GNYADA Best Practices for Test Drives During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Updated: Best Practices for Test Drives During the COVID-19 Pandemic

GNYADA continues to receive questions about test drives. Since we last wrote about test drives, Governor Cuomo has added new safety measures for employees and customers, including the use of face coverings. Below you will find some best practice ideas for conducting test drives during the coronavirus pandemic. It is advisable that dealers create a test drive policy, distribute it and train employees to follow the policy. 

Test drives are essential to the sales process and if your customer requests one, follow your policy and these best practices

1.    Do not allow an employee to accompany a customer on a test drive. In order to comply with social distancing requirements, an employee cannot be permitted to accompany a customer.

2.    Handle keys/key fobs carefully to minimize contamination.  See Sample Test Drive Policy for additional suggested handling practices.

3.    Sanitize every test drive vehicle before and after the test drive.

4.    Use only products known to be effective against coronavirus for cleaning and disinfecting your vehicles.  The EPA has identified over 300 products that are effective for this purpose.  Find the list of qualified products here.

5.    Require employees tasked with cleaning and disinfecting vehicles to use the proper PPE.

6.    Cover frequently touched places inside the vehicle.  Where possible, cover items with removable plastic.  Items like steering wheels, door handles, shifters, arm rests and turn signals should be covered.

7.    Present customers with a Test Drive Agreement. Dealers should consider a policy similar to loaner agreements. 

8.    Consult with your insurance company to confirm coverage for test drives without a dealership employee accompanying the customer.

9.    Follow the Governor Cuomo’s Executive Orders relating to face coverings to protect employees and customers.  Any employee interacting with a customer, must wear a face mask.  Anyone who is in a public place within six feet of another person, must wear a face mask.

10. Wash hands frequently.  Hand washing continues to be an important safety measure following any interaction with the public.

What is most important throughout is that you use common sense as well as follow the State Health Department and the Centers’ for Disease Control protocols on social distancing, personal hygiene, and disinfecting of the workplace. 

Remember, that just because test drives and home deliveries are permissible, if you do not feel you can set up a system that follows the health and safety guidelines in the policy, then you should consider not offering test drives. 

Dealers should consult with their dealership attorney to create a customized Test Drive Policy for employees and a customized Test Drive Agreement.

Click here to download GNYADA’s Sample Test Drive and Vehicle Delivery Policy