Know The Value of Your Trade: planning to trade in your old vehicle? Do a little research before stopping in. Not only is this beneficial for you, knowing your vehicle’s trade value can help you negotiate the deal and in some situations, can get you a lower payment. There are many tools available to you to use for research and find your vehicle’s trade value. A trade appraisal will also work as a starting point when it comes time to discuss your trade. 

Personal Identification: the paperwork process can be a pain in the butt and we recommend bringing in the right items on the first purchase visit in order to ensure a quick, pain-free process. Be sure to bring in your driver’s license, proof of insurance, a current registration, and the title to your trade (if you are trading in a vehicle.) These are all necessary in order to get you out the door with your new car and if you end up forgetting any, the process can be held up. 

Review Your Deal: before you sign on the dotted line, you need to know what you are paying for, how much, and for how long. If you are going to be shelling out cash, you should know exactly what you are paying for. Don’t be afraid to ask questions before signing on the line and if you don’t understand something – it is your salesman’s job to explain all of those nitty-gritty details. Don’t be afraid to ask! 

Take a Test Drive: we sure hope no one would ever purchase a vehicle without taking a test drive but if that’s the case, let us recommend taking one! A test drive is the most important thing to do before buying. This is a big investment and if you are not 100 percent happy, it’ll be a waste of time and money on your end! Even if you have to test drive the vehicle a few times and ask a million questions, it is better that you get everything you want than just agreeing to something you think you will like.

February Service Offers:  

Alignment Special 

• Only $179.95* 

Battery Test 

• FREE*

Headlight Restoration Special 

• Only $139.95*

*All offers expire 2/28/2022. See specials page for details

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and if you’re not sure what to get that special someone, remember this important rule, it’s the little things that count! Showing you care for your significant other doesn’t mean you have to buy them an extravagant present this V-Day. So, what should you do to show you care? Great question! We have easy but thoughtful tasks you could do for your love this Valentine’s Day to show that you truly care! So take a peek below, and if you need any assistance with the tasks below, be sure to schedule a service appointment today! 

Sweet Things To Do For Your Boo:

• Clean off their ride: It’s February and in most of the country we are experiencing snowfall. Get up a little earlier and take a few minutes to wipe the snow off their vehicle’s windshield, mirrors, and the rest of their vehicle! Don’t forget to start the car so they can get into a toasty vehicle!

Have Their Coffee Ready To Go:

• It’s no secret the world runs on coffee, so take a second to get your significant other’s coffee ready and place it in the cupholder so that when they get in their toast vehicle their coffee, tea, cocoa, etc. are ready for them and they can take on the day! Maybe even stash some chocolate hearts in the cupholder for a sweet treat later in the day!

Do Some Simple Preparation:

• If you’re on top of your gift-giving this year, order a small clip-on vase that attaches to the vehicle’s dashboard or clips onto the vehicle’s vents. Place a rose inside the vase or leave a valentine or two for a really cute surprise!

Fill Up Their Gas Tank:

• A full tank = a full heart. Do something as simple as filling up their gas tank and put a smile on your loved one’s face when they slip behind the wheel!

Pump Their Ride:

• If you have a couple of extra bucks and you’re willing to spend it on your loved one, bring their ride for a professional cleaning and interior detailing or if you live in a warm place and the weather is nice, do a little DIY to show just how much you care!

Make Them A Mixtape:

• Make them a personalized playlist of love songs or songs that mean a lot to you both as a couple. This will be perfect for the commute to and from work and will really hit the soft spot!

Going all out for your Valentine’s Day gifts this year? Check out our impressive inventory, now, and find the perfect ride for your significant other! Trust us, it’s a gift they will never forget!

