COVID-19 Guidance

The IGA is open with phone and email support available to members as usual. Garages are allowed to remain open and carry out MOT tests or repairs in all areas of Great Britain.

We will continue to monitor the situation as Government advice is updated, so please keep checking this page for the latest information on Coronavirus COVID-19 and how it may affect your garage business. Garages can call us on 01788 225 908 or email enquiries@RMIF.co.uk and we will support you however we can, in line with government advice.

Lockdowns and Restrictions

England

Coronavirus (COVID-19) hub page – recent and upcoming changes – gov.uk

Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance collection – gov.uk

Living safely with respiratory infections, including COVID-19 – gov.uk (last updated 16 June 2022)

COVID-19 Response – Living with COVID-19 – gov.uk (6 May 2022)

Government sets out next steps for living with COVID – gov.uk (29 March 2022)

England returns to Plan A as regulations on face coverings and COVID Passes change today – gov.uk (27 January 2022)

Wales

Coronavirus in Wales – gov.wales

Current restrictions – Alert level 0 – gov.wales

Long-term plan to live with coronavirus safely – gov.wales

Alert level 0: guidance for employers, businesses and organisations – gov.wales

MOT testing: end to some COVID-19 restrictions in Wales – DVSA (28 March 2022)

MOT testing – moving to alert level 0 in Wales – DVSA (6 August 2021)

Safety and physical distancing signs for employers – gov.wales

Scotland

Coronavirus in Scotland – gov.scot

UK Government Support for Businesses in Scotland – March 2021 – gov.uk

Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on travel and transport – gov.scot

Coronavirus (COVID-19): staying safe and protecting others – gov.scot

Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer businesses and workplaces – gov.scot

Northern Ireland

Coronavirus in Northern Ireland – nidirect.gov.uk

The Executive’s pathway out of restrictions – executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk

Coronavirus (COVID-19) information posters – nidirect.gov.uk

Coronavirus (COVID-19) and motoring – nidirect.gov.uk

NHS Test & Trace

Create a coronavirus NHS QR code for your venue – gov.uk

Test and Trace Support Payment Scheme: claiming financial support – gov.uk (last updated 24 February 2022)

NHS Test and Trace: workplace guidance – gov.uk (last updated 18 January 2022)

If you’re told to self-isolate by NHS Test & Trace or the NHS COVID-19 app – NHS (last updated 21 January 2022)

Face Coverings

Face coverings: when to wear one, exemptions and what makes a good one – gov.uk (last updated 27 January 2022)

Face coverings will be mandatory in shops and on public transport from Tuesday 30 November 2021 – gov.uk (29 November 2021)

Face covering legal requirements Q&A – RMI Legal Team (25 September 2020)

Face coverings update – RMI Legal Team (24 July 2020)

Reopening Your Garage

Face coverings poster – gov.uk (10 December 2021)

Helping MOT garages manage test demand in the autumn – DVSA (24 September 2021)

Autumn MOT demand – campaign toolkit – DVSA (24 September 2021)

New ‘We Offer Testing to our Staff’ scheme launched – gov.uk (11 May 2021)

Helping motorists to remember their MOTs this year – gov.uk (30 March 2021)

Updated Beat The Rush toolkit – DVSA (last updated 9 October 2020)

COVID-19: Re-starting your business – guidance for motor traders – Allianz (29 May 2020)

Post-lockdown tips for garages – IGA (18 May 2020)

COVID-19 practical steps for your independent garage poster – IGA (13 March 2020)

MOT Station Guidance

Vehicle approval services: end to COVID-19 restrictions in England – DVSA (28 February 2022)

Special Notice 04-21 – easing of coronavirus guidance – DVSA (26 August 2021)

The Garage Guide to Working During COVID-19 – IGA (22 July 2021)

MOT testing in England – what lockdown means for MOT garages – DVSA (6 January 2021)

MOT special notice 03-20: disciplinary process, emissions records and annual assessments – gov.uk (21 December 2020)

3-month grace period to install connected equipment returns – DVSA (27 October 2020)

Mandatory MOT testing to be reintroduced from 1 August – gov.uk (29 June 2020)

Coronavirus: MOTs due from 30 March 2020 – gov.uk (last updated 27 May 2020)

Temporarily closing your MOT station guidance – IGA (8 April 2020)

