Why are Toyota dealerships acting like this?

Let’s say you want a 2024 Toyota Sienna in a specific trim, but they don’t release many of that kind for some unknown reason. After waiting months, you might ask:

  1. Can I drive to a different state to pick up the van I want from a dealer that’s not local?

  2. If I place an order (get on the waitlist), will my order be filled in the order it was received?

  3. Can I ask my local dealer to trade with another dealership so I can get the van I want locally?

These things used to be possible, though not always guaranteed. Now, you can’t do any of it. Why does Toyota operate like this? It’s frustrating, and it makes me feel less fond of both the dealers and Toyota in general.

I understand some hybrid parts might be hard to get, but come on, it just doesn’t make sense. I really like Toyota as a company, but these policies leave me scratching my head. Anyone else have any info or insights? Thanks.

You can definitely do all those things, but it sounds like you need to go to a different dealership.

I’ve bought my last four Toyotas in another state with no problems, and dealer trades happen all the time. Maybe not for the specific car you’re after, but it does happen.

Toyota doesn’t do special orders. If you’re on a waitlist, it’s really up to the dealer when they get a car that matches what you asked for. I’d recommend using Toyota’s inventory search tool to find cars that are allocated to dealers but haven’t arrived yet. If you see something you like, reach out to that dealer and work out a deal before it even hits the lot.

Some dealers won’t sell specialty vehicles to out-of-state buyers, but that’s rare. I’ve never run into that, and I’ve bought from Utah, Texas, Nebraska, and Montana.

@Cade
OP, this is the right answer. If you’re being told otherwise, you need to find a new dealer.

@Cade
When did you buy out of state, and was it after COVID started? I’ve heard policies might have changed since then.

I think I’m trying to get a vehicle that’s just super rare. I’ll call more dealerships that have what I need. Thanks!

@Zora
Yeah, October 2023. I called the salesperson I worked with in 2021 about a 2023 model. It was sold, and they suggested I waitlist for a 2024. I sent my deposit and financing info, and by mid-November, the vehicle was ready. I drove from Washington to Idaho, checked the car quickly, signed the paperwork, and was home before brunch.

I think you just need a different dealer, or you’re after a unicorn car, and that’s just how it is.

@Isle
Parker Toyota?

Vivian said:
@Isle
Parker Toyota?

Yep, highly recommend them. I’ve had great experiences there. Their service and detailing staff do a fantastic job, and the sales process is pretty relaxed. I didn’t have to haggle much for the 2024 model I bought. Just smooth and easy.

@Zora
I bought my 2024 Corolla Hybrid from an out-of-state dealer in December 2023. I reached out to them from VA when I saw the car in their PA allocation in October. Put down a $1k deposit and traded my Camry. Everything was arranged remotely, and the dealer contacted me once the car arrived. Super smooth process.

@Zora
January 2023. Local dealers all had the same two colors, but a dealer in a nearby state had what I wanted.

ToyoLeez said:
@Zora
January 2023. Local dealers all had the same two colors, but a dealer in a nearby state had what I wanted.

Yeah, seems like it totally depends on the dealership. Thanks for the input.

@Zora
I just bought a 2024 Grand Highlander two months ago from a dealer two hours away. I was also looking at dealers across two states.

Hey there, I’m a Toyota Product Advisor, so maybe I can help answer your questions.

First, on the Siennas: they’re super hard to get right now. They require a lot of hybrid parts, and demand is sky-high.

  1. You can drive across state lines, but the dealer might not want to sell to you. Selling the car isn’t the moneymaker—service is. If they know you won’t return for service, they might not want to sell to you.

  2. Toyota doesn’t do orders. You’re on a waitlist for allocations. If the car you wanted isn’t built but one you didn’t request is, someone lower on the list might get theirs before you.

  3. Dealers aren’t always in the same group, and trades might not make sense for them. They’d rather sell the car themselves, especially in high-demand times like now.

On the supply side, it’s been rough. I’m in Canada, and it’s worse here. Hybrid components are really tough to get, partly due to the war in Ukraine (Ukraine was a big producer of neon, which is important for hybrids). It’s just a perfect storm of high demand and low supply.

Buyers are also keeping cars longer, so fewer are coming back into the used market. And because Toyota has such a strong reputation for reliability, people are flocking to them. It’s not just the dealerships causing problems—it’s the whole situation with supply chains, buyer trends, and more.

@Kel
The neon shortage from the Ukraine war makes sense, but can you explain more about how COVID is still affecting the supply chain?

Also, just for others reading, I’m in Canada and waited over a year for my RAV4 Hybrid.

@Sutton
COVID halted production briefly, but demand stayed high. So even though production is back up, they’re still trying to catch up with the backlog of orders. The slower response to this demand has really caused issues.

@Kel
Got it! I didn’t realize we were still catching up on that front.

Sutton said:
@Kel
Got it! I didn’t realize we were still catching up on that front.

Yeah, for some brands, it’s fine now. But for Toyota, we’re busier than ever. People are tired of subpar vehicles and are switching to Toyota for long-term reliability.

@Kel
Thanks, that was really helpful (though it still leaves me stuck on the waitlist with no clear end). So trades are possible, but I guess it depends on the dealership.

@Kel
Siennas are so in-demand that they’re usually sold as soon as the dealer gets them. Back in 2022, I missed a call by just a few hours, and the car was already gone. With that kind of speed, there’s little incentive for dealers to trade. I ended up getting the exact car I wanted, but it took almost two months of back and forth with dealers.

@Kel
Any news on when the new Land Cruiser is coming out? :smile:

Elijah4 said:
@Kel
Any news on when the new Land Cruiser is coming out? :smile:

I wish I knew! I’ve got my own order in for one!