Simple question… In NSW during stay at home order.
Are we allowed to get car serviced? Scheduled service.
Are we allowed to go to the mechanic? Maintenance or urgent repair.
Are we allowed to go to a panel beater?
Lastly… if yes… can we travel outside the 5km to do this stuff? Eg. If my panel beater is 8km away… or car dealer is outside the zone as well.
I got my car serviced last month, however wasn't able to wait in the service lounge like I normally would. This was before the 5km rule kicked in though. Someone I know said their car service got rescheduled. YMMV.
No wonder lockdowns are continuing….
It's a question… I'm wondering if these activities are allowed. If it's not I won't do it.
Some of these activities are essential… scheduled maintenance… repairs…
There are no clear directives from government.
Ok… broken taillight… is that essential? it's a $298 fine and 3 points… If I don't get it fixed… i can get a fine… or if I get it fixed… it might get a fine for travelling.
Or if it's a schedule service… If I don't get it serviced (for however long this lockdown will go for) and my car gets damaged (may or may not)… will government pay for any damages? no.
Hence I'm asking.
@Wazzzzup: Why cant posters put details up front, as opposed to put as vague and little details in the post and then get defensive about. Vague post raises questions.
Hence Im saying.
@avoidfullprice: Because yes it's for me… but I'm sure others are thinking the same thing. Hence a more generalised topic of DISCUSSION rather than detailed.
I wasn't trying to be vague. As I have a few cars and some needs a service, some needs repairs and it's not just 1 thing.. one of my cars need a pink slip soon… all these different things that aren't very specific in what can and can't be done.
all these different things that aren't very specific in what can and can't be done.
Exactly. It needs context to assess whether your simple questions are considered essential. The health order can't cover all the specific scenarios, and the rest of forum don't know your circumstances when reading your first post.
Like if you only have one car, and you don't know how to change a tail light bulb, and you need to car to buy groceries, then of course you can justify to the cops if you get stopped.But if like you said you "have a few cars and some needs this and some needs this", then geez a bit of first world problem at hand here
Put this in your original post! It is no longer a generalised situation for the DISCUSSION. What I think is allowed for one car family certainly doesn't carry across to a fellow with a few cars.
@Wazzzzup: This is the problem with it all. There are very few set in stone rules, and the meaning of "essential" can be basically whatever you like, as scomo said, getting puzzles is essential. I would classify getting your car repaired as more important than puzzles, therefore essential. Others will neg me and say it's not essential.
If you are a politician or are rich, do whatever you want.
@Wazzzzup: You need to service annually or half annually to account for hard drivers, to complete non publicised recall work, to keep you familiar with the dealership and to catch anything that might go critically wrong (like an oil change missed last service).
If you don't drive like an idiot most cars can be pushed closer the three years between services.
And if a dealer tried voiding your warranty because a service was out by a month during lock down, offer to take them to your state's civil tribunal. if they don't play ball, get an independent mechanic to back you up and tack them. There is a good chance you will get a refund and your car.
to complete non publicised recall work, to keep you familiar with the dealership and to catch anything that might go critically wrong (like an oil change missed last service)
@Chandler: Weird concept, selling cars is a business.
dealer/manufacturer should be contacting you about essential recall work
Essential recall work is very rarely life threatening. If it is, it is publicised. It's often checking the torque on a bolt or screw, because 1 in ten thousand have come loose, spraying diesel all over the engine bay forcing the car into limp mode. There can be tens to hundreds (for a long product cycle) of these for some cars.
Look at the mess with Astrazeneca. You would be out of business in a month if you were stupid enough to share every minor defect with the public.
"keeping familiar with the dealership" doesn't sound essential - what even is this?
Manufacturer strategy to sell more cars and keep dealers happy with ongoing service sales and cross sells.
if you mechanic is "missing an oil change", I'd be finding another mechanic
Yes, if dealers didn't hid recall work from customers to maintain the ability to sell cars, then yes, I would avoid dealership services, as while they have some excellent mechanics, most workshop managers don't have quality control systems needed for the amount of staff and diversity of training. Things often get missed.
@Wazzzzup: Seriously if the taillight is broken buy one off eBay and fit yourself, I would find it really hard to see a cop book you for that given the lockdown requirements in force, a warning with get it fixed would be the likely outcome
Servicing I think you're just fishing for shit to complain about. Cars can go many 1000's of K's past the scheduled service point without suddenly blowing up
On the surface, these services are not essential (unless its lack impacts your ability to obtain essential services).
Unless your car is spewing black smoke or has fallen apart, please delay these services until NSW gets the virus number under control.
