DABAS blog 2021
Post restrictions: Future 2021 car buying and COVID-19.
Hello readers, hoping all is going as well as possible. During the continuing varied C19 lockdowns here in Melbourne and around Australia. The automotive sales arena has been severely impacted – by past and current – C19 restrictions. Now, with having endured the continuing lockdowns and worldwide production delays, most new car buyers are being affected. Many even found this before these most recent lockdowns, having experienced delivery delays and the widely reported increases in retail prices. On the bright side, your current car’s pending future sale or trade-in value may also have increased. For now, let us look to the future, by thinking of how we may be shopping for a car once these current Melbourne lockdowns ease.
At the time of writing this DABAS blog post, the impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) in Melbourne this year has been widespread and rapidly evolving with many lockdowns of varying length occurring consistently as the cooler weather of 2021 arrived. These lockdowns are tending to put a spanner in the fanbelt works of any car-buying journey, creating delays in hands-on car selection, test drives, production, and delivery, and creating more questions than answers for people keen on purchasing a car once (any current) lockdown restrictions ease. So, looking to the future, here are some generalised thoughts and ideas that may help you on a future car-buying journey after any current C19 restrictions.
Note: Please ensure you go to the Services Victoria C19 app for the latest information, restrictions, for rules/laws/advice on your applicable postcode’s current rules/restrictions/current lockdowns that you will need to be complying with. Including your state government’s health department guidelines that are current at your time of reading this article.
Keep in mind these thoughts that may help you on your vehicle-buying journey options in the future.
Most LMCT car dealerships have responded well to the COVID-19 precautions and restrictions.
Many LMCT car yards can provide electronic opportunities to discuss car purchasing and payments.
Most LMCT dealers will do video inspections and demonstrations on your selected cars for sale.
Most LMCT dealers will accept deposits and payment over the phone (bank transfer, credit card or Pay-pal, etc, etc).
Most LMCT dealers ensure a thorough vehicle sanitation process and precautions.
Contactless home delivery test drive and trade-in evaluations are at times available *pending any current C19 lockdowns or restrictions (*PACR).
Contactless car buying is available.
Contactless home delivery is available.
Click-and-collect styles of car buying can be available (*PACR).
In the future, once any current lockdowns ease, and as car yards “fully open again”, allowing in-person inspections and sales, some people ask: will visiting the car yard or showroom expose you to C19? It is of course common sense to always take C19 precautions seriously (especially if you are in an at-risk group) but there are no reasons why a visit to a car yard or dealership in the future should expose you to any more risk of contracting COVID-19 than a trip to the shops to buy your weekly food and pantry supplies.
If you have any doubts, checking in with the LMCT dealership via telephone or email regarding the COVID-19 precautions it has currently in place is a good idea. Remember too that most of your car research and shopping can be done online.
You may also ask, when C19 lockdown restrictions ease,
Are you going to be safe test-driving a car.
It is always important to take proper precautions before driving a ‘yard stock’ car; ask the dealer what precautions they have taken to ensure the car is safe and clean. Failing that, here are some generalised suggestions you can take (with their permission) to minimise the C19 risk.
After being given permission by the LMCT dealer, consider cleaning the applicable areas with an alcohol-based disinfectant or wipes before you drive it, ensuring the sanitiser product won’t damage the area. (pssst: there are a lot of “peeling” steering wheels, having been exposed to and damaged by hand sanitiser). Ideally wear gloves while cleaning applicable areas, avoid overly harsh cleaners (ie: bleach).
The touch points you should target in the vehicle include the key fob, steering wheel, transmission shifter, door handles and other places you’d normally touch, such as the volume knob or heating controls. Don’t forget the glove-box handle, touchscreen, indicator, and wiper stalks! even the service books, if applicable.
When test driving, don’t be afraid to ask the salesperson to stay at the dealership – or failing that – get them to sit in the back. You’re not being rude, just observing the social distancing recommendations (do so also in the LMCT dealership). Ask these questions politely, remembering that LMCT dealerships and their staff are facing the same personal C19 challenges as you.
COVID-19 (coronavirus) measures have also dramatically slowed the official launch and production of many of MY21’s new models, which in some cases will also create a delay in delivery dates. In short, if the date matters, make the LMCT purchase contract conditional upon a clearly specified delivery date.
So, “pending any current Melbourne C19 lockdowns” when the time comes to update your car for a safer MY2020-21 brand-new car with a long warranty, or recent late-model used car, even a towing car or 4WD in the new normal post-C19 lockdown Melbourne, DABAS knows that buying a car to suit your needs can be one of the biggest purchases in your life. DABAS offers flexible personal assistance to clients on their car-buying journeys tailored to suit their individual budgetary needs.
DABAS services can be delivered in a vast variety of ways, including – but not limited to – phone consultation/s, zoom meetings, research emails, research links, LMCT yard email link referrals, face-to-face meetings at a caryard/s, in the cafe at an LMCT caryard or even in your home if required. The choice is totally yours, pending personal needs and the urgency timelines of being behind the wheel of your next car.
DABAS services are offered flexibly, as stages in a journey. You pick at what stage of your journey you may need DABAS’s assistance: maybe the full journey, or just vehicle selection/clarification, or maybe just providing a car-yard buffer zone and help with the yard process.
We hope this “general-in-nature information” page has provided some useful information to assist in you. By clicking on DABAS’s blog index link here you may find some guidance for your personal car-buying journey. The included highlighted links on this page may also provide other information that assists in selecting a suitable vehicle for your car-buying needs.
Please note
Ensure you do go to the Services Victoria C19 app for the latest information, restrictions, and advice on your applicable postcode’s current rules/restrictions/current lockdowns that you will need to comply with. Including your state government’s health department guidelines that are current at your time of reading this article. Any examples, options, pricing, and information mentioned in our blog pages is to be considered as a very general-in-nature summary.
Whatever roads your life journey takes you on, DABAS can help you find a car to travel those roads.
Have a great day, Cheers, Tim.
Please note our disclaimer, as clients have individually tailored needs and stages on their DABAS automotive-buying journey, information mentioned on this – and all – DABAS blog pages is to be considered as a general-in-nature summary. Any vehicle pricing and advice on our pages is general in nature and can be discussed and clarified – if needed – relevant to the timeframe and date stamp of your transition to becoming a client of DABAS. Ensure you do go to your postcodes/relevant state C19 app for the latest information, restrictions, and advice on your applicable postcode’s current restrictions and current lockdowns that you will need to comply with, including your state government’s health department guidelines that are current at your time of reading this article.
