GNYADA: Best Practices for Remote Vehicle Sales
/New York State determined, on March 26th, expanding an Executive Order by Governor Cuomo, that car sales are essential. Dealers can sell or lease vehicles as long as they abide by the strict requirements of conducting sales remotely and follow the CDC requirements.
This means that dealers can ONLY sell and lease cars by telephone or by using an electronic system. The Governor’s authorization also allows for lease returns and delivery of a vehicle by appointment only.
Violating the Governor’s directive might result in your business being closed, your license suspended or revoked, or the assessment of fines.
To help dealers follow NYS Remote Sales requirements, and institute best practices at your dealership now, GNYADA recommends following these protocols:
Sales Must be Handled Remotely.
You may not sell or lease a vehicle on your dealership’s premises. You must negotiate all transactions using the telephone or electronic methods. All dealership personnel involved in sales are not permitted to use phones and computers at the dealership to contact consumers.
Only personnel who secure financing, perform registration and title work, or enter data into VERIFI, may report to work to complete the transaction. But once they complete a transaction, they must leave the dealership premises immediately.
Walk-ins are Strictly Prohibited.
You must keep your showroom closed. If possible, all showroom entries should be locked, or you should use other methods to restrict non-dealership personnel from entering the showroom area. Customers waiting for their car to be repaired or for any other reason who would like to discuss purchasing a new car must be directed to your dealership’s phone number, website, or email.
It is also suggested that you post signs informing customers that they cannot enter the showroom.
End of Lease Drop-offs, Trade-Ins, and Vehicle Deliveries
You may only meet with a consumer at your dealership by scheduling an appointment for the following purposes only:
To accept a lease return;
determine a trade-in value;
arrange for a test-drive; or
deliver a new car.
Sanitize Your Vehicles for Test Drives and Deliveries.
When you prepare a car for delivery or a test-drive, you should sanitize the key and any key fob that accompanies it, consider putting it in a plastic bag and leave it for the customer in the car. You must also sanitize all surfaces according to the NYSDOH and CDC guidelines.
Dealership employees should not accompany the customer on their test drive. For test drives, we also suggest you cover in plastic, areas in a car that the customer is likely to touch. When the customer returns the car, you must clean it according to the NYSDOH and CDC guidelines found below. Information about best practices for test drives can be found here.
Obtaining Required Signatures Safely.
Customers cannot show up at the dealership to sign paperwork without an appointment. When they do arrive, personnel must maintain a safe distance of no less than six feet from your customer. And before a customer touches any pen, desk, material, or area in your dealership, you must make sure it has been sanitized according to the NYSDOH and CDC guidelines found below.
Always Follow Important Health Guidelines.
During an appointment with a consumer at your dealership, you must observe New York State Department of Health guidelines on how to keep your facility clean and on how to keep both employees and consumers safe following all protocols. You must also observe the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on social distancing, which are similar to the NYSDOH guidelines. (Click on links for more information).
According to Executive Orders issued by Governor Cuomo, effective April 17, 2020, all your employees, that interact with consumers must wear face masks. It is also recommended that your staff wear face masks and disposable gloves throughout the day to keep themselves, and others, safe. Employees should remove jewelry before putting on their gloves.
Some important websites to view:
These NYSDOH guidelines instruct you on how to keep your workplace clean and disinfected.
This set of NYSDOH guidelines instruct you how to stay healthy, including by keeping at least a 6-foot distance from other people, using hand sanitizer, and staying home if you are sick.
This CDC guidance contains a number of instructions on how to keep yourself and others healthy.
Dealers should be very attentive to these guidelines and follow best practices to keep employees, customers, and others safe and avoid any violations from enforcement agencies.
For any questions on these guidelines and how to comply with State and Federal requirements, contact GNYADA at 718.746.5900.
Click here to download GNYADA’s Best Practices for Remote Vehicle Sales.