COVID-19 roadside recovery guidance – AVRO (30 March 2020)

Letter template – Essential travel required – RMI Legal Team (27 March 2020)

Business and Employment Guidance

Find coronavirus financial support for your business – gov.uk

Financial support available for businesses during coronavirus – gov.uk

Help and support if your business is affected by coronavirus (videos and webinars) – gov.uk

Recovery Loan Scheme – gov.uk (last updated 31 August 2022)

Further support for small businesses feeling the squeeze as £4.5 billion Recovery Loan Scheme extended – gov.uk (21 July 2022)

Coronavirus (COVID-19): What to do if you’re employed and cannot work – gov.uk (last updated 24 March 2022)

Coronavirus (COVID-19): What to do if you’re self-employed and getting less work or no work – gov.uk (last updated 24 March 2022)

Check if you can claim back Statutory Sick Pay paid to employees due to coronavirus – gov.uk (last updated 23 February 2022)

Businesses urged to apply for £850 million still available in COVID-19 support grants – gov.uk (10 February 2022)

Check if you’re eligible for the Additional Restrictions Grant – gov.uk (last updated 31 December 2021)

Reintroduction of the Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme (SSPRS) – gov.uk (last updated 21 December 2021)

Budget and Spending Review – October 2021: What you need to know – gov.uk (27 October 2021)

Being made redundant: finding work, claiming benefits and managing debts – gov.uk (last updated 26 August 2021)

Check if you need to change your Self Assessment return for SEISS – gov.uk (18 August 2021)

Help to Grow website – gov.uk (5 August 2021)

Pay VAT deferred due to coronavirus (COVID-19) – gov.uk (last updated 27 July 2021)

Eviction protection extended for businesses most in need – gov.uk news story (16 June 2021)

Employees’ holiday and COVID-19 – RMI Legal Team (4 June 2021)

Holiday entitlement and pay during coronavirus (COVID-19) – gov.uk news story (13 May 2021)

Further support for commercial and residential tenants – gov.uk news story (last updated 10 March 2021)

Super-deduction for qualifying plant and machinery assets – gov.uk (last updated 5 March 2021)

Self Assessment customers use online tax payment plans to help spread the cost – gov.uk press release (13 January 2021)

£4.6 billion in new lockdown grants to support businesses and protect jobs – gov.uk news story (5 January 2021)

If you need to self-isolate or cannot attend work due to coronavirus – gov.uk (31 December 2020)

COVID-19 employment law update – RMI Legal Team (23 November 2020)

£20 million in new grants to boost recovery of small businesses – gov.uk (30 July 2020)

Rishi’s Plan for Jobs will help Britain bounce back – gov.uk news story (8 July 2020)

COVID-19 Tax on Grants and Deferred VAT Payments – RMI Legal Team (26 June 2020)

Redundancy – RMI Legal Team (15 June 2020)

Claim back Statutory Sick Pay paid to employees due to coronavirus – gov.uk (last updated 29 May 2020)

COVID-19 temporary workplace policies and procedures – RMI Legal Team (15 May 2020)

Infectious diseases in the workplace policy – RMI Legal Team (15 May 2020)

Reviewing your insurance – Gallagher (6 May)

FAQs for small businesses: Bounce Back Loan Scheme – British Business Bank (4 May 2020)

Top-up to local business grant funds scheme – gov.uk news story (2 May 2020)

Advice Note – Distance Selling – RMI Legal Team (1 May 2020)

Check your insurance policy for business interruption cover – IGA (27 April 2020)

COVID-19 and energy supplies – RMI Utilities (24 March 2020)

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) FAQs for SMEs – British Business Bank (23 March 2020)

Q&A around COVID-19 issues at work – RMI Legal Team (19 March 2020)

COVID-19 Layoff and Short Time Working – RMI Legal Team (19 March 2020)

Coronavirus: Advice for employers and employees – ACAS

If you cannot pay your tax bill on time – gov.uk

Health & Safety

COVID-19: Ventilation of indoor spaces to stop the spread of coronavirus – gov.uk (last updated 2 August 2022)

Reducing the spread of respiratory infections, including COVID-19, in the workplace – gov.uk (last updated 10 June 2022)

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) hub – gov.uk (last updated 2 September 2021)

HSE Safety Alert: Use of face masks designated KN95 – HSE (15 June 2020)

