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Do you really get into the swing of things for the holidays? Some people go all out, decorating their house from top to bottom. If you're the type of person to buy out Hobby Lobby the day after Thanksgiving to get prepped for the holiday season, then the thought of decorating your car has probably crossed your mind. However, there are rules when it comes to getting your car into the holiday spirit, and our Orlando Toyota dealership is here to explain the basics. Put safety first when decking out your car for the holidays When decorating your car for Christmas, safety should be your first priority. Here are some things to consider when decking our your ride: Everything should be securely fastened. You don't want anything to be pulled off by wind resistance when you hit the road, as those Rudolph antlers you love can quickly become a hazard to other drivers and pedestrians. You should be able to see clearly out of your vehicle. Any interior or exterior decorations like window decals or tinsel that obscure your field of vision are a no-no - not only are they dangerous, they can also get you into trouble with law enforcement. Make sure that the decorations you choose leave you a clear field of vision at all times. Lights are a no-go, especially colored lights. Lights are distracting to other drivers and in some cases, colored lights can be confused with law enforcement vehicles. Save the lights for the house. If you're participating in a parade or turning up the holiday cheer at a tailgate, then make sure you choose waterproof outdoor lights to decorate safely and don't turn the lights on until you've arrived at your destination. Don't cover up your license plates. It may seem like a great idea to hang a wreath on the back of your car, but don't let it (or any other decorations) cover up your license plate. Law enforcement needs to be able to clearly see all numbers and letters or you may find yourself ticketed. Be careful with hanging decorations like lights and tinsel. If part of it comes loose, it could get tangled in your wheels and cause problems. If you use hanging decorations on the exterior of your car, ensure that they're securely fastened every time you hit the road. Don't use any decorations inside that interfere with safety. Remember, anything that's not secured inside the cabin of your car can quickly become a projectile in the case of an accident, putting you and your passengers at risk. You should also avoid using any sort of decoration that will interfere with seatbelts and their ability to function properly! Schedule holiday auto service at our Toyota service center Have more questions about decorating your ride for the holidays or want to schedule auto service before your big Christmas road trip? Call Toyota of Orlando today! We're open seven days a week at (407) 298-0001 and our skills techs are here to help.

When it comes to finding the absolute perfect ride, it can take a little bit of leg work. This is especially true if you're looking for an older model or something incredibly specific. This type of purchase can take you out of your local area and sometimes out of state or even out of the country. However, long distance car buying is a different ball game than buying from your local dealer or a private seller in your city! Toyota of Orlando is here with tips to make your long distance car buying experience a breeze. 3 Orlando Toyota tips to help with your long distance car buying experience Tip #1: Do your homework before you buy. When you buy a car long distance, chances are you may only see it in photographs and video (unless you spring for a plane ticket to get to where it is). This being said, you need to be thorough when it comes to researching the vehicle. Make sure you ask for photos and video so you can see every inch of it, request service and repair records, and run a CarFax report on the car. You should also come up with a list of very specific questions to ask the seller so you cover all of your bases. Remember, you won't get to take a test drive unless you actually go see the car in person, so it's essential to be as thorough as possible. If you CAN get out to where the vehicle is to see it in person, we highly recommend it! Tip #2: Check fuel and safety standards in your city and state. Fuel and safety standards vary from state to state, and they can be different here in the US from other countries. For example, Florida has specific rules about fuel efficiency and vehicle safety features. Make sure your ride will be up to code when it arrives or you may not be able to hit the road in it without making modifications and having to pay even more money. This is especially true if you're buying internationally! Tip #3: Figure out how to get it home. How are you going to get your new ride home? Long distance car buying adds a whole new component in this arena - are you going to drive your new ride and put all those miles on it? If you're buying from another country, this may not even be a possibility. If you're going to ship your car, make sure you choose a reputable company and price it out so you have the money set aside. Our Orlando Toyota dealership also recommends that you set aside a little bit of money for repairs that might spring up - sometimes damage can occur when a car is shipped. Have questions? Our Orlando Toyota sales associates can help! Have questions? We can help! Our knowledgeable Orlando Toyota sales associates have the answers to your questions. Give us a call at (407) 298-4500. We're open seven days a week until 10pm!

