VIP Tires & Service COVID-19 FAQs

These times are uncertain and unprecedented. Everyone has questions about a lot of things, and as things are changing at such a rapid pace, we’ve decided to collect some of our most frequently asked questions at this time and put them in one place for our communities.

UPDATE!

As of 5/24/2021, in accordance with state and federal regulations, we are no longer requiring fully vaccinated people (customers AND employees) to wear masks in our ME, NH, VT stores if they would prefer not to, and in MA on 5/29/2021 unless specific cities mandate in the future. We do, however, ask that any customer who is not fully vaccinated please continue wearing a mask for their safety and the safety of others. VIP will continue to follow CDC guidelines to protect the health and safety of our customers and employees.

UPDATE: As of 8/16/21 – the town of Billerica, MA has issued an indoor mask mandate for public buildings. You can read more about this individual mandate here.

UPDATE: As of 8/27/21 – the city of Boston, MA, and Town of Brookline, MA has issued an indoor mask mandate for public buildings. You can read more about this individual mandate here.

UPDATE: As of 9/4/21 – the town of Lebanon, NH (and West Lebanon, NH) has issued an indoor mask mandate for public buildings. You can read more about this individual mandate here.

UPDATE: As of 9/27/21 – the town of Worcester, MA has issued an indoor mask mandate for public buildings. You can read more about this individual mandate here.

Are you open?

Yes! Automotive repair is an essential business, so all of our 59 stores across Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Vermont remain open. Most of our stores are open seven days a week. At this time, the only exception is Madawaska, which will be closing on Sundays for the foreseeable future. If there are any other changes, we’ll be sure to let you know here, on our website, and Google.

Ok, so you’re open, but what are your hours?

Our hours remain the same that we’ve always had to serve our customers and stay convenient. The only exception at this time is Madawaska, which is closed on Sundays. Typical hours are Monday – Saturday: 7:30 am – 6 pm. Sunday, 9 am – 4 pm.

You’re an essential business, so that means I can come to your store?

Yes, but please keep in mind CDC recommendations as well as your individual state’s mandates. Our stores remain committed to providing high-quality auto repair and the lowest prices on tires during this time. We do, however, ask all of our customers and employees to adhere to social distancing by keeping are respectful 6′ distance between each other.

In Maine, our Sanford, ME, and Houlton, ME stores only five (5) customers can be in the building at a time. All other Maine store locations are limited to 15 customers at a time. We highly encourage our customers to take advantage of our new Curbside Check-In Service.

Do I need to make an appointment first?

At VIP, we’ve always prided ourselves in having a ‘Walk-Ins Welcome’ attitude when it comes to appointments. So, you can make an appointment, or if you have an emergency, you can always turn to VIP. We do encourage our Curbside Check-In Service if you do need to come to the store.

What is Curbside Check-In Service?

Our Curbside Check-In Service is a new service that we’re offering customers at all of our stores. You can read more in-depth about it here. Our Curbside Check-In Service lets customers drop off their vehicles, check-in with our technicians in the parking lot (as we remain a respectful 6′ distance from you), we’ll call you with any issues and get verbal agreement for the work. Then, we’ll give you a prompt call when the work’s all done so that you can come pick up your vehicle. You can even pay over the phone so that you can avoid coming into the store entirely if you’re not comfortable or are part of a vulnerable community that is nervous being in public places at this time.

What other steps have you taken during the COVID-19 pandemic?

We remain committed to our communities – both our customers and our employees. You can read our message to our customers from the CEO and President of VIP Tires and Service, Tim Winkeler, here.

• We’ve taped 6′ distances to encourage customers who are in store to adhere to social distancing
• All employees must wear masks in the customer store area and while inside your vehicle. We also ask customers to wear masks for everyone’s safety.
• Our employees are sanitizing and cleaning the front desk, waiting room, and other high traffic areas of our stores frequently.
• We’re sanitizing what we touch in your vehicles and helping to keep the interior of your car safe.
• We’re offering Curbside Check-In Service
• In our Houlton and Sanford stores, we’ve limited the number of customers who can be in our stores at one time to 5
• In all other Maine stores, we’ve limited the number of customers that can be in the store at one time to 15
• We’re encouraging social distancing in all other areas and keeping up to date on state and federal mandates and CDC recommendations.

I have studded winter tires – do I still have to have them off by May 1st?

If you have studded winter tires, you will still need to have your tires switched over.

• In Maine and Massachusetts, you’ll need to switch your tires over by May 1st.
• In NH and Vermont, there is no state-mandated date to change your tires over at this time.

Keep in mind that winter tires are made for colder temperatures and can prematurely wear faster when driven on hot pavement or in temps that are consistently above 40 degrees.

If, for some reason, these dates change, we’ll keep you updated!

Can my vehicle contract COVID-19?

No, your vehicle cannot become sickened by the virus. However, if you or anyone riding in your car has symptoms, tested positive, or has had prolonged contact with someone who has, the interior of your vehicle may be compromised. You’ll want to make sure that you clean the interior of your car thoroughly as the CDC has stated the COVID-19 virus can live for 72 hours on hard surfaces. At VIP, we’re sanitizing what we touch in your vehicle for your protection and as a best practice.

Can I change my cabin air filter to protect me from COVID-19?

No, while having a clean cabin air filter in the spring can do a lot of good for seasonal allergies, the size of the COVID-19 virus is exceptionally tiny. According to Kelley Blue Book, “…coronavirus particulate measures between .06 and .14 microns in diameter. Most HEPA filters in today’s modern vehicles can trap germs down to .3 microns, which a coronavirus particulate will be able to float right through.” So, changing your cabin air filter will not protect you from the virus.

Have a question you’d like added to this list? Submit it here.

Updated on 10/20/2021