I'm not one who's trying to break the law, or get around the law… I'm more than fine with lockdown and have accepted it is what it is… i want things to go back to normal like every other person, even though my business have lost a few hundred thousands dollars of revenue due to lock down.
I ask as these laws aren't very clear for some services.
Strangely enough, my car is not starting today which means I can't do my essentials like groceries and sending my elderly housemates for medical appointments. Suspect a dead battery.
What are my options (also in NSW)? Someone needs to help me jump-start it but the lockdown is making this hard. I suppose I need to also check which battery places are open around my area.
@ddhar: Does NSW have something like the RACV / a roadside assist company?
RACV came to jump start me last time I needed it.
@idonotknowwhy: I can sign up for roadside assistance with NRMA, Budget Direct or Woolies (leaning towards the last two simply for price).
What I'm grey on is whether:
1. Roadside assistance worker will come start the car (considering I'm safe at home, not stranded in the middle of nowhere), and
2. Any battery place will serve me as a general public member (not as an essential worker)
Seems fairly clear
shopping for essential items (one person only within LGA/5km)
.
Motor Vehicle Repair and Service
Vehicle repairs and critical maintenance, including disinfection, can continue to operate with strict COVIDSafe practices. Skeleton staff is recommended and with view to undertake repair and critical servicing only, particularly to essential services and workers. No public onsite access.
Thanks! Very helpful.
Probably you can as you may need to do a pink slip from a mechanic before renewing rego.
I have to taken two cars in the last two months for a rego check was less than 5km, they were busy still doing work.
At the beginning of the lockdown, they were quiet, about two weeks ago they were more busy. This is in a restricted LGA too, though I drove into one.
You will get fined $3000 if you drive around in an unregistered car.
You can ring Service NSW and request an extension at the moment.
https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/changes-transactions…
@stewy: I have a feeling you get extension say it is due at the end of August and get a two months extension, most likely the 2022 rego will still be due at the end of August 2022. But it would it have been nice if you get real extension and get 2 months rego for free. Someone in another post suggest gov to reduce rego due to less driving.
@htc: I think the extension is to get your pink slip done only. You still need to pay your rego on time and your green slip on time. Because it says that you need to then later provide a pink slip or your rego will be suspended. So you get a delay on the $35 cost or whatever it is but still pay the big kicker items.
I would guess yes for service, yes for urgent. Panelbeaters .. depends. Is it just a ding or is your car in pieces?
Call your local police station and ask
If NSW is anything like the stage 3 lockdown we had previously in Victoria in 2020 even warranty services were initially not allowed.
Well, this is the thing. Victoria had very clear rules. Dan shut things down and you knew. Here, it’s a grab bag of restrictions at best. Can’t leave the LGA, unless you need to get essential items. But then the 5km rule trumps the
LGA rule. Don’t get me started about why bunnings, office works and some other shops were still open.
We got high case numbers because people look at Gladys and Hazzard and they realise “you’re just making it up as you go”.
Of course you can.. all of these activities are essential for safety and maintaining a reliable private vehicle.
If you must get the car serviced due to the mileage or time has been reached just drop off the car and go back home. Don't linger around.
Definitely get the taillight fixed as it's a safety issue and roadworthy issue as you could get fined for that if not working.
Just stay at home. Only 5 reasons.
Stay Safe
Just for reference in Perth bike shops were allowed to open but only for mechanics as they were the only essential service (deliveroo, uber eats riders etc.)
I'd assume it'd be the same for mechanics, so yeah i guess its essential if you need your car for work purposes.
I think lockdowns in Perth have gotten less serious over time. I haven't stopped working so have noticed the difference each time.
The first one was like a ghost town. People doing the right thing, pretty much everyone stayed at home. Next one was a bit less, construction still went on, a lot more shops opened like cafes/restaurants for take aways etc, auto parts, mechanics were all open. Last one was almost a joke. "essential worker" meant if your wages were essential to keeping your household afloat then if you could WFH then you could go to work. I'd be on the freeway at 5am and see just as many cars as I do now
NSW Govt website navigation in relation to covid-19 rules is a joke.
There is a reference to 'Emergency car repairs and breakdown services' being 'Allowed in your home' for those LGAs of concern.
Damn, I don't keep my car inside my home.
lol
Maybe they were trying to steer people to mobile mechanic repairs only 🤷
This time would be the perfect opportunity to learn how to service the car yourself. Supercheap offer click and collect for items.
Trust me on this, it will save you a great deal of time and money in the long run.
However, anything catastrophically wrong with the car, you should not be driving it anyway and wait until all this lockdown business settles down.
wait until all this lockdown business settles down.
Op probably wants to drive his car before 2086.
