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How car dealerships are adapting to cope with coronavirus

Wed, 22 Jul 2020 12:00:00 +0100

The coronavirus has brought virtually every industry to its knees, and motoring has been no exception. Every motoring department has seen fundamental shifts, from the design and manufacture of vehicles through to the way they're bought. Provincial light is at the end of the tunnel, however, as since June 1st car dealers have begun being allowed to reopen.

They have had to make considerable changes to do so, however, so what do you need to know?

What have the dealers done?

In order to reopen, dealerships must now display a blue certificate in their window - signed and dated. This blue certificate shows they have understood and agreed to implement the steps necessary to minimise the risk of coronavirus transmission.

Broadly speaking, these measures include the following:

A vigorous and regular approach to hand-washing
Thorough sanitation and disinfection of the site
Employee awareness and training of infection risks
Implementation of "work from home" policies where possible
Clearly visible social distancing markings on site
All reasonable steps taken to manage transmission risk

Dealerships will have been subject to an inspection to ensure these guidelines and general working practices have been understood and adopted. They will also be subject to ongoing random spot-checks, to ensure these guidelines are indeed a consistent part of how they operate.

What happens when you go to a dealer?

Before you arrive to browse

Before coronavirus, you could just stroll into a dealership whenever you liked during opening hours for a browse. This, for most dealerships, is no longer the case. Many dealers are now shifting to "appointment only" visiting. This means you call and arrange your window well in advance of arriving - this gives the dealership time to ensure the place is properly cleaned, and that social distancing can still be maintained. It also allows them to limit the number of people on the premises at any given moment, which again will help to minimise potential infection risks.

Taking the vehicle for a test drive

Money is tight for a lot of people at the moment, so of course, you'll want to take a vehicle for a drive to ensure it's right for you before committing to purchasing it. Test drives are a time-honoured part of the car buying process, and for many, it's their favourite part. Dealers will still be offering test drives post-coronavirus, but they will change slightly. An employee from the dealership will no longer accompany you. You'll be made familiar with the test-route beforehand, the vehicle will be sterilised for you and trade plates applied, then you can go for your drive. When you get back the car will be sterilised again.

The actual buying process

If you decide to buy the vehicle you'll still go into the dealership to sign the paperwork, however things there will change too - much like supermarkets, you will now see plastic screens, employees wearing masks, and social distance markers on the floor. The dealership will do everything they can to ensure that you have the most "non-contact" buying experience possible.

Buying your vehicle online

Many dealerships are negating the need to visit their premises at all by making use of the power of the internet. Dealers are posting detailed photographs, and even offering video demonstrations of their vehicles. This may be a prerecorded test drive video, or it may be done live via video-calling apps.

The buying process itself is now also remote for many dealers. You can arrange payment either by bank transfer or debit/credit card, and any financing can be arranged online if that's how you're buying the vehicle. Many dealerships are now offering nationwide delivery of their vehicles too - whereby you pay wholly or partly for the vehicle and it's brought to your doorstep by a car transporter. If you have paid partially you can then inspect the vehicle, and complete payment/paperwork. This means you don't have to visit the dealership at all.

Dealers want your custom, so they are going to be willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that you have the safest possible buying experience. If you're not comfortable with something, or you think appropriate steps aren't being taken, take your business elsewhere - every car dealer is expected to alter the way they operate to keep customers and employees as safe as possible.

Coronavirus has presented many challenges in the motoring industry - but dealers are now open again with these measures in place to keep you safe. Buying your next vehicle, and insuring it with free Gap Insurance, before taking to the road is actually now easier than ever.

Dealerships reopen with great discounts - here are 5 of our favourite deals!

Mon, 22 Jun 2020 12:00:00 +0100

As businesses begin to reopen with the easing of the COVID-19 lockdown, car dealerships across most of the UK are repeating the same tricks they used after the Global Financial Crisis 10 years ago – great deals with huge savings.

With so many to choose from, we at Direct Gap have put together a list of our favourite deals currently available:

1. Volvo V90 Inscription Plus - £39,700 – 15% SAVING

The performance-inspired design of this vehicle features a sport chassis with aluminium inlays and 18-inch diamond-cut matte black alloy wheels, as standard. With IntelliSafe technology, the Volvo V90 offers the ultimate safe drive: with steering support, oncoming lane mitigation, driver alert controls and blind spot information using BLIS(TM) technology.

2. Peugeot 208 Allure - £18,034 – 10% SAVING

This vehicle brags 2020 European Car of the Year status. Featuring the all-new 3D i-Cockpit, this system provides European mapping, 3D city mapping and a 3-year subscription to TomTom services. The Allure comes with 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, and all the interior amenities required to provide the utmost comfort and convenience.

3. Vauxhall Mokka X Active - £15,999 - 30% SAVING

With 17-inch silver-effect alloy wheels and its sleek design, the Mokka X Active boasts a 1.4i turbo with an engine power of 140ps. With its Navi 900 IntelliLink system, the Active makes commuting easier, comfier and more stylish than ever before.

4. Seat Leon FR - £16,490 - 24% SAVING

With sport suspension, throttle response, and its convenience pack plus (including auto-headlights with an automatic coming-and-leaving home function, and its auto-dimming rear view mirror) - as standard - the Seat Leon FR understands the importance of performance and comfort. Ideal for the long-haul commute.

5. Nissan Qashqai N-Tec - £25,199 - 14% SAVING

Defining itself as the exclusive combination of eye-catching and high-end, this attractive car not only provides a stylish drive, but includes the ProPILOT driver assistance system to ensure a safe driving experience. With blind spot warnings, adaptive front lighting systems, traffic sign recognition and parking guidance, the N-Tec boasts lower emissions with extra torque and power.

Following this trend, we believe great deals should be found in insurance - not just the cars you buy. At Direct Gap we offer the best terms for the best prices. So, how does gap insurance work? We provide several core models for Gap Insurance in the UK.

With our Finance/Contract Hire Gap Insurance and our Return to Invoice Gap Insurance we pay the difference between the outstanding finance balance, or the original purchase price, and the motor insurers settlement.

And with our Vehicle Replacement Policy, in the event of a vehicle being declared a total loss or stolen, Direct Gap will pay the difference between the motor insurers settlement and the cost of a replacement vehicle matching the original vehicle specification.

With offers covering tyre insurance, scratch and dent insurance, and alloy wheel insurance, at Direct Gap we ensure your car is protected - at the best price, without sacrificing the best of insurance coverage.