A Guide to Buying A Car During Lockdown

As you are probably aware, new restrictions came in to force in Great Britain to help slow the spread of COVID-19 across the UK, which has left some consumers confused as to whether they can currently buy a car.

We do have good news however, as although our showrooms are temporarily closed, cartime is very much open and are delighted to be able to offer Click & Collect and Free Home Delivery on all of our cars. We're also offering a 14 day 'Love It or Return It' policy on all purchases for added peace of mind. 

Here’s all you need to know about the current legislation and buying a car during lockdown!

Are you still open?
Our showrooms are temporarily closed as car retailers are classed as non-essential retail, however you can continue to buy from us during the current lockdown as we are offering Click & Collect or Free Home Delivery on all of our cars.

How does lockdown affect the buying experience?
We have worked very hard to ensure the buying experience is as easy and streamlined as possible, even with the current restrictions in place.

When buying, we will keep in regular contact with you and conduct as much of the process as possible remotely. We will then arrange a specified time for delivery or collection, working around your schedule.

Can I test drive my new car? 
Yes. When using our Click & Collect service we are able to offer test drives which are undertaken in a fully contactless manner. 

Are all of your normal services available?
Yes. All of our normal services such as finance applications are still running and can be done remotely. Finance applications can be completed online by clicking the ‘Apply for Finance’ button on the car listing page of the vehicle you are interested in or our team can also assist over the phone. We work with a range of lenders so can offer extremely competitive packages.

What if I have a car to part exchange?
We are still offering part exchanges as normal and can provide a valuation over the phone. Please ensure you describe the car as accurately as possible to avoid any last minute changes.

If you are doing Click & Collect you can bring your car in as normal and this can be exchanged at the point of collection.

For those who opt for free home delivery, we will collect your old car when your new one is delivered. We are able to offer a guaranteed part exchange price, provided the vehicle is accurately desctibed, so everything is finalised prior to delivery making the process extremely simple.

Is collecting a car still allowed with the current restrictions?
The current travel advice is to only travel if essential, however the current restrictions do state that you can travel if you have a reasonable excuse such as ‘buying goods or services that you need’. A £100 fully refundable deposit will be required prior to your visit to allow your car to be prepared, checked and sanitised ready for your visit and we will endeavour to complete as much of the sales process remotely.

If however you would prefer not to travel, we are offering a nationwide delivery service which is undertaken in a safe manner so you don’t even need to leave your home.

Are your services COVID-safe?
We have extensive measures in place to ensure a safe environment for customers and staff. All of our cars are sanitised just before collection or delivery using a medical-grade machine that is 99.9% effective at eliminating COVID-19 and other germs and odours. You can find out more about the process by clicking here. All transactions are completed in a contactless manner with relevant social distancing in place.

As customers aren’t currently permitted inside our showrooms all handovers must be undertaken outside, however we endeavour to reduce waiting times as much as possible when collecting a car.

Is there any way of ensuring I am happy with my new car before I commit to buying?
We understand that buying at the moment is a bit different however we have several procedures in place to provide added peace of mind for customers.

If there is a car you are interested in, we can arrange a personalised video or virtual appointment to allow you to fully view the car and ask any questions you may have. All of our cars are presented in showroom condition and undergo a 62-point mechanical examindation and PDI check to ensure they meet our strict quality standards. Cars will be sold with a new service and MOT, if required, and all cars are also available with our six year warranty package for added peace of mind.

We are also offering a 14 day ‘love it or return it’ policy, where any car can be returned to us should it not meet your expectations.

We currently have over 1,000 cars in stock which can be found by clicking here. Our experienced team are also available by calling 0161 638 3634.