Car Dealers – what you currently can and can’t do

Firstly, service and repair garages are OK to stay open in all four nations.

However, for car dealers, it’s a real mix and match. 

England – tier dependent 
You can check your tier at: https://www.gov.uk/find-coronavirus-local-restrictions
Tiers 1 to 3 = business as usual but with Covid safe measures in place.
Tier 4 = car dealers can be open for Click & Collect and Click & Deliver. 

Northern Ireland 
Unless car dealers are deemed as an essential business, which they do not appear to be, they will have to close their premises from 26 December 2020 and they cannot offer Click & Collect either. Click & Deliver doesn’t seem to be outlawed, and so, this appears to be the only option from 26 December to whenever the restrictions end (maybe 4 or 6 weeks). 

Scotland – level dependent
You can check your level at: https://www.gov.scot/check-local-covid-level/
Levels 1 to 3 = business as normal but with Covid safe measures in place.
Level 4 = the guidance allows car dealers to sell cars and even undertake test drives following the Covid safe guidance issued to driving instructors is applied, i.e. avoid air conditioning, wipe down touch points, wear masks, etc. This is despite the fact only “outdoor car lots” are on the list of businesses allowed to stay open. This could be tightened up with Scotland’s new Level 4 restrictions due to start on 26 December 2020. 

Wales – level dependent
All of Wales is in the highest level, that is Level 4, as of 20 December 2020.
Car showrooms and dealerships must close to the public but can operate Click & Collect and Click & Deliver for vehicles which “must be ordered in advance online by telephone or mail order.”