Important COVID-19 Customer Notice 2022
As a result of the latest COVID-19 guidelines, Howards Motor Group are operating normally again.
Please feel free to wear a face covering if you wish.
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Important COVID-19 Customer Notice July 2021
In response to the latest Government announcement where the Prime Minster confirmed the removal of legal COVID restrictions from Monday 19th July, we want to outline the approach that Howards Group will be taking across all retail facilities going forwards.
Our intention is to maintain our positive COVID secure protocols, adopted since the start of the pandemic, until further notice. As such, all employees will be required to adhere to the following standards:
- Employees will be required to wear face coverings whilst inside public areas of our premises
- Social distancing of 2 meters will be respected
- Protective ‘sneeze screens’ will remain in place to provide separation at desks and service counters
- Surfaces and touch points will continue to be regularly cleansed with anti-bacterial wipes and sprays
- Employees will wear appropriate PPE when working inside vehicles
To support us in keeping our colleagues and customers safe from the risk COVID infection whilst in any of our premises, we respectfully ask all customers and visitors to wear a face covering or mask whilst inside our premises.
We would like to thank all our colleagues and customers for continuing to support us in maintaining a safe and secure environment for all.
Peter Haynes
Managing Director
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Important COVID-19 Customer Notice – 12th April 2021
As a result of the latest Government announcement and in accordance with the Prime Ministers ‘Roadmap to Recovery’, we are delighted to announce that our New Car Showrooms and Used Car forecourts will reopen on Monday 12th April. We can’t wait to welcome you back!
Ongoing COVID secure measures will remain in place
The safety and wellbeing of our customers and employees remains our primary concern. As such, all our businesses will continue to operate in a COVID secure manner which includes the following operating standards:
- Customers and employees will be required to wear face coverings whilst inside public areas of retailer premises
- Social distancing of 2 metres will be respected
- Protective ‘sneeze screens’ will remain in place to provide separation at desks and service counters
- Surfaces and touch points will be regularly cleansed with anti-bacterial wipes and sprays
- Employees will wear appropriate PPE when working inside vehicles
Sales Departments
Whilst physical showrooms and used cars forecourts will be fully open for customer enquiries from 12th April, we will continue to offer Sales customers with the following additional services:
- The option to choose unaccompanied test drives on new and used cars (by prior appointment)
- Video appointments – a personal video with one of our Sales team to discuss your specific motoring requirements including finance packages, part-exchange and vehicle availability
- ‘Howards Click & Collect’ from your chosen dealership
- ‘Howards at Home’ delivery on Used Cars (terms & conditions apply)
Aftersales (Service & Parts)
Our Aftersales departments will continue to offer the full range of vehicle servicing, repairs and MOT’s, all by prior appointment and in a COVID secure manner. All such bookings can be made by phoning the relevant site or via the booking facility on our website.
If you have any questions regarding our Sales or Aftersales services, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will be delighted to help in any way we can.
Peter Haynes
Managing Director
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Important COVID-19 Customer Notice - 5th January 2021
Following the introduction of a further national lockdown from Tuesday 5th January, we would like to advise our Sales and Aftersales customers of how we intend to continue meeting their needs.
Sales Departments
Whilst our physical showrooms will remain closed until further notice, our on-line showrooms are open for business and our sales teams are available (remotely) to answer any questions you may have both by phone or e-mail. Please click on the ‘Dealerships’ button on our website for contact details for all Howards Group sites. You can also book a virtual appointment where you can view the new or used car you are interested in with a member of our sales team providing detailed information as required. COVID secure ‘Howards Click & Collect’ is available on all cars and our ‘Howards at Home’ delivery service is available on all used cars.
Aftersales (Service & Parts)
In accordance with the latest Government advice, our Service and Parts departments will remain open and continue to offer pre-booked Service, Repairs and MOT’s. All bookings can be made by phoning the relevant site or via the booking facility on our website. When visiting any of our aftersales departments, you can be safe in the knowledge that all premises and procedures are COVID secure.
We are committed to providing the best possible sales and aftersales experience to our customers whilst prioritising their safety and wellbeing, with that of our employees. If you would like further reassurance of how we achieve this or have any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to help you.
-Peter Haynes Managing Director
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IMPORTANT COVID-19 CUSTOMER NOTICE - 30th December 2020
Following the announcement of new Tier 4 restrictions, we wish to update our customers on a number of changes.
