Mike 11
Are car dealerships allowed to open?
Tighter restrictions came into force on January 5th across the UK. These only permit ‘essential’ businesses to stay open to the public. The government has classed car dealerships as ‘non-essential’ and, as a result, they must close their doors – just as they did in March 2020.
You will still be able to buy a new car, although you will have to purchase it remotely from a dealer offering click-and-collect, or home-delivery services.
Dealerships are currently offering these services in England and Wales, but new rules coming into force in Scotland on 16th of January will prevent all non-essential shops from offering click-and-collect services. It isn’t yet clear whether this will affect car dealerships.
Dealerships in Northern Ireland had to close to the public on December 26th 2020. They aren’t expected to open until mid-February 2021, and they’re unable to offer click-and-collect services in the meantime.
Showrooms across the rest of the UK will be closed but service departments will still be able to offer MoT tests, car servicing and repairs – these are classed as essential services and are allowed to continue under new lockdown conditions. There are no current plans to introduce an MoT test extension for drivers whose cars require a test during this new lockdown period.
so I guess not