Lol
True mate, but he also has plenty of time to learn to fix it himself then.
Some people have no interest.
There are things that I can do myself… one of my cars is a passion project/weekend car… so I do a bunch of stuff to it myself… but 2 of my cars comes with free servicing… and one of those cars is also on a lease, not suppose to service a lease car by myself… as that would break the conditions of a lease agreement…
The one on a lease agreement I simply can't service it myself… even the other car… sure I can service it myself, waste a small amount of money which is not the end of the world… but cars nowadays all have electronic log books, I fear in the future when time comes to sell… buyer might question that? or can be understandable it's covid lockdown…
I know some comments here have been "stay at home" ignore the car etc. it's not essential etc. Which I understand to a certain extent it's not essential… but then I see people going to get coffee… when you can have coffee at home… it's really hard to determine what's essential to this government and to many people (no judgement)
to many people
It seems like "many people" because it's an echo chamber. Do what you think is essential, what others think is irrelevant.
The one on a lease agreement
Contact your lease provider and ask for advice. If you delay, get it in writing from then it’s because of lockdown.
You need to work out how you can postpone those items and avoid leaving home rather than asking if you are allowed out.
You shouldn’t be driving much so a service may be able to be delayed a little - consult your dealer and get it in writing. A few weeks or a thousand km late is probably better than potentially catching covid.
If you have multiple cars, don’t drive the ones that need work urgently.
Broken taillight? Order online. DIY.
Panel beater? Just wait.
Can someone explain why I’m getting lots of negs on this?
Surely ‘stay at home if at all possible’ is the whole idea of lockdown not ‘what excuse can I use to get out of the house’
Yes, a car service is an essential service. I waited for 50 minutes to speak to someone from service NSW to confirm. I had my car serviced last week. As long as you have a text or email stating you have a service booked in, and you are only going to and from the service that’s fine. You must wear a mask at all times.
Your car is essential, you need it to get groceries, go to doctor visits (if required) and in cases of emergency.
Please note I do not live in one of the further lockdown LGA’s. The service department related to my car make is 24km away and the service was approved.
I suggest you call and check that the same applies to your area.
FIRSTLY
As Euphemistic said above you shouldn't be driving much so the car service can certainly be postponed until after lockdown.
SECONDLY
Motor repairers have been open until now.
If you have any questions then call them
They should know the rules that apply to them
THIRDLY
The rule is NOT 5km from home. This is a misinterpretation
You can travel anywhere in your LGA so take it to a repairer in your LGA.
Just check to make sure they are authorised to carry out a service on your vehicle
IMPORTANT
The 5km from home rule only applies when you must leave your LGA
The 5km rule is intended to provide flexibility for anyone living near the border of their LGA
eg If its closer to go to the desired business/retailer by leaving your LGA then you can go as far as 5km from home
The rule is NOT 5km from home. This is a misinterpretation
Unless the person is in area of concern, then it is within 5km (health order dated 20 August, paragraph 23(1)(b)(I)… and then there are exceptions to the rules).
I upvoted your comment regardless, but in end the answer to the OP simple questions are "it depends". Where does the person live? What is state of car? Is the person an essential worker? Does the person need to sue the car for essential reason like groceries shopping? Does taillight just need bulb replacing it the electrical circuit needs fixing?
OP did not mention they lived in an area of concern.
Hence my response was in reply to OP.
Not a fully blown explanation of the rules
Yes LGAs/Areas of concern have additional restrictions but that wasn't the question.
Thanks for your reply
This is from Lube Mobile, and I think it spells it out fairly clearly.
If you can answer yes to one of the questions below, you can continue with your booking:
plenty of time to learn to diy, will save a few bucks too when this stuff ends
NO…. ask yourself, is is ESSENTIAL, right at this moment, that you feel compelled to run around as if you are NOT in LOCKDOWN?
Best advice is to contact your local police and ask them.
Car maintenance can be essential if it is necessary for daily travel to work, medical appointments, etc.. Otherwise not essential.
If you want it done right now then just call a mobile mechanic. They are setup to do just about everything and can also obtain any parts needed for the job, ie: new tail light lens.
Even Lube Mobile attempts to check if it's emergency/essential work, and whether they're an essential worker.
If your rego is up for renewal, please call us on 13 77 88 and request an extension on providing an eSafety inspection report (pink slip).
Once you've renewed, ensure you provide your pink slip before your extension ends, otherwise your registration may be suspended.
https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/changes-transactions…
Ring the mechanic and ask perhaps?. I intend to service my car soon if the mechanic books me in.
YEP!
Plenty of mobile mechanics out there
Tried booking one in Sydney lately?
