Coronavirus, Cars and You: Vehicle News and Advice for Staying Safe From Kelley Blue Book

IRVINE, Calif., April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Even in normal times, buying, selling, owning and driving a car each brings its own joys and challenges. Given the current global health crisis, it brings another level of uncertainty. To help car buyers, sellers and owners answer their car questions during this unprecedented time, Kelley Blue Book is updating KBB.com daily with the latest news and advice on Coronavirus, Cars and You: News, Advice and Staying Safe.

"Our daily routines are being disrupted by COVID-19 (Coronavirus), making what would be an everyday task like buying or selling a vehicle that much more difficult if you don't know your options," said Karl Brauer, executive publisher for Kelley Blue Book. "Even current car owners are unsure how to reduce the spread of the virus when taking necessary trips to the store, or how to maintain their vehicle properly. It's important to serve as a resource for car shoppers and buyers looking for advice on how to navigate these uncertain times."

Most Viewed COVID-19 Topics on KBB.com

Deferring Car Payments During Coronavirus? Here are the Pros and Cons
Should I defer my auto payments? That's a question on everybody's mind right now while we are all in Coronavirus quarantine. Many automakers, through their vehicle finance departments or external finance partners, are offering buyers the opportunity to defer payments. It might sound like a great opportunity but it depends on a few factors. Understand how deferral works, what you're agreeing to and the bottom line. Now is a time when many automakers offer deferred payment options to help buyers secure their footing sooner rather than later.

Manufacturer Incentives During the Coronavirus Outbreak
COVID-19 affects the automotive industry in profound ways, with critical supply chains interrupted and factories closing. At this time, many dealerships throughout America are open, though some may be closed due to local government guidelines. Automakers are scrambling to offer incentives in the wake of the outbreak. These include discounts and deferred payments. New programs are announced daily, and you can continue to check KBB.com for the latest information.

How to Clean Your Car to Reduce the Spread of Coronavirus
Nothing will happen to your car, truck or SUV should the coronavirus get onboard. However, if not properly cleaned, your vehicle can become a harbor of all manner of unpleasantness. KBB.com experts suggest taking bottles of hand sanitizer and packets of disinfecting wipes to wipe down the interior of your car and any other area that could be considered a high-touch area. A good rule of thumb is to clean areas that you contact regularly and to sanitize your hands on an hourly basis.

Buy Cars at Home with Dealer Home Services
Kelley Blue Book has introduced Dealer Home Services. This new buying aid on our site allows you to virtually shop, do a video walkaround, arrange a test drive and purchase a new or used car or truck. All without leaving the safety or comfort of your own home. With Kelley Blue Book Dealer Home Services, buyers will be able to shop directly from participating dealers who are offering at least one (or possibly all) of the following three services: Video Walkarounds, Test Drive at Home and Local Home Delivery.

The editors at Kelley Blue Book will be updating KBB.com with news, answers and advice for the foreseeable future. For the latest automotive news, answers and advice, including video, related to COVID-19, visit https://www.kbb.com/articles/car-news/coronavirus-covid-19-car-buying-advice-deals/.

For more information and news from Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com, visit www.kbb.com/media/, follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/kelley-blue-book/, Twitter at www.twitter.com/kelleybluebook (or @kelleybluebook), like our page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kbb  and follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kbb_com/ (or @kbb_com).

About Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com)
Founded in 1926, Kelley Blue Book, The Trusted Resource^®, is the vehicle valuation and information source trusted and relied upon by both consumers and the automotive industry. Each week the company provides market-reflective values on its top-rated website KBB.com, including its famous Blue Book^® Trade-In Values and Kelley Blue Book^® Price Advisor tool, which provides a range for what consumers can reasonably expect to pay for a vehicle in their area. Car owners looking to sell immediately can also get a redeemable, transaction-ready offer with Kelley Blue Book^SM Instant Cash Offer. The company also provides vehicle pricing and values through various products and services available to car dealers, auto manufacturers, finance and insurance companies, and governmental agencies. Kelley Blue Book is a Cox Automotive brand.

About Cox Automotive
Cox Automotive Inc. makes buying, selling, owning and using cars easier for everyone. The global company's 34,000-plus team members and family of brands, including Autotrader^®, Clutch Technologies, Dealer.com^®, Dealertrack^®, Kelley Blue Book^®, Manheim^®, NextGear Capital^®, VinSolutions^®, vAuto^® and Xtime^®, are passionate about helping millions of car shoppers, 40,000 auto dealer clients across five continents and many others throughout the automotive industry thrive for generations to come. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately-owned, Atlanta-based company with revenues of $21 billion. www.coxautoinc.com

SOURCE Kelley Blue Book