Drive down the main street in any town in the country, and you’ll eventually see dozens of auto dealerships selling new and used vehicles. If you’re looking for a Polaris dealer or somewhere to purchase an ATV or UTV, you’ll have to look harder.

Those who are determined to grab something to take them off-road are finding themselves going the distance to get a good deal.

Supply Chain Shortage

The auto industry isn’t the only market impacted by the global supply chain and part shortages. After COVID essentially shut down the world, many businesses had to close their doors. No one really expected anything to sell, so dealers started canceling orders. Manufacturers ended up putting things on hold.

The problem was that expectations didn’t exactly match reality. Your local Polaris dealer didn’t expect the number of orders that started rolling into the shop. The unexpected reality is that people had more time on their hands due to shutdowns, stay-at-home orders, and social distancing expectations. These folk decided to use their new free time to explore the off-road trail or get some work down around the house.

The number of shoppers increased, but manufacturers couldn’t keep up. Thanks to things like a cargo vessel clogging the Suez Canal, a massive microchip shortage, and reduction in plastic production, and a smaller workforce, every Polaris dealer in the country felt a little like a ghost town.

Nothing Can Stop The Need for Speed

Even though ATV and UTV inventories were at an all-time low, shoppers didn’t let that stop them from going after their new toys. If the local Polaris dealer doesn’t have what you’re looking for, your next step is to look towards the next-closest dealer. Sadly, lawn and motorsport dealerships aren’t as plentiful as auto dealers, so the next closest dealership might be miles away.

This resulted in shoppers crossing the city, county, and state lines to get the off-road rider they wanted. Thanks to the various models and price ranges on these kinds of vehicles, some people had to go quite the distance. When you have nothing but time and a desire to ride on your hand, taking a road trip for a good deal isn’t such a bad idea.

The Plan Moving Forward

While some aspects of the recent material and vehicle shortage are starting to return to normal, we’re not out of the woods just yet. Just because it’s easy to know what is causing the backlog of ATV and UTV sales doesn’t mean it’s an easy problem to solve.

The supply chain is longer and more complex than you might expect, so there’s always going to be some time between when improvements are made, and solutions come to fruition. Many dealerships are starting to improve their collection of available models, but it might be a while before showrooms are completely stocked again. Until then, those who desire kicking up some mud might have to take a little road trip to scratch that itch.