Our physical sales showrooms in Tier 4, Yeovil & Taunton, will be temporarily closed in accordance with Government requirements. However, we will remain open online & on the phone.
Aftersales Operations (service & parts) in tier 4: Open as Usual.
Sales Operations in tier 4: Open online and by telephone. Howards ‘Click & Collect service will be available, as well as our reserve online function and home delivery service.
Dealerships in Tier 1, 2 and 3 will remain fully open, Weston-Super-Mare & Dorchester. Our teams will be following COVID-19 guidelines rigorously to help ensure our retailers remain safe and secure for both staff, and visitors.
Please make sure to check before you travel.
-Peter Haynes Managing Director
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Showrooms reopen from Wednesday 2nd December
Following the Government’s latest update regarding the national lockdown, we are pleased to announce that our showrooms will be re-opening on Wednesday 2nd December 2020.
Customers will be able to visit us for both Sales and Servicing requirements and, as always, the safety and security of our customers, suppliers and colleagues remains at the heart of our plans. As such, we will continue to operate in accordance with COVID-19 secure protocols.
Test Drives, ‘Click & Collect’ and Home Delivery Services are available
Test drive appointments will be available, so please get in touch with a member of our Sales team to confirm and organise your booking. For added convenience and peace of mind, vehicle handovers will continue to be offered via a ‘Click & Collect’ service with a contactless process and home delivery is also available upon request.
Thank you for your continued patience over this difficult period and we look forward to welcoming you back through our showroom doors very soon.
– Peter Haynes Managing Director
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Updated 2nd November 2020 - National Lockdown from Thursday 5th November 2020
Following the Government’s announcement regarding the national lockdown from Thursday 5th November, Howards will continue to help keep our customers moving while working within the guidance laid out by Government. We will be fully open as normal until the 5th November 2020.
From Thursday 5th November, our aftersales departments will operate as normal and remain fully operational for servicing, MOT and repairs. We will continue to operate in a covid secure manner and comply with social distancing measures, an appointment-only system, protective screens at our service desks as well as cashless payments that have been in place for several months now.
Sales showrooms and used car external display areas will not be open to the public from Thursday 5th November until further notice. However, our teams will be in the retailers to continue car sales remotely and we will be able to talk to you via phone and video and meet your needs almost as well as if you were with us in the showroom. Customers can still collect a car or van which has been purchased directly from our dealerships, though the handover will take place outside from a designated exterior handover area and full social distancing practices will be in place to ensure both colleague and customer safety. Home delivery options will also be available and all handled in a COVID safe manner.
Our colleagues remain on hand to assist with your sales and aftersales enquiries via telephone or email and our website enables you to reserve a car online, as well as booking a service or MOT.
Thank you for your patience and for working with us to ensure our retailers are a safe place to visit and work. We are open for business but in regards to sales, please call us rather than visiting our showrooms.
Please adhere to the guidelines regarding the use of face coverings whilst visiting our dealerships.
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Update 21st July- Face Coverings
As of Friday 24th July, 2020, customers will be encouraged to wear face coverings in car dealerships.
Legitimate reasons not to wear face coverings include:
- Young children under the age of 11
- Not being able to put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability
- If putting on, wearing or removing a face covering will cause severe distress
- If providing assistance to someone who relies on lip reading to communicate
- To eat or drink, but only if you need to
- To take medication
Further details are available on the following link: -
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own
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Aftersales update
At Howards Group, we understand the importance of keeping your car well maintained and the requirement for repairs to be undertaken promptly when the need arises. As such, we are pleased to announce that we are reopening our Aftersales Departments to allow essential work and maintenance to be provided by our expert Technicians. We will have a limited capacity in the first instance and will initially allocate this to customers who had a previous booking made before our temporary closure was necessary. If you are a key worker, someone who is regarded as vulnerable or if your car needs essential maintenance or repair, please email us at [email protected] and we will provide the earliest booking possible.
Social Distancing
For your safety and peace of mind, all our retailers will be employing strict social distancing controls and revised processes that we need our customers and employees to follow. We would be most grateful if you would watch this short video which summarises these requirements and explains what you can expect when you visit us.
Our sites will all be operating with a reduced number of employees in the foreseeable future so please bear with us. Also, we would ask that you help us in looking after you and our employees by paying close attention to the social distancing guidelines and requirements that will be apparent within our premises.