Obligations to provide suitable toilet and hand washing facilities to drivers visiting premises – HSE (29 May 2020)

Risk assessment template – RMI Legal Team (15 May 2020)

COVID-19: Cleaning of non-healthcare settings – gov.uk

Compliance with government guidance on managing the risks of COVID-19 declaration poster – HSE

RIDDOR reporting of COVID-19 – HSE

Business Rate Relief

Template letter to local MP regarding Business Rate Relief application – IGA (2 June 2020)

Template letter to local authority: Business rate relief – RMI Legal Team (2 April 2020)

Example of amended retail rate guidance document to include independent garages – Southampton City Council

Furloughing Staff/Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) – Scheme ended on 30 September 2021

Penalties for not telling HMRC about Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme overpayments – gov.uk (last updated 31 May 2022)

Pay Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme grants back – gov.uk (last updated 20 December 2021)

Claim for wages through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – gov.uk (guidance withdrawn on 29 October 2021)

Case study: Return from furlough – RMI Legal Team (22 May 2020)

Letter template – informing a furloughed employee that they can return to work – RMI Legal Team (11 May 2020)

Car Sales

COVID-19: Industry Guidance and Best Practice for Automotive Retail – NFDA and SMMT (9 April 2021)

Budget 2021 – Capital allowance super-deduction for dealers – MHA and NFDA (12 March 2021)

Hands-on guide to “distance selling” – NFDA (9 November 2020)

Cars, online sales (delivery / click & collect) and COVID-19 – NFDA and TLT (6 November 2020)

Update on unaccompanied vehicle demonstrations on trade plates – NFDA (1 May 2020)

FCA confirms support for motor finance and high cost credit customers – FCA (24 April 2020)

Motor finance agreements and coronavirus: draft temporary guidance for firms – FCA (17 April 2020)

Apprentices

Businesses will be given £2,000 for each new apprentice they hire under the age of 25. This is in addition to the existing £1,000 payment the Government already provides for new 16-18-year-old apprentices and those aged under 25 with an Education, Health and Care Plan.

Providing apprenticeships during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic – gov.uk (last updated 19 January 2022)

Redundancy support for apprentices – gov.uk (last updated 17 June 2021)

Get financial support for your apprentice through the BMTA Trust – The BMTA Trust (31 July 2020)

Apprenticeship funding in England – gov.uk (July 2020)

Apprenticeships: Employer hub – apprenticeships.gov.uk

Healthcare Guidance

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Getting tested – gov.uk

COVID-19 alert level reduced to 2 – gov.uk (31 August 2022)

COVID-19: guidance for people whose immune system means they are at higher risk – gov.uk (last updated 16 June 2022)

People with symptoms of a respiratory infection including COVID-19 – gov.uk (last updated 10 June 2022)

New guidance sets out how to live safely with COVID-19 – gov.uk press release (1 April 2022)

Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable – gov.uk (last updated 1 April 2022)

Changes to COVID-19 testing in England from 1 April – gov.uk (30 March 2022)

Self-isolation for those with COVID-19 can end after 5 full days following 2 negative LFD tests – gov.uk press release (4 February 2022)

People with a positive lateral flow test no longer required to take confirmatory PCR test – gov.uk press release (11 January 2022)

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Roundup – Office for National Statistics (ONS)

COVID-19 NHS homepage – NHS

How to prevent germs spreading – NHS

COVID-19 WHO homepage – World Health Organization

Workplace hygiene and social distancing posters – CNPI

Coronavirus: Wash your hands for more than 20 seconds poster – Public Health England

Hand-washing technique with soap and water poster – NHS

Catch it, Bin it, Kill it poster – NHS

Coronavirus help hub – BEN

COVID-19 Related Scams

Check a list of genuine HMRC contacts – gov.uk (30 July 2021)

Businesses Against Scams training toolkit – Friends Against Scams

We have been advised by Trading Standards that there are emerging a number of scams relating to the COVID-19 Coronavirus. If you have any concerns or think you have been affected by a COVID-19 Coronavirus scam, you can report an incident via Citizens Advice.

It is important to note that the situation is very fluid and government guidance is changing daily. We can therefore only provide a general guide that should be used with care. Furthermore, as we are not medical professionals. We cannot provide any medical advice on the virus, its treatment or transmission.