Nope wouldn't live there if you paid me
You're allowed to get ready to vote against LNP ASAP
as far as I know, at least in VIC, you are allowed to get your car fix/services. best call your local MP for advice, therefore if the cops fine you, you can be reimbursed through them.
If you can wait and the service is not absolutely critical, I'd wait. If you rely on your car for work, groceries and it's your only form of transport, then yeah consider getting it serviced.
I do wonder if service intervals/periods from manufacturers will be honoured given the circumstance though.
How much is the fine in NSW for not staying at home as opposed to the fine you get for driving around like an idiot with a broken tail light?
Why don't you measure the importance that way?
As an essential worker you get these privileges because the sick and dying need your skills.
Call the business you're planning to engage, find out what they say. They very well might not want you there. They might want you to come in but have transport home arranged.
When I saw car related activities I was hoping OP was running motorkhana in the backyard.
NSW rules aren't clear to me.
I'd say given you can travel to your n-th home for maintaince anywhere in the state then maintaining your car is fine.
Aside from rules ask yourself if they are needed or you are bored?
If they are needed to running the car then I reckon it's a legit excuse. Wear a mask (if you can) and ask them to wind the windows down and meet you outside.
More fresh air = safer.
If you are bored then keep yourself safe and postpone it.
Yes, I believe it is allowed. I have booked with Toyota for scheduled car service and they did not have any issues with booking.
Yes, because you still need your car to drive to the shops to buy food or get medication, so you need to service it.
I was actually trying to figure this out as well, but there's no clear info.
I was in a car accident around early June, 2 weeks before the outbreak. The insurance has sent my car to a panel beater and it's almost done, about 2-3 days away. But I am not 100% sure if I can actually get dropped off to pick it up.
I mean I'm not made of money so I can't keep this rental car forever, as I am paying out of pocket.
Do I call Service NSW or do I call my local police station?
Last year I had an insurance claim for hail damage to my car during lockdown. Initially, I was going to wait until the lockdown ended, but the panel beater shop called me and said they would pickup and deliver the car back on a tow truck for free. Maybe you can ask the shop if the car can be towed at no charge?
Better call local Police Station as Service NSW will not issue you with a fine when you are going to collect your repaired car and/or dropoff hire car, but NSW Police will during their compliance check on the road.
Personally, I rang service NSW earlier today was on the waiting queue for 45 minutes before the call got answered. My question was if going to get an Esafety check done for an upcoming car rego is an essential reason to leave home, Service NSW staff from registration team put me in the general waiting queue which was subject to even longer waiting time, even after being on the call for 2 hours 30 minutes, Service NSW could not give me a clear answer and just confused me more. I use car to go to work everyday, will need it if my young children got sick, medical appointment etcetera and/or to go to buy groceries and everyday need items.
I know it's not very clear at all.
I took my car for scheduled service today… they gave me a loan car and I went straight home… and when they called I went to pick it up and went straight home. But when I was there there were quite a few people waiting OUTSIDE the building on their phone waiting for their car to be serviced.
When I see such posts, It makes me wonder as how some people are so careful not to brake the laws and avoid police.
Where as on the other hand, I see news where some people clashing with police and the police getting hospitalised.
Why are some people not scared of getting caught and going to jail ?
It's really telling when you have citizens having to resort to online communities to get clarification on restrictions being set out by the government. These crooks need to go. They clearly don't know how to run a government. #quitgladys
Short answer is no. Long answer is it depends. If you’re not in an lga of concern The 5km rule is often misunderstood it what happens when people listen to the news or hear the rules second hand instead of getting it straight from the source. If you’re an essential worker and your vehicle is essential to your work and the services you want carried out are essential to safety and continued running on the vehicle and the business is open and within 5km of your lga than yes. If any of those are a no then it’s a no. If you’re in an lga of concern well that a whole other thing. You’re best ringing your local cop shop if that the case my guess would be most likely yes providing you found a business within 5km or you may be able to get a special exemption if you answer yes to the first three and it is absolutely impossible to find a business to fulfil your needs within 5km
Anything that you are reasonably expected to do to keep your car on the road is a valid reason to leave home. Scheduled service, registration, and urgent repairs are all OK.
Get the car serviced in Byron Bay.
"No officer… it's not a holiday!"
Damn… i feel like i have just given someone in Rose Bay an idea.
Alternatively..the mechanic was on the way to their second residence and they had the window down..need emergency sanitizing.
Maybe try calling your garage/workshop. They will have better idea. Toyota seems to accept schedule service but they don't let you stay in lounge as per NSW health guideline. That also depends on your LGAs. Best situation is you don't take your car beyond the 5km radius for service.
Wash the car for a start.