OK. Before we get started, we want to make one thing clear - WE'RE NOT FORGETTING ABOUT THANKSGIVING. But Christmas is definitely in the air in the City Beautiful and holiday events are starting to fill up the calendar. We're here to give you some ideas to add a little holiday spirit to your weekend and we've even included some Thanksgiving events for you Turkey Day enthusiasts. Whichever holiday you plan to celebrate this weekend, we hope it's the best. Hunter's Creek Turkey Trot: Trying to get a little burn in before the big day? Make room for the mashed potatoes and hit the road for the Hunter's Creek Turkey Trot this Saturday, November 23. Registration is $25 and the race kicks off at 8:30am at Osprey Park (5100 Town Center Blvd.). 21st Annual Vegan Thanksgiving: Are you a fan of Turkey Day but not so much the turkey? Check out the 21st Annual Vegan Thanksgiving at Mead Botanical Garden (1300 S. Denning Ave in Winter Park) this Sunday, November 24. The potluck is $5 if you bring a vegan dish to share and $15 if you don't, and dinner kicks off at 2 pm. Jingle Eve 2019: Get into the holiday spirit in Ivanhoe Village this Saturday, November 23 from 5-10 pm. This holiday street party includes a wine tasting with the 12 wines of Christmas, biergartens, live music, arts and crafts vendors, food trucks, and a craft table where kids can make Christmas cards for other children who are spending the holidays in the Advent Hospital system. The evening ends with a fireworks display over Lake Ivanhoe! Light Up UCF: It's opening weekend for Light Up UCF at the University of Central Florida! This holiday event is open from 5pm - 12am and features photos with Santa, an ice skating rink, a ferris wheel, a choreographed lights show, a kids train, a carousel, and other carnival rides. Entry is free but it does costs vary for the different rides and attractions, so bring your cash. Festival of Trees: Visit the Orlando Museum of Art (2416 N Mills Ave) this weekend to explore a winter wonderland of beautifully decorated Christmas trees. You'll also find decorated wreaths on display as well as intricate gingerbread houses AND a magical winter wonderland where kids can play and meet Santa. There's also live music and holiday shopping! Dino in Lights: Have a dino fan in the family? Check out Dino in Lights at the Orlando Science Center this weekend. This Osborn Family type light show will thrill fans of all ages as it incorporates the cool fossils on display. The show runs multiple times between 11am and 3:30pm and tickets to get into the science center start at $14.95. Have a happy holiday weekend, Orlando!

Are you getting out of town and hitting the open road to celebrate Turkey Day with family and friends? This is a busy time of year to take on a road trip - lots of travelers take to the highway, so traffic is at a peak and the likelihood of accidents is high.  Our Orlando Toyota dealership is here to help. Check out our handy list of do's and don't's for your Thanksgiving road trip so you can make the most of your holiday. The do's and don'ts of hitting the road this Thanksgiving DON'T drive on Wednesday between the hours of 3-7 p.m.. This is when most drivers will be on the highways heading to their holiday destinations, so it's best to try and reach your turkey-eating spot early in the day or later at night to avoid the rush. DO hit the road when everyone else is busy. Driving during the afternoon and evening on Thanksgiving will ensure the highways are clear, as will driving on Black Friday, believe it or not - most drivers will be out and about locally looking for deals rather than driving on the highways. DON'T drive when you're tired. Driving when you're tired is just as dangerous as driving drunk. We know the holidays can be exhausting, but resist the temptation to hit the road when you're sleepy and wait until you've had some time to catch up on your ZZZ's. And remember - you should never get behind the wheel if you had any alcoholic beverages. DO check traffic and download apps to help you navigate. Checking traffic before and during your road trip will allow you to choose the best routes and avoid backups. You can also download apps like Waze that will notify you of any slowdowns on your route (or use the apps found in the Entune Suite of our Orlando Toyotas). DON'T wait for the whining to start to placate the kids. Instead, keep everyone occupied with games, books, and movies - some of our new Orlando Toyotas even have DVD or Blu-Ray players installed in the backseat with wireless headphones to ensure everyone is happy. And don't forget the snacks! DO make a schedule, but be flexible about it. It's wise to know what time you'll start and when you expect to arrive at your final destination (so you can make arrangements like hotels, etc.). But be flexible about it - traffic, accidents, or bad weather may delay you, so go with the flow and try not to get frustrated and develop bad driving habits (we're talking speeding, tailgating, and being aggressive). And make sure you leave time to stop for snacks, rest, and stretching your legs. DON'T let the car get cluttered. Have a designated trash receptacle and every time you stop, be sure to empty it and reorganize the interior so you can find everything you need and everyone is comfortable. Happy Thanksgiving from Toyota of Orlando! From our Orlando Toyota family to yours, happy Thanksgiving! We hope your road trip is safe and stress-free.

