Garage won't return vehicle and closed for "foreseeable future"

MissMaisy237

Hi.
 I would really appreciate if anyone is able to offer any guidance to help me secure the return of my brand new vehicle from a garage.

Long story short: Last Friday, I dropped off my company's new vehicle to a garage to have it sign written for my company. Pre-empting the 'lockdown' and affect that this could have, I asked for it to be returned on Monday 23rd without any work being done. The garage said no but that they would return it on Tuesday completed. However, on Tuesday I was sent an email stating that they had "closed for the foreseeable future" as a result of the government announcement. Since then I have repeatedly asked for it to be returned but have been told that this will not happen as they "would not be insured" to return to the workplace following the government announcement, Obviously, there have been unprecendented changes to life for everyone this week and I understand that protection of employees and the public are paramount however, the garage has not closed due to a lack of staff through illness but have stated that "As per the government restrictions that came into effect, we are not able to open, travel or ask staff to travel into work as we are non essential." They trade as a garage under "maintenance and repair of motor vehicles" which I understand is an "essential service". Please could anyone clarify if motor garages are able to work and if so, how I can get my vehicle back?
I understand that people are all having a difficult time and appreciate that safety comes first. I am certainly not trying to trivialise the pandemic. I am asking respectfully and would be understanding with the garage if they had taken this action due to staff needing to self isolate and hadn't said that they will keep it for the "foreseeable future". (It is also my only vehicle, I have a child and it is used to carry out emergency safety related construction works, which could be called upon even now....and what if they go out of business in the foreseeable future?!).
Thank you.

chrisw

I have a couple of emails from dealerships to say they are closing with immediate effect. 

They have said that they will not be supplying new vehicles or returning those in the workshops or body shops at this time. However, one of them has offered to arrange a temporary vehicle for NHS and emergency staff.

So I would guess that there's not a lot you can do about it other than phone their customer services if you have an overriding need to get the vehicle back.

xxxxxxxx

Government advice is that garages are to remain open as an essential service.  Although there is nothing in law that says they must stay open.   Have you spoken to the manager or owner of the business?
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/further-businesses-and-premises-to-close/further-businesses-and-premises-to-close-guidance  
I had a dealership email saying they are closing service and parts from FRIDAY 27TH MARCH 

AdrianC

This is one of those "tea and cake" situations. You want to try to persuade somebody to go back to work, unlock and open up, and get your vehicle out - which may require shuffling other vehicles about. It may well be that your vehicle is part-completed, perhaps in a position where it needs work to be returned to a usable condition - depending on the extent of the signwriting, various trims/lights etc may be removed.

MissMaisy237

Thank you for your replies. I understand that the vehicle has been parked inside the garage but has not been started on. I realise that it is a difficult situation but it feels that it is made more difficult for small businesses when we don't work together to find (safe) solutions. The garage claimed that the government advice is that they must close as a result of the announcement earlier this week where as the legislation is that they qualify as an exception - www.gov.uk/government/publications/further-businesses-and-premises-to-close/further-businesses-and-premises-to-close-guidance  (Thank you to xxxxxxxx for providing this) 
Last week, he told me that his company are already owed in excess of £40k from other customers who have, for whatever reason, refused to pay them in the last few months and he said that it is costing the garage £2k per day to close, it seems crazy not to try to help a customer in need who, at the moment, can and would pay for the work. Destroying my business in the process will result in him not being able to receive payment from my company at the end of all this -  if in fact he can survive this situation and afford to lose £2k per day, indefinitely.

I would have hoped that people and small businesses alike would work together to help one another where possible. Without a team effort now, there won't be much of an economy left for any one at the end of this. 

Take care all.

Herzlos

Is the car physically inside a building or barrier? Do you still have the other key?

EdGasketTheSecond

Sounds outrageous that they are not giving you your car back. Threaten them with a lawsuit if they don't return it pronto; assuming you can contact someone in charge of course; they can't just rob you of your car.

Ganga

You could always hire a car till yours is available if it is important to your business

Manxman_in_exile

Is this the sort of garage that is classed as an essential service?  I can understand that some would be, but I can also understand that some may not be.  They may do stuff to vans and cars but if, for example, they specialise in painting vehicles and sign-writing etc that may not be classed as essential.

If you can't persuade the owner to release your vehicle then do as suggested and try threatening them with a lawsuit.  But if they take the view that the government has instructed all non-essential services to close (and they consider themselves non-essential) then I'm not sure the threat will work, and I'm not sure how easily you'll get a claim issued in the current circumstances.

Talk to them.  Ask (or plead with) them to move the car onto the street/particular place at such and such a time and drop the keys at an agreed place so you can pick them up and leave.  You can be present and observe throughout - just maintain a safe distance.

These are unprecedented times and loads of people are going to have to negotiate through issues like this.  A lot of people are seriously (and probably rightly) worried about their health and the future.  I'm not sure threatening to sue would be constructive or effective.  And if you've got the spare keys I wouldn't dream of trying to recover it myself - unless the owner agrees to allow you to do so.

cajef

If as you state it is a company vehicle have you informed the company who own it what has happened and that the garage will not release it back for you to use, or is it actually your own company.

Herzlos

If your job is essential and the vehicle is essential for that, then you should try and make a big deal about someone at least letting you access it. If all they need to do is open the yard or garage and let you run in and drive it out then it shouldn't be too dangerous.