IMDA Bring Clarity to Lockdown

IMDA Bring Clarity to Lockdown

 

On Thursday the 5th of November instead of the IMDA celebrating its 3rd Anniversary we are again pushed into a National Lockdown in England.

 

So, what does this mean for Car Dealers?

 

You MUST close your showroom to the public. You are not allowed to have customers in your offices or showroom.

 

You CAN, where you have a workshop /service centre OPEN this are of your business as this is classed as essential. Therefore MOT’s, car servicing and repairs can continue where social distancing and COVID safety measures are out in place.

 

You CAN offer a distance sale of a vehicle.

 

Where a customer contacts you via email, phone, social media, or any other medium this can be negotiated, sales agreed, and finance payment arranged before either: -

 

1: Collection (Click and Collect)

2: Home Delivery (Click and Deliver)

 

Where Click and Collect is offered, this collection CAN NOT take place within the showroom area of your business. It must take place outside (we are still waiting confirmation if this can take place within the yard space of your premises , the assumption is yes it can) and customers are not allowed inside, not even to use the toilet.

 

Where Home Delivery is offered, this must be done with social distancing in place.

 

As customers are committing to a vehicle before physically seeing or driving it , then this will be classed as a ‘distance sale’ and therefore a no quibble 14 day return must be offered within your Terms and Conditions of Sale. If this is not offered, you will leave yourself wide open to customers potentially cancelling and handing vehicles back up to 12 months later.

 

Best Practice:

• Put a notice up on your website telling customers what parts of your business are open
• State that you are offering both Click and Collect and Collect and Deliver
• Use Google my Business to highlight opening hours, changes to the buying process etc
• Use Social Media to shout about these changes, make sure customers know they can still buy from you!

 

Can I work in the showroom?

 

Yes, where it is not possible to work from home you can go to your place of work.

 

Can Valeters / drivers and another workforce work?

 

Yes, if there is work for them and they are socially distancing there is no reason why they cannot!

 

If work dries up can I send staff home?

 

The reintroduction of the Furlough scheme where the UK Government will pay up to 80% up to £2500 will help you make this decision. The only difference this time round the employer is liable to pay the National Insurance and the Pension contribution.

 

We at the IMDA are planning to deliver a number of online webinars throughout lockdown including question and answer sessions on various elements of our industry processes and introduce many of our partners at the IMDA to you so you can understand better the opportunities to your business that are available through your IMDA membership.