GNYADA and DMV Explore Remote Sales as Emergency Solution

GNYADA continues to work with the Department of Motors Vehicles to come up with a solution to keep dealers’ sales operations active through the COVID-19 emergency.

GNYADA President Mark Schienberg has been working over the weekend with top NYS officials to come up with a strategy to allow dealers to keep sales functions operating during this time of national crisis. 

On Saturday, Mr. Mark Schienberg spoke directly with DMV Commissioner Mark Schroeder about the issue. The two discussed finding a solution by giving salespeople at licensed new car dealerships temporary authorization to sell and lease vehicles using digital software that can execute transactions remotely.

Mr. Schienberg first raised the idea with the Governor’s office and the Commissioner after Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered all “non-essential” businesses, including Auto Sales to cease effective 8 p.m. Sunday, March 22nd. 

Following the Governor’s emergency order, GNYADA contacted the Commissioner and the Governor to express that personal transportation is crucial right now, especially for the delivery of vital supplies such as groceries, medical needs and other services. Doctors, nurses, delivery people, pharmacists, gas station workers and many others need new vehicles during this crisis in order to stay safely on the road, as do ordinary people who must have access to food and medicine. 

Mr. Schienberg stressed that New York has a very high number of people who lease their vehicles. Many of those leases will terminate soon, at which point consumers will need a replacement vehicle or they will be forced to do without their only source of transportation, deepening this crisis.

In addition, GNYADA has pointed out that many franchised new car dealers supply vehicles to thousands of first responders, including Fire, Police, and emergency medical fleets. Without a solution to replace these vehicles, these services will not be able to keep new more reliable vehicles on the roads at a time when they are needed more than ever.

We commend Commissioner Schroeder for his willingness to seek a remedy to have new car dealers continue serving New Yorkers with their vehicle transactions while complying with the Governor’s directive of keeping everyone safe. 

GNYADA will continue to pursue a workable solution to both our customers’ needs to keep their vehicles on the road and to protect the health and safety of our dealer’s employees and all New Yorkers. GNYADA will keep you updated on any progress on this critical issue.