November 2020

48 AFTERMARKET NOVEMBER 2020 BUSINESS www.aftermarketonline.net W ith the furlough scheme gradually heading to its end- point, as the news cycle for this issue began it was still unclear if there would be any kind of replacement. This was later clarified as the Job Support Scheme was announced at the end of September. While most garages will be needing all hands on deck, government support for many industries was still a vital lifeline. This was not the only issue of course, as the rolling impact of the pandemic continued to cause all kinds of problems. 9 September: Lockdown breakdown – 12.5 million motorists skip servicing 12.5 million motorists may have delayed getting their car serviced as a CORONAVIRUS ROUND-UP As we moved towards the Autumn, the sector received a few COVID-19 surprises, and continued to unpack the consequences result of lockdown, a survey found. The survey of 10,000 BookMyGarage subscribers found that 32% of drivers cited a lack of money for delaying servicing, with 29% postponing due to their lower than average mileage since March. 77% of drivers said they would normally get their car serviced annually even though more than 60% said they had been adversely impacted either financially or personally by the pandemic. Despite 47% claiming that they were concerned about the safety of their vehicle, 38% were comfortable doing maintenance work on their car themselves. Meanwhile, 56% used the government’s MOT exemption. Further research by BookMyGarage revealed that the amount of additional repair work required by cars booked in for a MOT in July nearly doubled from 25% to 48% over the same period last year, prompting concern over the health of vehicles on the road. 14 Sept: Rule of Six – Garages not impacted The government enacted a new wave of Coronavirus restrictions, but garages were not affected by the new Rule of Six. The new rules meant no more than six people can gather, either in a home or a public place. Up to 30 people from two households have been able to meet outdoors, as could six from multiple households. Current guidance says people can only socialise indoors with members of up to two households. While the new rules impacted on social events, it did not affect businesses or employee numbers, so

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ0NzM=