Your guide to a successful road trip season is finally here! Our team has worked hard to put together a few tips and tricks that will help you prepare for your upcoming trips behind the wheel. From stopping into getting your Toyota services to doing a little DIY at home, we have every tip you need and probably didn’t add to your road trip checklist below. Once you’ve gone over these tips, we encourage you to schedule a service appointment with our team, and let’s get you onto a road trip quicker than you thought! 

Clean your ride before & during the trip 

• From top to bottom, give your vehicle a little TLC cleaning. Give it a wash, vacuum, and be sure to throw out any unnecessary items, wrappers, receipts, etc. You’ll regret not cleaning out your vehicle before hitting the road, trust us. 

Check in on your vehicle 

• Before leaving for your trip, we encourage you to have our service team look over your vehicle to ensure things are in proper working order. From your fluid levels, brakes, tires, and anything else that can cause an issue, it’s important to make sure you’re ready to handle any situation. 

Have a backup plan 

• It’s always important when road tripping to have a backup plan, whether it’s additional options to stop and grab gas, to stay or eat, or additional routes to take, it’s important to be able to change your plans on-the-fly if issues arise along the way. 

Preload entertainment options 

• While the radio is a great entertainment option, crossing state lines and towns might cause issues with select stations. We encourage you to preload music, podcast, and additional entertainment options that might keep you engaged during the drive. We also recommend bringing a phone charger to keep your phone charged at all times. 

Join a roadside assist service 

• While we hope you won’t be needing this, having roadside assistance is a great way to stay safe if things go south during your trip. Having access to these services will save you a lot of trouble and we recommend it greatly!

Spring has sprung and that means it’s the perfect time to slip behind the wheel of your Toyota and hit the open road for a road trip! But if you’re worried about your fuel mileage, we’re here to help this April! With our list of 10 fuel-saving tips below, you’ll spend less time at the pump and more time on the road with your windows down and music up! We encourage you to check out those tips below and if you’re ready to upgrade into a brand new Toyota, we encourage you to stop in and ask about the current incentives on HEV and PHEV vehicles including the California Clean Fuel Reward! We look forward to working with you and your Toyota and we hope to see you soon right here at Simi Valley Toyota! 

10 Fuel Saving Tips 

• Keep your tires properly inflated at correct PSI levels 
• Replace spark plugs early to save on fuel 
• Replace/ check your air and cabin filters each time you get an oil change
• Always ensure that your vehicle is properly aligned
• Avoid hard acceleration in stop-and-go situations
• Keep your speed close to 55 MPH on highways to maximize efficiency
• Keep an eye on warning lights on your dashboard and assess properly 
• Check for brake drag which can reduce your mileage 
• Replace a failing thermostat 
• Replace oxygen sensors before they go bad & cost you in fuel

Spring has sprung and new offers are waiting for you right here at Simi Valley Toyota! If you’ve been waiting for the perfect time to slip behind the wheel of a brand new Toyota, now is the time. We encourage you to browse our brand new vehicle offers below and schedule your test drive online today. And if you’re ready to drive your new Toyota home today, be sure to get pre-approved online today and select your chosen Toyota in our online inventory before stopping in to see our team. We look forward to working with you and hope to see you soon! 

2021 Toyota Camry LE FWD

• Lease for only $240/ month*

2021 Toyota Corolla Hybrid LE FWD

• Lease for only $199/ month* 

2021 Toyota Corolla LE FWD 

• Lease for $188/ month* 

2021 Toyota RAV4 LE FWD

• Lease for only $268/ month* 

2021 Toyota Prius Prime LE FWD 

• Buy for only $23,818*

*Offers expire 5/03/2021. See dealer for full details.

April showers are bringing April service incentives! It’s hard to believe that April is in full swing and we’re planning our springtime adventures behind the wheel of our beloved Toyota! But before we hit the road, we want to stress how important it is to service your vehicle before hitting the road! This week we have put together a list of our current service incentives so you can save money when you stop in to see our team in our service center! Take some time checking out those offers below, print yours off our specials page today, and be sure to schedule your service appointment online or over the phone today! We look forward to working with you and hope to see you soon right here at Simi Valley Toyota!  

April Service Offers: 

Alignment Special 

• Only $114.95* 

Battery Test 

• FREE*

Headlight Restoration Special 

• Only $89.95*

*All offers expire 4/30/2021. See specials page for details.

