How Will the Coronavirus Outbreak Affect Garages?
Garage staff are considered critical workers and garages will remain open during the outbreak.
If your vehicle is due for an MOT or service, it will not be a problem.
Staff will want to socially distance themselves from their customers. They might just ask you to drop your keys off in a designated place within the reception area.
Card transactions will also be the preferred means of payment to limit contact with contaminated notes.
As March is one of the months for new car registrations, this month will be particularly busy with cars reaching their 3rd birthdays.
Opening times might be reduced and the availability of sit-and-wait slots will be limited if not eradicated.
If you are unable to book your vehicle in on time, the Department for Transport (DfT) has announced that vehicle owners in Britain will have a six-month exemption from MOT testing.
The exemption period will start from March 30th.
The DFT also added the stipulation that you will be able to drive on the roads providing your vehicle is in a roadworthy condition.
The granting of this exemption is to allow garages to focus on the needs of other key workers.
Comment
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:
“We must ensure those on the frontline of helping the nation combat Covid-19 are able to do so.
“Allowing this temporary exemption from vehicle testing will enable vital services such as deliveries to continue, frontline workers to get to work, and people to get essential food and medicine.
“Safety is key, which is why garages will remain open for essential repair work.”
Cambrian Fuel Card Services are deeply grateful to key workers and frontline staff for their efforts in combatting the coronavirus outbreak.
We are open and here for you, if not now but when you get back on your feet.