Five years ago, Donald and Victoria Davis opened Davis Automotive in Lockport. Donald is a mechanic, and his wife runs the business side.

The shop grew to the point where they were recently ready to add a third full-time mechanic to the staff, but that all changed with COVID-19.

"It was like one news conference later and I came in and it was like somebody shut the lights off and I started all over again," Donald said.

Since the pandemic started taking hold here, they've lost about 75 percent of their normal workload and had to lay off another mechanic.

"This is our sole income for our family so there's no plan B option," Victoria said.

Auto repair spots are among the businesses allowed to remain open by New York State during the coronavirus crisis.

The Davises have made a few changes for everyone's safety. 

"To make sure that that's OK, that they know they can still bring their cars to get fixed and keep up on the maintenance that needs to be done," Victoria said.

They're asking customers to drop off their cars rather than wait inside. They can make payments over the phone or through email. 

Donald is taking extra steps to disinfect the vehicles before and after they're in the shop. 

"Pretty much any point that you touch on a regular basis or I touch gets cleaned," he said.

That includes door handles, locks steering wheels and shift knobs. He wears a mask and gloves while using a medical-grade disinfectant from his mother's dental practice.

"You've got to just be smart about it. Make sure they go home and they don't get sick and make sure I don't take it home to my kids,” he said.

New York State is allowing an indefinite extension for safety and emissions inspections due in March or later.

And even if your car doesn't need repairs right now, Davis has some advice.

"Maybe go get in your car a couple times a week," he said. "Take it around the block. Keep the fluids moving, keep the brakes going. Keep the belts spinning.  Keep all that stuff going."

So it's ready to roll whenever life revs back up.