Have you seen the forecast?! Well, maybe if there’s no rain in the immediate future, you know rain is headed our way because after all it is April and you know what they say! This week we have put our brains together and come up with five April shower driving tips you need to know as a driver. We hope you use this week’s blog as a refresh on driving tips and put these ideas to good use. If your vehicle is in need of a little TLC, schedule your service appointment below and hurry on by to see your favorite Toyota team! 

Wait Until The Weather Clears 

• If you don’t feel comfortable behind the wheel during rain showers, postpone your travels and wait until the weather clears before heading out. There is no reason to put yourself in dangerous situations if not necessary. 

Double Check Your Vehicle

• It’s important to check your vehicle’s health year-round, but when it comes to April showers, we want to be looking for specific things. For example, we need to check our head and tail lights, windshield wipers, and our tires to ensure they’re not balding. Bald tires can reduce traction on wet roadways. 

Slow It Down 

• As you should always adhere to the posted speed limit, when the roadway is wet, this is crucial. We encourage you to drive considerably slower since wet roads are dangerous and your vehicle reacts slower when it rains. 

Maintain A Safe Distance Between Cars 

• As we said above, your vehicle reacts slower when it rains so it’s important to give yourself a little extra space between vehicles. You should leave several car lengths between you and the vehicle you are following. 

Avoid Standing Water

• Driving your vehicle through standstill water can cause hydroplaning and other dangerous situations for your vehicle. If you approach a puddle, wait for other vehicles to pass and avoid the area by changing lanes or steering around.

Happy Spring, friends! Can you believe March is already closing up and April is almost here?! We sure can’t but with the change in months and season, we’re sure that you’re getting ready to take a road trip and adventure out to enjoy the warmer temperatures. But before you hit the road, we encourage you to check on those air filters and ensure they are in healthy, proper working condition! This week’s blog will assist you with what you need to know when it comes to checking on those filters. Get those details below and if you’re in need of assistance or ready to schedule your service appointment, contact our team today! We look forward to working with you! 

The Purpose of Filters 

• The answer is pretty easy, your vehicle air filter keeps debris, dirt, leaves, and other particles out of your engine so that it can operate at peak efficiency. Filters are often composed of pleated paper or cardboard material and are either rectangular or cylinder in shape. Neglecting to change your air filters can lead to: 
  • Decreased engine power 
  • Poor acceleration
  • Poor engine health 
  • Higher RPMs leading to more wear on your engine

The Benefits of Changing Filters 

• It’s been known that when you change your air filter, your fuel mileage can increase upwards to 14% for more modern cars. Changing your filters can prolong the life of your vehicle since these trapped dirt, debris, and other particles can lead to costly repairs on your engine. Keep a close eye on your filters and consider changing them every time you have an oil change. 

How To Know When To Change 

• Filters should be changed around every 15,000 to 60,000 miles depending on the make of your vehicle. If you find yourself traveling dusty or dirty roads more often, your filters will likely need to be replaced more often. Keep an eye on these tops signs to ensure when to swap: 
  • Your vehicle is having issues with acceleration
  • Your RPMs are higher than normal
  • A visual inspection of your filter shows it to be dirty

Happy March Toyota family! Can you believe we’re quickly approaching springtime?! It’s been a quick year in some cases and we’re ready to celebrate the spring season. And getting ready for the spring starts right here with our service team at Simi Valley Toyota! Check out our new March service incentives below, head over to our specials page to print your selected coupon, and be sure to schedule a service appointment online today to ensure you are in and out at a time that is convenient for you! We look forward to working with you and your Toyota – see you soon! 

March Service Offers: 

Alignment Special 

• Only $114.95* 

Battery Test 

• FREE*

Headlight Restoration Special 

• Only $89.95*

*All offers expire 3/31/2021. See specials page for details.

Are you ready to upgrade your vehicle? Are you also ready to have the easiest car buying experience date? Then you’ll want to stop in to see the team right here at Simi Valley Toyota! This week we are handing over five of our helpful tips to ensure that your experience here with our team is not only easy but a fun one too! So, get all those details below, hurry in to see our team, and let us help make you part of the Simi Valley Toyota family! We look forward to working with you and your new Toyota! 

Get Pre-Approved: getting a pre-approved auto loan before stopping in to see our team will speed up the buying process and keep you from waiting long periods of time while we’re dealing with the bank. Also, we recommend getting pre-approved before even starting your vehicle search, so you will have a better idea of your budget and what types of models you can afford. 

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, 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 to take 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.