U.S. Federal Government says car repair & maintenance facilities are essential services during coronavirus lockdown

This means all tire shops, quick lube centers, smog shops, and service centers attached to dealerships are all fair game to stay open.

As several states go into lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus, workers in all industries are wondering if that means they have to go to work. One sector of the workforce concerned if they have to show up is anyone working in the automotive industry, specifically auto repair shop workers, service center techs, tire repair shop employees etc.

The Department of Homeland Defense identified 16 key areas of the economy they consider essential services. One of those is “Transportation and Logistics”

Two of the 12 sub-categories include,

• Employees supporting or enabling transportation functions, including dispatchers, maintenance and repair technicians, warehouse workers, truck stop and rest area workers, and workers that maintain and inspect infrastructure (including those that require cross-border travel)
• Automotive repair and maintenance facilities.

Keep in mind that these are just guidelines drafted by some very smart people with the best interests of the United States in mind. The DHS recognizes that

“State, local, tribal, and territorial governments are ultimately in charge of implementing and executing response activities in communities under their jurisdiction, while the Federal Government is in a supporting role.“

Depending on what state, county, and city you live in, what your local municipality defines as an essential service is up to them.

For example, here in California, Governor Newsom issued an executive order putting in place a lockdown on all non-essential activity, advising everyone to stay home. Gov Newsom also closed all non-essential businesses and explicitly used the Dept of Homeland Defenses’s recommendation.

Under the EO of California’s Governor, the State Public Health Officer.

…order all individuals living in the State of California to stay home or at their place of residence except as needed to maintain continuity of operations of the federal critical infrastructure sectors, as outlined at www.cisa.gov/publication/guidance-essential-critical-infrastructure-workforce.

That means if you work at a car dealership service department as a lube tech, under this California Executive Order using DHS guidelines, you are an essential service and, unless directed otherwise, probably shouldn’t assume you don’t have to show up to work.

You should, however, bring some hand disinfectant, prepare to stay six-feet from people, wash your hands every hour, and, not go out to lunch with a bunch of your co-workers.

The selling of cars, however, is definitely not an essential service and if you’re a car salesman, you definitely have a case not to come into work.

For either situation, regardless, car dealerships, auto repair shops, and tire stores are for-profit businesses and the laws of supply and demand will work itself out. With few people coming in to get their car fixed, the GM will probably send you home instead of paying you to mop the floor for the third time.

For consumers, if you’re in a state locked down, technically, you should still be able to find a place to get your car fixed.