Washington State’s Stay-At-Home Order
On March 23rd, Washington State Governor Jay Inslee issued an executive order requiring all non-essential businesses in Washington State to close and for Washington residents to stay home except for essential travel. On April 2nd, Governor Inslee extended the order until May 4th. As of April 24th, the governor has not announced whether the stay-at-home order will continue past May 4th, though it seems likely that many restrictions will stay in place for the time being. What does that mean for consumers? Are you allowed to buy cars at auction during the coronavirus?
What Activities Are Considered “Essential” During Washington State’s Stay-At-Home Order?
Washington State Governor Jay Inslee’s “Stay Home, Save Lives” executive order requires “every Washingtonian to stay at home, except for people:
- Pursuing an essential activity, like shopping for groceries or going to a medical appointment.
- Getting takeout food. (Food deliveries also are permitted).
- Going to work at an essential business.
- Going outside for walks and exercise, as long as social distancing of six feet is maintained.”
What Businesses Count as Essential During Washington State’s Stay-At-Home Order?
The “Stay Home, Save Lives” order issued by Governor Jay Inslee states that all Washingtonians must stay home, though employees of “essential” businesses are exempt from that order. Which businesses are essential? According to guidance released by the Governor’s office, the following industry sectors are considered essential under the “Stay Home, Save Lives” order:
- Healthcare and Public Health
- Emergency Services
- Food and Agriculture
- Energy
- Water and Wastewater
- Transportation and Logistics
- Communications and Information Technology
- Other Community-Based Government Operations and Essential Functions
- Critical Manufacturing
- Hazardous Materials
- Financial Services
- Chemical
- Real Estate and Mortgage
- Mortuary, Funeral, Embalmer, and Cemetery Services
- Defense Industrial Base
Within each sector, the Governor’s office has detailed which workers in these industries are considered essential during the stay-at-home order.
Can You Buy a Car at Auction in Washington During Coronavirus?
Yes, you can buy a car at auction in Washington State during the coronavirus pandemic. However, certain restrictions have been put in place to help curb the spread of COVID-19. The Governor’s office has said that only some sales of vehicles are deemed “essential” during this time:
“Limited sales and leasing activities at licensed new and used car and truck dealerships are deemed essential only if those activities are to close a pending transaction that began before Governor Inslee’s Proclamation 20-25 was issued or replace a totaled vehicle, replace a damaged vehicle that is impractical to repair, extend a lease that expires, or provide transportation to essential workers, as identified in the “Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers” list, Appendix to Proclamation 20-25, if the essential worker has no other means of transportation. Any activity meeting the above criteria must still comply with the following: on-site visits to the dealership are by appointment only and must be scheduled remotely; only 1 dealership employee may be present in the dealership building (showroom or office) at any one time, and that employee may only be present during the duration of the sale; as part of the sales transaction, the buyer must certify that the purchase is essential for one of the reasons provided above; all activities must be conducted in a manner that complies with social distancing and sanitation measures established in Proclamation 20-25.”
Yes, you can buy a car at auction in Washington State during the coronavirus pandemic. Here at Speed’s Auto Auction, we are hosting online car auctions due to the stay-at-home order. Download our app today!
What Does the Stay-at-Home Order Mean for Car Auctions?
Here at Speed’s Auto Auction, we are still holding car auctions. However, due to the pandemic and Governor Inslee’s executive order, we are holding the car auction online only. We will have previews on Mondays from 8am to 3pm (Pacific Standard Time), and we will only allow 25 people on the site at a time. We suggest that you download the Speed’s Auto Auction app from Google Play or Apple’s App Store.
How Can Speed’s Auto Auction Help You?
If you’re looking for a project car for something to do during quarantine, take advantage of Speed’s Auto Auction’s online car auction here in Vancouver, WA. If you’re an essential worker in need of reliable transportation, make sure to take a look at our preview on Monday at 8am to 3pm. Contact us with any questions, and stay healthy!