Every vehicle brand has its unique characteristics, and Toyota is no exception. That’s why many dealer service technicians are Toyota factory-trained and certified through Toyota’s T-TEN training program, which is built on the ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) Education Foundation accreditation. In many cases, dealer technicians are also required to regularly complete ongoing training programs and certifications.

This additional training means that when you bring your Toyota to a dealer for service, you know that your vehicle is in the hands of highly specialized technicians who can give it the proper care it needs.

 

Excellent service on your Toyota goes beyond just the items under your hood. There may be times when you need help with some of the high-tech features in your vehicle, and by visiting a dealership you have access to an entire team of people who can help. Many dealers require that their service manager, service advisors, and support staff complete ongoing training programs, so they can easily help you with your Toyota’s electronics and other features.

If you take your Toyota to an independent shop, your mechanic may not have Toyota-specific training, and that could mean their maintenance work depends on guessing or making assumptions. It’s a risk you might not want to take with your vehicle.

Think of it this way: when you need help on home improvement, or you need expert medical care, would you choose a generalist, or someone who specializes in the help you need? Given the option, most people would prefer specialists,which are what you’ll find when it comes to service at your Toyota dealership. No one knows your Toyota better! 

Today, vehicles are more technologically advanced than ever before: under that sleek exterior, there’s an elaborate electrical system and a computer that controls it. If an issue arises, it may need specialized diagnostic equipment in order to determine the problem, along with the right tools to fix it.

Since diagnostic equipment can be costly, this means that smaller, independently-owned shops don’t usually have access to it – but your local Toyota service center does. Additionally, because some parts require specially designed tools to be used in order to install or remove them, you won’t have to worry when you visit your dealer since they have all the right tools on hand. 

Taking care of your service needs at a Toyota dealership means that only genuine Toyota parts are used. Remember that same dependability and reliability you had in mind when you leased your Toyota? It almost goes without saying that when your vehicle is serviced using genuine Toyota parts, you’ll know that the same engineering quality went into designing and manufacturing these parts.

In some cases, your Toyota dealership may offer a warranty not only on parts but also on the labor for any services or repairs they make. Be sure to ask your dealer for more details.

If you visit a local shop or chain store, they may use non-Toyota parts which can’t always guarantee the same reliability, performance, or warranty as parts made by Toyota for a Toyota can. 

Let’s consider the Toyota warranty of the vehicle itself. If you need maintenance that is covered by the Toyota warranty, then your service may come free of charge if you take it to the dealership. On the other hand, if you take your Toyota to any place besides a dealership, it’s safe to say that you’ll certainly pay for any service – even if you could have gotten it for free or discounted at the dealership. Don’t forget that trusting your vehicle to the dealer’s service department also means that your car stays under warranty; the same may not be true if your car is serviced and damaged at an independently-owned shop.

It’s also important to remember that even when the vehicle’s warranty does not cover maintenance, the work itself will often be guaranteed under a repair warranty. This is a huge benefit because a repair warranty is good at any Toyota dealership nationwide. So, if you move, take a road trip, or find yourself away from your usual dealership for any reason, you can rest assured that if a repair made by Toyota doesn’t hold, it will be fixed free of charge at any other Toyota dealer.

While some independent shops may be able to offer you a warranty on service or repairs, it may not be the same coverage or offer the same length of time. Not to mention, if you find yourself out of town and need a second look, your warranty would likely be worthless elsewhere.  

While they may not happen often, it’s important to know if your vehicle is associated with any Toyota recalls or technical service bulletins. Generally, Toyota sends these notices by mail, but perhaps you just moved and your address hasn’t been updated yet; at other times mail notices may get lost or not arrive to you in a timely manner.

That’s where a visit to your local Toyota dealership can help because each time you come in for service, the dealer should automatically check to see if your vehicle has any recalls associated with it. And just like repairs covered by your vehicle’s warranty, if any recall affects your vehicle, you won’t pay to have the work completed at your Toyota dealership.

Keep in mind that while some local and chain shops may have access to software that provides information on all manufacturer recalls and technical service bulletins, you’ll probably have to pay for any repairs since your Toyota warranty isn’t valid at those locations. 

Most dealerships offer extended service hours so that you can get your Toyota taken care of when it’s most convenient for you, including nights and weekends. Many stores also offer express service lanes that get you in and out as fast as possible for simple services and routine maintenance. And in the event that you need service that will take extensive time, most dealerships offer loaner cars so that you can get back to your day while your Toyota is being repaired. 

Your satisfaction is the top priority at any Toyota dealership, from the store’s employees to its owner, and all the way to Toyota’s corporate oversight. That’s why Toyota has stringent requirements in place at every store, to ensure that you get the best customer service possible, alongside expert care, no matter which Toyota dealer you visit. In some cases, you may receive a survey or other opportunity to share feedback about your service experience at the dealership.

An independent service shop may be a one person operation with only an owner/operator or a small business with a few employees. With less oversight you may have a different experience at every visit, or even an owner who is less than willing to focus on your complete satisfaction. 

Trust your Toyota to those who know it best. By bringing your Toyota to a certified Toyota Service Center, your vehicle will receive expert care from certified technicians working in state-of-the-art facilities using genuine Toyota parts. It’s the best way to keep your Toyota a Toyota.