Reasons to be cheerful…
WITH coronavirus causing UK’s motor manufacturers to cease production, it’s estimated that as many as 200,000 fewer new cars will be hitting our roads in 2020. The knock-on effect of that will be a shortage of new cars, so new-ish secondhand ones will be at a premium when the Covid-19 crisis is over and life begins returning to normality.
At present, with the government decreeing that all non-essential car journeys are illegal, you’d expect little or no demand for used vehicles. There are still plenty for sale — just check out eBay — with Buy It Now values much the same as they were before the crisis, but bidding is decidedly slow on vehicles put up for auction, so those optimistic asking prices will be very negotiable.
Yes, we’re confident you’ll be able to pick up a bargain Land Rover. But no, we haven’t got a clue how you can legally pick it up and drive it home. Unless you are an NHS or deemed an essential worker, who needs the vehicle for getting to and from your place of work, we doubt if you can.
During the present lockdown, you can’t visit dealerships to buy a car, because showrooms are deemed non-essential and must by law be closed. But their workshops can remain open, for repairs and servicing to essential vehicles — as long as safe-distancing guidelines are adhered to — although many garages have been closed.
Good news is definitely in short supply at the moment, although the new MoT rules should put a smile on your face. When your MoT runs out, the Department of Transport is automatically adding another six months before you need a test — just as well, because the UK’s 25,000 testing stations are all closed. However, be aware that it is still every bit as illegal to drive a car in an unroadworthy condition. Your car remains your responsibility, which is why it’s a good idea to keep it insured, although you may wish to SORN it for a month or two.
As for servicing, most modern models are serviced depending on the mileage, rather than on a set date. If you’re self-isolating, you won’t be adding mileage, so you won’t invalidate your warranty. On older models, a constructive way of spending your period of self-isolation is to arm yourself with filters, fluids and a Haynes manual and do it yourself. And if you don’t have a