Our thanks for your patience during our period of closure and we look forward to welcoming to Howards Group in the near future.
Peter Haynes
Managing Director
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Following the Government’s announcement to implement the mandatory lockdown of all non-essential shops and services, we have taken the difficult decision to close all our retailers until further notice. We are a family-owned business and take our responsibilities towards the health and wellbeing of our colleagues, customers and wider community extremely seriously. We also believe it is essential for us to support the demand for social distancing in reducing the spread of COVID-19 and to support our NHS in helping to minimise the growth of Coronavirus cases. We can only achieve this by encouraging and supporting all our employees in the requirement to ‘stay at home’.
Vehicle Servicing and repairs
Whilst some garage services have been deemed as essential, after serious consideration of the points outlined above, we have postponed all service department appointments until our businesses reopen. We appreciate that this may be inconvenient for our customers but we hope you will agree that the minimising of risk to employees and customers alike has to be our primary concern. It also complies with the demand of the authorities to only undertake essential car journeys (going to the pharmacy, shopping for necessities such as food or providing care or help for a vulnerable person).
As soon as we receive an indication that our businesses can reopen, we will promptly contact and reappoint all customers who had prior maintenance or repair bookings that were subsequently postponed. Please rest assured that you need not contact us – we will ensure we do everything necessary to provide the services our customers require as quickly and efficiently as we possibly can.
Vehicle Manufacturer Warranties
One of the requirements of manufacturer vehicle warranties is the need for customers to adhere to specified service intervals based on mileage and/or the age of the vehicle. Clearly some of our customers may be concerned about the potential delay to their vehicle service and the possible breach of the terms of their warranty as a result. In order to allay these concerns, a brief explanation of the actions that have been taken by each of our manufacturers can be accessed via the links below. Please take careful note of any specific requirements they have made regarding basic maintenance actions including checking oil levels and tyre pressures for example.
MG Guidance
1. Currently in accordance with the Warranty Terms & Conditions as can be found within the owner's section on the MG Website; ‘Each main service is carried out within 1000 miles / 1,609 kilometres or 28 days of the recommended mileage interval or service anniversary date as shown on the Service Interval Plan’.
2. However, due to the current situation in the UK, we would like to offer a further 60 days and 2,000-mile top-up to what is already available. Therefore, a vehicle which would be due to its annual service today (24th March 2020), but is unable to book in and have this completed owing to the closure of the service department at their local MG retailer (due to COVID-19), it will give the opportunity to have the service completed within a maximum 88 days (up to 20th June 2020) or a further 3,000 miles.
3. The Government’s initial recommendation is to stay at home (or work from home where possible) for the next 3-weeks unless it is essential. This service date extension will initially be offered from today, (24th March) until 24th April, giving maximum servicing flexibility until 21st July 2020, however, the situation is changing daily, and if this requires to be reviewed, then further communication from MG will follow.
MOT Appointments and bookings
If the MOT for your car or van is due from 30th March onwards, you will be granted a six-month extension. For example, if your MOT expires on 26th April 2020, you will now have until 26th October 2020 for your vehicle to undertake and pass its MOT.
For postponed MOT appointments, we will contact you at an appropriate point to re-schedule your booking. Please note that we are unable to make any new MOT bookings at the moment. Such bookings will become available once our retailers reopen.
For full details of the Government extension to MOT’s that are due to expire during the period of our closure, please follow the link provided below:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-mots-for-cars-vans-and-motorcycles-due-from-30-march-2020
Vehicle finance questions or concerns
If you have questions relating to the finance on your vehicle, whether you are coming towards the end of your agreement term and are unsure what to do next or you would like to talk to your lender about a payment holiday, you should contact the appropriate finance provider directly.
Use the table below to find the correct contact details, or alternatively, refer to the most recent communication you have received from your lender.
Please contact us with any questions or concerns
In spite of our physical premises being temporarily closed, we have a number of colleagues who are available and equipped to answer any questions or concerns you may have whether they relate to Sales or Aftersales. Please e-mail us at [email protected] and one of representatives will respond to you as quickly as possible.
We would like to send our very best wishes to all of our customers, colleagues, suppliers and their families during these challenging times. We look forward to opening our doors again at the very earliest opportunity and to continue providing the value and quality that our customer have grown to expect and trust over the past 48 years.