Gov. Announces Parts of Downstate New York Declared COVID-19 Yellow and Orange Zones
/How do these designations impact Dealers?
COVID-19 is spreading quickly across many areas in New York State.
That news came from Gov. Andrew Cuomo today during a press conference at his NYC office. The Governor announced the state will designate large swaths of the 5 boroughs and individual counties in southern New York as COVID Yellow Zones, while certain, smaller areas are receiving an Orange Zone designation.
To be clear, no Yellow or Orange Zone designation will have any impact on any part of a dealership’s operations.
Only aRed Zonedesignation would revert sales departments to the earlier rules that prohibited walk-ins and limited sales operations to virtual methods and required appointments for any visit to a dealership.
At this time, the Governor has not designated any new Red Zones in the Metro area. To see whether your business location is in a Yellow, Orange, or Red Zone, enter your address at this linklink.
Auto sales are considered essential businesses in New York State. Therefore, in both Yellow and Orange Zone areas, dealerships can continue having both staff and customers on-site as you have under New York’s Guidance: Vehicle Sales, Leases, and Rentals Guidelines for Employers and Employees and your Dealership Safety Plan.
If an area where your dealership is located, is declared a Red Zone, however, the dealership may no longer accept walk-ins, and any customer visit to a dealership will require an appointment and the following goes into effect:
If your showroom is accessible for customers waiting for their car to be repaired or for any other reason and would like to discuss purchasing a car, you must direct the customer to your dealership’s phone number, website, or email to schedule an appointment.
To prevent walk-ins, post signs informing customers that they cannot enter the showroom and where possible you should keep the doors to the showroom locked.
You must arrange for customer appointments to show, deliver or accept return of a vehicle.
Dealers are permitted to allow test-drives in a Red Zone.
As for staffing levels in a Red Zone, dealers would only be allowed to bring in staff that are essential for scheduling appointments and meeting with customers at the dealership.
Also, all other personnel, such as F&I and billing staff that are required for your sales operation, are permitted to work at the dealership as long everyone follows required safety protocols such as social distancing and wearing face masks at all times.
GNYADA will continue to monitor state restrictions on dealership operations in the Metro Area, especially in areas where COVID-19 has seen a resurgence.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact GNYADA’s Dealer Hotline at 718.746.5900.