• Make a playlist of some of your favorite songs
• Highways might be faster but you’ll miss a lot of scenery, take the road less traveled 
• Eat and stay local, this will offer a more unique and fun trip 
• Pack a cooler aka a cool bag to keep snacks and drinks cold along the way
• Buy a GPS if your smartphone doesn’t have unlimited data, charges will run up fast
• Book your accommodations ahead of time, this will help you map how far you travel 
• When traveling alone, always let someone know where you are 
• Use your best judgment, always. Travel roads that seem safe which you feel comfortable
• Use travel apps, they will help you decide where to eat, stay, what to see, and more! 
• Do your research before leaving, research where you’re going and how you’re going to get there

2022 is officially in full swing and Simi Valley Toyota wants to make sure it is your best year yet! Even though the holidays are over, we still have months of winter ahead of us, and as sports car drivers know, ever-changing weather can be harsh on your vehicle. With the help of regular maintenance and check-ups, you can stay on top-top of your vehicle’s needs and stop any issues in their tracks. So be sure to schedule your Toyota service appointment online now or stop into Simi Valley Toyota today! And if you want to check up on your Toyota to make sure everything is running smoothly, be sure to take a peek below at our ultimate winter maintenance checklist!

• Check and change the oil:

1. 1. • Regular oil and filter changes will keep your engine’s life running longer
      • Nothing will destroy an engine faster than neglecting oil-level checks or fresh-oil changes.

• Flush and change the cooling system:

1. 1. • A 50/50 mix of coolant and distilled water will keep the cooling system in good shape and prevent corrosion and deposits from building up inside the cooling system.
      • Be sure to change your coolant once a year

• Change out transmission and differential oils:

1. 1. • While not requiring frequent service, these fluids must be changed according to service intervals.
      • Before topping off fluids, be sure that it is the proper oil and transmission fluid needed for your vehicle 

• Clean it up:

1. 1. • Washing your vehicle is obvious, but when it comes to cleaning the vehicle’s underside many of us fall short.
      • Everything the vehicle ran over can also get stuck to the underside, hosing off winter salt and road grime is a good idea to keep from corrosion or build up. 

• Grease it up:

1. 1. • Everything with moving parts needs grease to survive, make sure the proper vehicle parts remain greased as needed

• Wax on, wax off:

1. 1. • Nothing keeps your vehicle’s paint looking good and protected like a coat of quality wax.
      • Wax should be applied every six months.
        

• Keep Driveline components Lubricated:

1. 1. • Driveline components such as u-joints also require regular lubrication

• Protect it from harmful UVs:

1. 1. • Protect the interior plastic by parking the vehicle in the shade, harmful UVs can deteriorate the plastic
      • On sunny days, be sure to use a window deflector screen
      •  Applying a UV protectant to prevent the plastic and vinyl from drying out can also help

• Keep your wheels fresh to death:

1. 1. • Inspect, clean, and repack wheel bearings with wheel bearing grease according to service intervals
      • This is a pretty cheap task so you won’t break the bank doing so. 

• Top off your brake fluid:

1. • Brake fluid   moisture, which causes components to corrode and fail
   • Replacing the brake fluid and bleed system once a year will keep from damage happening 
   • Brake fluid is pretty cheap

• Your driver’s license: Your I.D. is proof that you are a legally registered driver, this is important since you have to drive off the lot. Your driver’s license is a way to identify that the check or another form of payment is actually yours, too. 
• Your payment form: Whether it is a bank, credit union, or personal check, pre-approved loan, or any other payment form – be sure to bring it. If you are planning to put money towards a down payment you will need some way to pay for it.  

• Proof of insurance: In order to drive your new vehicle off the lot, you will need proof of insurance. It’s a good idea to call your insurance company ahead of time and add the new vehicle to your existing policy. You’ll need the car’s VIN number to set this up. You can also call the dealership and have them fax or email the insurance card to the dealership. 

• Title/ Registration for your trade-in: If you are trading in a vehicle, be sure to bring the title. If you have a co-signer or a lien against the car, get the appropriate signature ahead of time. This part can be tricky and sometimes causes a hold-up. Give the dealership a call if you are unsure how to go about this. Also, you will need a copy of your current registration. 

• Loan account number: If you are trading in a vehicle and still owe on your loan, bring the loan account number. This number is on one of your pay stubs. You can also call the lender beforehand and ask how to facilitate the transaction.