Auto Sales Now Deemed Essential. As you know, DealerXT has been fighting for dealerships to be declared Essential since the first Shelter In Place Orders were issued on March 17. DealerXT contacted county and state officials directly and prepared a petition to Gov. Newsom’s office that collected HUNDREDS of signatures and comments from California dealers demanding that the Governor’s Office declare auto sales essential in California.
We are pleased to announce that our efforts have paid off! Auto Sales Now Deemed Essential (with certain limitations)
Gov. Newsom’s Office just amended their Essential Workforce List and specifically added auto sales as ESSENTIAL. Here are some highlights of the updated Guidance:
- “Workers critical to … sales…of vehicles” are essential “if remote working is not practical.”
Gov. Newsom did indicate that Counties may impose more strict regulations and that if there is a conflict between County and State orders, the more strict order applies.
As we mentioned in a newsletter last week, many California Counties have changed their County Stay at Home Orders to allow car dealers to sell cars. Some are only allowing “Online Sales”, while some have gone further to allow “In-Person Sales” to take place. Also, many counties are requiring safety protocols to be submitted to the County Public Health Office for approval.
Here is a list of the California County Orders:
Counties that now specifically ALLOW In-Person Auto Sales and Leasing:
Counties that allow “Auto-supply, auto-repair, and maintenance…and automotive dealerships.”
Counties that now ALLOW Online Auto Sales if delivered to a Residence or another Essential Business and Social Distancing Guidelines are followed:
- Alameda County Order– Social Distancing Protocol Form REQUIRED
- Colusa County
- Contra Costa County – Social Distancing Protocol Form REQUIRED
- *Fresno CITY– May Open Showrooms on May 11, 2020 – Social Distancing Protocol Form REQUIRED
- Los Angeles County Order– Social Distancing Protocol Form REQUIRED
- Marin County– Social Distancing Protocol Form REQUIRED
- Mendocino County– Social Distancing Protocol Form REQUIRED
- Monterey County– Social Distancing Protocol Form REQUIRED
- Special Language for Monterey: “Vehicle dealerships are encouraged to conduct online sales of vehicles and to deliver vehicles to a residence or Essential Business. Dealerships may provide test drives of vehicles for sale, provided that only members of the same family or household are in the vehicle at any time. Dealerships shall clean and sanitize vehicles after test drives;”
- San Benito County– Social Distancing Protocol Form REQUIRED
- San Francisco County– Social Distancing Protocol Form REQUIRED
- San Mateo County– Social Distancing Protocol Form REQUIRED
- Santa Clara County– Social Distancing Protocol Form REQUIRED
- Santa Cruz County– Social Distancing Protocol Form REQUIRED
- Sonoma County– Social Distancing Protocol Form REQUIRED
- Sutter County– Social Distancing Protocol Form REQUIRED
- Yuba County– Social Distancing Protocol Form REQUIRED
Counties following State Executive Orders (which now specifically include auto sales as essential, if remote working is not practical):
- Alpine County
- Amador County
- Butte County
- Calaveras County
- Del Norte County
- Fresno County
- Glenn County– Guidance for Retail businesses
- Humboldt County- Social Distancing Protocol Form REQUIRED
- Imperial County
- Inyo County
- Kern County
- Kings County
- Lake County
- Lassen County
- Madera County– Social Distancing Protocol Form REQUIRED
- Mariposa County
- Modoc County
- Mono County
- Napa County– Social Distancing Protocol Form REQUIRED
- Orange County– Business Guidance
- Placer County– Social Distancing Protocol Form REQUIRED
- Plumas County
- Riverside County
- San Bernardino County
- San Diego County– Social Distancing Protocol Form REQUIRED
- San Joaquin County
- Santa Barbara County– Social Distancing Protocol Form REQUIRED
- Shasta County
- Sierra County
- Siskiyou County
- Stanislaus County– Social Distancing Protocol Form REQUIRED
- Tehama County
- Trinity County
- Tulare County
- Tuolumne County
Counties that allow “Auto-supply, auto-repair, and related facilities“:
- El Dorado County
- Merced County
- San Luis Obispo County
- Solano County
- Yolo County– Social Distancing Protocol Form REQUIRED
Counties that allow “Auto-supply, auto-repair” only:
- Nevada County
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