Garages? Open or shut

[MARMITEcheese2020]

Dh is unsure and he's not heard.

I work for a motor factor and were classed as key workers. I’d assume the garage is open as other key workers will need their vehicles to get to work

OK thank you. Good advice

I wondered this too. I work in the industry. I'm thinking that the dealerships will have to shut, so they'll probably shut the garages attached to the dealerships? Which account for a large %.. I don't think there will be enough key worker customers with broken cars who are allowed out to get them fixed IYSWIM, for it to be worth all garages staying open?

It’s not just key workers who need cars. In my area there is virtually no public transport and most villages don’t have a shop, so people need to drive to get food.

I've been wondering this too,my husband is a mechanic and cannot find the answer anywhere. Most car repair garages in our area have closed today. But my husbands work hasn't and seems to be ignoring it all.
I understand them being open to fix cars that are needed etc but if most people are on lockdown surely they won't get much business. Where my husband works they aren't taking any hygiene seriously, no social distencing , no cleaning etc. He and to work on a car today that the customer said they should really be in isolation but said he'd get his car checked.

Why is this causing such confusion.

He stated people can go to work if it absolutely cannot be done from home. This is one of the four exceptions,

Mechanics cannot work from home. As such they can go to work. He specifically stated what he was closing down. Not what he was keeping open. He didn’t state he is shutting garages. It was very very simple.

I work in the industry. As it stands, we are waiting on official word from the DVSA who control MOT testing to find out if they are going to give 3 months grace on MOT certificates. If so, I suspect most garages will close. If not, I suspect garages with MOT testing will remain open.

I own a garage and it is staying open to help key workers or of corse the general public that may need to get food, go to hospital, help the vulnerable ... BUT only 1 mechanic working each day so to help slow down the virus spread between staff.

People whohave time off work shouldn't be using this time to get all the little jobs they need doing to their car done. It should be for MOT and essential repairs only imo.

It's not whether garages have to close - we're discussing whether they (or some) will decide to anyway. A great deal of garages are on the side of large car dealerships, which will presumably have to close (as a non essential shop).

Boris hasn't said whether non key-workers are allowed to leave lockdown to fix their cars. Especially if not (and even if so), customer levels are going to decrease massively.

The whole industry is going through unprecedented struggles (before this happened, let alone now). Thus, it's unlikely that they will all stay open throughout this period IMO.

Sorry, cross posted.

People whohave time off work shouldn't be using this time to get all the little jobs they need doing to their car done. It should be for MOT and essential repairs only imo.

Agree. My boss told me that everybody he's spoke to today said business is booming - everybody is working from home so is using the time to pop in

I dropped my car off at my mechanic yesterday, obviously I'll ring him tomorrow, but how the f do I get it back??

It's the only car and I'm the only driver....

I have spoken to Vantage, Arnold Clark, Marshall's and Chorley Group dealerships today, all of whom informed me they would be closed entirely by Wedsnesday.

That's Citroen, Vauxhall, Renault, Hyundai, Nissan, Mercedes and Kia in our area.