Buying a car represents one of the biggest investments anyone will make. Unfortunately, that investment will begin to show its age over time — no matter how careful a driver you are. A car is a machine after all, and eventually machines wear out. 

You can delay that moment with preventive care, and at Keith Pierson Toyota, we make it easy to do just that with ToyotaCare, a car upkeep program that comes standard with the sale or lease of new Toyota models. ToyotaCare provides peace of mind to car owners through important benefits that will help them keep their vehicles as close to new as possible in the first few years of ownership.

What  Is ToyotaCare?

ToyotaCare is a program that picks up the full cost of all scheduled maintenance on your newly purchased or leased Toyota for two years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first. Don't worry about having to remember when servicing is due; ToyotaCare will provide you with regular reminders of scheduled maintenance. In this busy world we live in, those are easy to forget.

Toyota bases the approved maintenance on a schedule that includes procedures such as oil changes, looking at all fluids and topping them off as needed, complete end-to-end inspections, and tire rotation. As a general statement, ToyotaCare covers these procedures every 5,000 miles or every six months. But different models may be on different maintenance schedules or have different service requirements, so make sure to consult your owner's manual to know what to expect. 

If you stay perfectly on schedule, that means ToyotaCare covers the costs of four complimentary maintenance visits. Trained Toyota mechanics — those professionals who are trained on Toyota vehicles and know them the best — conduct the maintenance and use only genuine Toyota parts. 

Roadside Assistance

ToyotaCare offers benefits that go beyond the service bay. You will be covered under ToyotaCare for emergency services you might need in case of a breakdown or some other roadside problems. ToyotaCare Roadside Assistance, which is available for two years with no mileage limits, includes:

• Jump-starting batteries.
• Delivering fuel if you run out of gas.
• Changing a flat tire to your inflated spare.
• Towing to a Toyota dealer/ship reachable within 25 miles of your car.
• Emergency winching to get you out of a ditch, mud, sand, or snow.

Not every roadside need gets covered under ToyotaCare. The service is available only in the continental United States and Alaska and does not extend to parts or fluids beyond emergency gas.

If you decide to sell your Toyota prior to the two years, both the ToyotaCare service program and the roadside assistance will transfer to the new owner as long as the coverage period has not expired.

What Is ToyotaCare Plus?

While purchasing a new Toyota, you may also hear references made to ToyotaCare Plus and wonder what that entails. ToyotaCare Plus is an optional pre-paid maintenance and roadside assistance program that will extend the benefits of ToyotaCare on your car for a longer period — either one, two, or three additional years, depending on the period you choose. 

This means you can have the peace of mind of ToyotaCare for a total period of either three, four, or five years, covering scheduled factory services at 30,000, 45,000, 60,000, and 75,000 miles. 

One advantage of this program is realized if you decide to buy a pre-owned Toyota from a Toyota dealership. As long as the car has fewer than 31,000 miles and is less than 37 months from its first use, you can add ToyotaCare Plus to your purchase. Toyota will allow you to roll the cost of ToyotaCare Plus into your loan or lease agreement. 

Roughly the same services are covered and available under the roadside assistance program, including changes for flat tires, battery  jump-starts, emergency fuel delivery, and towing and winching service. The best upside is perhaps access to a 24/7 call center. Roadside assistance is available throughout the period of coverage you purchase, regardless of mileage.

Why Following the Manufacturer's Service Schedule Is Important

With a new vehicle, you might be tempted to let regularly scheduled service slide. After all, the car is just off the factory line, right? What can go wrong?

You may be taking a gamble. The Auto Aftermarket Industry Association estimates some $50 billion in scheduled services are missed each year. As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. By ignoring routine service and care early on in a vehicle's life, you could be setting yourself up for more significant repairs down the road. 

Don't forget that these "little" maintenance jobs can also play a role in keeping you and your family safe. It is sometimes only through regular service inspections that hidden problems are discovered.

ToyotaCare and More at Keith Pierson Toyota

Access to ToyotaCare for car maintenance and roadside assistance is just one of the benefits of joining forces with Keith Pierson Toyota. We're a full-service auto dealer based in Jacksonville, Florida, serving communities across northeast Florida, including St. Johns, Greencove Springs, Orange Park, and Middleburg. 

Our experienced sales team can help you find a new Toyota sedan, crossover, or full-sized SUV from the most recent model year. We also maintain one of the area's largest inventories of used and pre-owned models, including a broad selection priced at less than $15,000. Used cars can often save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars. What's more, you'll receive a fair offer for your trade-in, used or new, which will be important in driving off with your new ride.

As a full-service dealership, we also offer assistance with financing so you can get the loan or lease that works for you, as well as repair and maintenance services to keep your car on the road as long as possible. Join the Keith Pierson Toyota family today. Call us or contact us online for an appointment.