The Government has given the green light for aftermarket businesses to fully reopen from May 18th. The announcement was made by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar as part of a five stage plan, 100 day plan, to lift the Covid-19 restrictions.

Garages, bodyshops, motor factors and other motor vehicle related businesses were previously classed as tier 2 essential businesses and were initially omitted from the strictest Covid-19 restrictions. They were then largely forced to close, or restrict to emergency services, under the more stringent lockdown rules. However, government advice is now that from May 18th “Shops that were previously open in Tier 2 (for example: homeware, opticians, motor, bicycle and repair, office products, electrical, IT, phone sales and repair) can reopen.”

The move means aftermarket businesses that have been completely closed, or offering a very restricted service, should now prepare to fully reopen from May 18th. This will involve adapting premises in line with social distancing guidelines and introducing new working practices. In particular garages and bodyshops will not only need to consider how to restrict face-to-face customer interaction and ensure it is safe in terms of social distancing, but also employee safety in terms of distancing in canteens, kitchens and rest areas, cleaning of shared tools and equipment and cleaning and sanitizing of vehicle interiors, both for customer handovers and technician to technician handovers within the workshop.

As part of this planning it will be important for workshops to ensure they have adequate stocks of PPE for staff, protection for vehicles, such as disposable seat covers and steering wheel covers, hand sanitizers and cleaning materials.

Within reopening planning it will also be important for garages and bodyshops to let customers know they are reopening and reassure them about the safety measures being put in place. There is likely to a good deal of pent up demand for repairs and there will also be many issues arising from vehicles being laid up or used in frequently, so hopefully initial business volume will be good.

There is no news yet on when the NCT will resume.