Used car sales - an essential service?

xxxxxxxx

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/further-businesses-and-premises-to-close/further-businesses-and-premises-to-close-guidance  
I find it strange the list of exceptions includes bicycle shops  but the only exception under car showrooms is the garage repair service.  No mention of car sales as an exception.

What exactly is the deal with  "used car lots"?  I desperately need to buy a vehicle, I am still looking. If I don't find a car I would have to use public transport costing around £20 return per day and taking about 3 hours each way versus a car taking 45mins and costing £5 per day.  

 A lot of the autotrader type ads are saying viewing by appointment - which i think is because of Covid19  i.e. they appear to still be open for business, but I dunno if they wil allow  test drives.  
Will they allow me to take it for a test drive on my own without being accompanied by their sales person?  
There are other sellers who are trade but obviously sell from home, one on ebay has a farm as his address and has a stock of 20+ cars all of them nice £5000 - £20,000  he appears to still be trading . 

neilmcl

All car showrooms are classed as non essential, garages are because you may need them to keep you mobile in the event of breakdown's etc. Why all of a sudden to you "need" a car, you should be staying home.

Hasbeen

xxxxxxxx said:

  I desperately need to buy a vehicle, I am still looking. If I don't find a car I would have to use public transport costing around £20 return per day and taking about 3 hours each way versus a car taking 45mins and costing £5 per day.  

Why do you desperately need to buy a car when your other thread above this one this is asking best way/cost of selling your car?

AdrianC

xxxxxxxx said:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/further-businesses-and-premises-to-close/further-businesses-and-premises-to-close-guidance  
I find it strange the list of exceptions includes bicycle shops  but the only exception under car showrooms is the garage repair service.  No mention of car sales as an exception.

Bicycle shops aren't just sales. They repair, maintain, and sell parts, too. Key workers may well use bicycles for transport to and from their essential work, and people may well use bicycles for their basic essential trips out - food shopping.

What exactly is the deal with  "used car lots"?

If they're retail only, they aren't on the exception list. They have to be closed.

motorguy

xxxxxxxx said:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/further-businesses-and-premises-to-close/further-businesses-and-premises-to-close-guidance  
I find it strange the list of exceptions includes bicycle shops  but the only exception under car showrooms is the garage repair service.  No mention of car sales as an exception.

What exactly is the deal with  "used car lots"?  I desperately need to buy a vehicle, I am still looking. If I don't find a car I would have to use public transport costing around £20 return per day and taking about 3 hours each way versus a car taking 45mins and costing £5 per day.  

 A lot of the autotrader type ads are saying viewing by appointment - which i think is because of Covid19  i.e. they appear to still be open for business, but I dunno if they wil allow  test drives.  
Will they allow me to take it for a test drive on my own without being accompanied by their sales person?  
There are other sellers who are trade but obviously sell from home, one on ebay has a farm as his address and has a stock of 20+ cars all of them nice £5000 - £20,000  he appears to still be trading . 

Quite a few dealers offering "contactless" purchases.  Might be worth seeing if any are still offering that.

Also loads of cars still for sale by private sellers on autotrader, facebook, gumtree, etc.  Buy something to get you about until this is all over.

I think you really need to get your head around whats "normal" right now - you're incredibly unlikely to get a test drive with anybody.

Herzlos

Send him a message and see if he's still trading, I'm sure most places will try and sort something out for you but a test drive may not be possible.

It might also be worth seeing if there's any car rental places available or if you can borrow a car from someone else.

Do you really need to be travelling to work?

born_again

motorguy said:

Quite a few dealers offering "contactless" purchases.  Might be worth seeing if any are still offering that.

Also loads of cars still for sale by private sellers on autotrader, facebook, gumtree, etc.  Buy something to get you about until this is all over.

I think you really need to get your head around whats "normal" right now - you're incredibly unlikely to get a test drive with anybody.

I think even the contactless increase to £45 is a bit low for any car purchase.
Would a trader take a large amount via apple/android pay? It would have to depend on them having it set up already.

As to test drives. Local dealer has said NO test drives (means they have to deep clean car) as well as staff safety.

Herzlos

I think he means that you can buy the car without needing to be face to face with the dealer rather than paying via contactless card - you see the car online, turn up and the car is open and waiting for you, you pay via bank transfer, then there's some faff involving the paperwork and handing over keys and done.  I assume you can fill out the paperwork on an empty desk and then have the keys dropped somewhere.

As someone who doesn't like the sales chat, upselling and the branch manager thanking you for buying stuff, it sounds like bliss!