Effective Tuesday, all selling must be done with Manheim's remote-selling tool and lots will be closed to buyers and sellers.

U.S. auto sales got off to an OK start in March before plunging as the pandemic forced the closings of schools and businesses and consumers stayed home.

Giants Manheim and ADESA had been gradually developing fully digital auctions. The COVID-19 outbreak forced an abrupt switch.

The move comes as states such as California, Illinois and New York impose strict containment measures and close nonessential businesses amid the coronavirus pandemic.

In California, six counties around San Francisco are issuing a shelter-in-place order until April 7, according to a memo from the California New Car Dealers Association. The order will require nonessential businesses in those counties to close. The association said auto repair is listed as an essential business, so dealership service and parts operations should remain open.

Both auction giants said they will waive related fees during the period. Their physical locations will operate as usual outside of sales hours and be open to sellers and buyers. 

The car-shopping technology companty said it will open up beta testing of the tool to traditional dealers soon but hasn't given a time frame.

Manheim has been adopting digital lanes at other locations throughout the country while keeping portions of the auction sites for vehicles physically running through lanes.

A Toyota store in Washington was closed temporarily after an employee was diagnosed with the coronavirus. Uncertainty and worry are putting dealerships everywhere in a difficult position.

No one was injured at the location and the auction's human resources team is working to account for the safety of team members who live in the area.

The used-vehicle retailer aggressively pursued buying consumer vehicles in 2019, and 2020 should be no different.