Is Relay compliant with the TCPA?
No software can make your texting compliant on its own. Relay handles STOP opt-outs, carrier registration and daytime-only automated texts. Compliance with the TCPA and state law is your responsibility.
Sources
- 47 CFR 64.1200, FCC rules implementing the TCPA (eCFR)
- FCC consumer guide: Stop unwanted robocalls and texts
- 16 CFR Part 310, FTC Telemarketing Sales Rule (eCFR)
- National Do Not Call Registry (FTC)
- Florida Statutes 501.059, Telephone solicitation
- CTIA Messaging Principles and Best Practices
- Twilio: What is A2P 10DLC?
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