New Rules For Vehicle Sales, Religious Services In Washington

OLYMPIA, WA — Vehicle and boat sales can resume in Washington, along with drive-in religious services, according to Gov. Jay Inslee. The governor's office released several memos Wednesday night with updated guidelines under phase 1 of Washington's Safe Start reopening plan.

Business owners with questions can contact the state using this form.

Vehicle and boat sales

What's allowed:

• Wholesalers, retailers and dealers that were already operating before the governor's order can reopen, once they enact certain safety protocols.
• Permitted sales include cars, trucks, vans, motorcycles, ATVs, yachts, pontoons and sailboats.
• Office staff is allowed to return to work, but employees who can work remotely are still encouraged to do so. Employees in high-risk groups must be provided with "all available options for alternative work assignments."
• Non-motorized vehicles and vessels, including skateboards, canoes, and kayaks, are not covered in the memo. The governor's office said those sales will be addressed in separate guidance for retail sales.
• Sellers must be able to meet all the requirements outlined by the state before they reopen.

New sales procedures:

• Sellers must communicate with customers by phone or e-mail and remotely guide them through the purchase process, including applications for financing, warranties, or trade-in appraisals. All paperwork should be completed electronically, as much as possible.
• Before the buyer arrives, an employee wearing appropriate face coverings and gloves must thoroughly sanitize all hard surfaces of the vehicle or vessel, including high-touch areas on the inside and outside. The same process is required to sanitize any trade-in vehicle before an appraisal.
• The vehicle or vessel must be delivered to a sanitized room or service area at the dealership, which surfaces sanitized between each transaction. Deliveries may also be done outside or at another location, with appropriate distancing.
• Dealership employees can answer questions while maintaining appropriate physical distance. After the sale, the seller can send customers a video explaining the vehicle's features, or schedule a remote session with a representative to answer specific questions.
• For boat sales specifically, no more than one person is allowed inside a vessel, unless they are from the same household or appropriate social distancing can be ensured.
• Similar to construction requirements, all sellers must develop a COVID-19 exposure mitigation plan and provide special training for employees.

Read all the requirements here.

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New rules for drive-in spiritual services

• Drive-in religious and spiritual services are allowed to immediately resume, but all attendees must remain in their vehicle at all times.
• Windows, sunroofs and convertible tops are required to stay closed unless the vehicle is separated from others by at least six feet.
• Vehicles can only include healthy people from the same household, and no more than 10.
• No food, beverages or other materials can be distributed or collected before, during, or after the service.
• For offerings, organizers can place a drop-box for vehicles to access, but online donations are preferred.

Phase two of the governor's reopening plan is tentatively expected to begin June 1, provided metrics continue to trend in the right direction. The second phase will allow for more outdoor recreation, small gatherings with friends, limited in-person retail and restaurants, and hair salons to return.

Related: Washington's Coronavirus Risk Dials Show Improvement