The impact of Covid-19 on Car buying

The Covid-19 outbreak caught the world by surprise. The UK is one of the hardest-hit countries. In the continuing efforts to prevent the spread of the virus, England is in its third lockdowns that started on January 5 and is expected to last up to mid-February. This lockdown is firmer than those that were imposed before. It includes closure of schools, limitations of meetings and allows only essential travels in England. Northern Ireland, Wales, and Scotland are also on lockdown. The pandemic has disrupted demand and supply chains and poses challenges of how cars will be delivered to buyers. This article includes the information you need to know about buying a car in the UK amidst the pandemic.

Are car Dealerships permitted to open?
The UK government imposed even tighter restrictions on January 5. Under these restrictions, only essential businesses are permitted to be open to the public. Car dealerships are classified as non-essential and thus are closed. This doesn’t mean you can’t purchase a car. You can buy one, but from dealers that offer home delivery or click and collect services. You can find these services in Wales, England, and Scotland. In Northern Ireland, dealerships closed to the general public on December 26, 2020. However, dealerships in Northern Ireland, for the moment, aren’t providing click and collect services. They are anticipated to open around mid-February.

Will the coronavirus delay a new car?
There are hints that the delivery of new cars has been delayed due to the pandemic. If you’ve already bought a new car and you are not sure of its delivery, contact your dealer and let them advise you on the latest information. A good dealer will always give you an estimate of the time that the car is expected to arrive.

Can one get better deals on new cars?
If you are planning to use hire purchase terms to pay for your new car, the amount you will pay will be subject to interest rates such as the Base rate of the bank of England. At the moment, these interest rates are low, which may serve as an advantage as most dealerships will offer affordable deals to clients.

Is it possible to test drive a car?
Under the current lockdown limitations, Car dealerships cannot provide test drives. Nevertheless, a majority of dealers are still offering contactless delivery and online-only buying cars. This means that you can test drive on your own.

Is buying a second-hand car safe
A majority of dealership provides identical click and collect delivery options, both for brand-new and used cars. However, reputable sites will let buyers know whether they have bought a used or new car during the purchase process. Review sites such as the UK collected reviews can help you identify reputable car selling dealerships. Also, Reputable Dealerships will take the vehicles you buy through a thorough cleaning procedure before delivering them. However, for private sellers, this is not always the case. Thus, it is essential that when buying second-hand cars, you go for reliable dealerships.

Buying a car on finance: What will happen if coronavirus affects my source of income
As the coronavirus situation continues to unfold,  the financial situation is also changing. With this progression, it wise to keep a close eye on your expenditures, including finance payments for your car, to guarantee that you are not overdue. If you find that you may delay payments, ensure that you inform your car dealership, with the pandemic, they may understand and offer softer terms for the period.

Cleaning your car during the pandemic
If you are using your car for essential trips, cleaning its interior often is important. Ensure you use antibacterial products to do the cleaning. The most critical areas to thoroughly clean are the areas that are touched regularly. These include seat belts, the steering-wheel, hand-brake, gear-levers, door handles, and radio controls. Government regulations state that you are only allowed to drive when it’s essential. This includes attending an appointment with a doctor or when shopping for medicine or food. Ensure that you only travel on such instances; otherwise, you will end up being fined by the police

Finally, the coronavirus pandemic has resulted in great uncertainty, and the car industry has not been spared. However, with this article, car buyers have a panacea, which offers beneficial insights to guide them in the car purchase process during this period. Another essential aspect to ensure you have after you buy your car is car insurance. You can read Icarhireinsurance reviews to find dependable insurance for your vehicle.