Are you thinking about making the switch from gasoline to alternative fuel? You're not the only one - scores of people have made the change for better fuel efficiency and a greener, cleaner performance. However, before you take the plunge you should educate yourself so you can find the RIGHT alternative fuel car for your drive time needs. Toyota of Orlando is here to help with tips and a great selection of cars for you to choose from! Three things to consider before you shop for a new Toyota that uses an alternative fuel source 1. You need to know the differences between the different types of alternative fuel cars - namely, hybrid cars, electric cars, and fuel-cell vehicles. 2. You need to think about the place you live and its infrastructure. Does it have the types of fueling stations you'll need? Remember, you won't always be able to fuel up at home. 3. Think about your drive time needs. Do you need a vehicle with a lot of towing power or off-roading capabilities? If so, this type of new Toyota isn't right for you as they're built around the goal of fuel efficiency and green performance. Three types of alternative fuel new Toyota cars There are three different main types of alternative fuel vehicles when it comes to our new Toyotas. Which one best suits your needs? Hybrid cars: Hybrids are considered to be the most popular type of alternative fuel vehicle in the world because of their convenience factor - they use multiple energy-sourcing to power themselves. When you're behind the wheel of a hybrid new Toyota, you'll be able to swap back and forth between a gasoline engine and an electric motor. This drastically cuts down on the amount of gas you use AND the number of emissions your car produces. Best news? We've got tons of Orlando Toyota hybrids on the lot ranging from compact hatchbacks to spacious SUVs... and trucks may even be headed our way in the future. Electric cars: Electric cars run on - you guessed it - electric power. You'll need to charge this vehicle in order to run it, so that's why you need to consider whether or not your city has charging stations. These vehicles run off of batteries alone and don't produce any emissions so they're extremely green. And automakers are continuously working on improving electric cars to give them a longer range; right now, some of them can go up to 400 miles on just one charge. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicle: Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles uses hydrogen as its source of energy and only produces water vapor as emissions so it's as green as it gets. Unfortunately, only California and Hawaii offer hydrogen fuel cell vehicle charging stations, so the new Toyotas haven't taken off here in the Orlando market due to lack of infrastructure. Have more questions about new Toyotas that use alternative fuel? We've got answers at Toyota of Orlando. Come shop our inventory today and see what these unique cars have to offer your drive time! We're open seven days a week at (407) 298-4500.

Turkey day is right around the corner and while the holiday is a great day to celebrate family, friends, and food, it can also be a source of stress - especially if you're hosting. Toyota of Orlando is here with eight Thanksgiving hacks to make your holiday run as smoothly as possible this year. Check it out! Use these hacks to keep Thanksgiving stress-free Hack #1: Make a menu and shopping list well ahead of time. Before you even think about shopping, plot out your menu (and remember to delegate to family and friends, too). Stick to it and plan your shopping list around it to save time and stress. And don't leave the shopping too late - the stores will be packed the week of! Hack #2: Boil potatoes with the skin on for 15 minutes. Boiling potatoes for 15 minutes before you start your mashed potatoes makes for a much easier experience - the skin will slide right off so you don't have to waste precious time peeling. Hack #3: Grate the butter. If you have recipes that call for butter, freeze a stick of it and then grate it into the recipe rather than trying to warm or cut it. Hack #4: Make your pies ahead of time and freeze them. Pumpkin, pecan, and sweet potato pies hold up surprisingly well in the freezer. You can make them up to a month ahead of time, seal them in an airtight Ziploc, and stick them in the freezer. Just don't forget to thaw them out the night before! Hack #5: Do your turkey calculations. Speaking of thawing, make sure you do your calculations for the turkey. You'll have to figure out both thawing AND cooking times based on weight. If you're thawing in a fridge, you'll need 24 hours for every 5 lbs. If you're thawing in cold water, you'll need 30 minutes for every pound. As far as cooking goes, it's generally 20 minutes in the oven for every pound. Hack #6: Put your slow cooker to use. Make your slow cooker get to work to save time and space in the oven! Dishes like mashed potatoes and stuffing can be made early in the day and left in the slow cooker on warm - they won't dry out and will be piping hot still when it's time to serve. Hack #7: Don't baste. Basting your turkey doesn't do much except make the temperature inside the oven fluctuate, which can cause issues with cooking. Consider brining the bird ahead of time if you're worried about it being too dry. Hack #8: Don't do everything the day of. Don't kill yourself doing everything the day of! Make dishes ahead of time and freeze them or store them in the fridge, delegate to other attendees, and make sure you leave time to get yourself cleaned up, dressed, and de-stressed before the main event. Happy Thanksgiving from our Toyota family! From our Orlando Toyota family to yours, happy Thanksgiving and enjoy the holiday! We'll see you on Black Friday for the last weekend of our Black Friday Sales Event.

It's November 1, which means the holidays are upon us! This is the prime time of year to hit the road to visit friends and family and celebrate the season. However, this also means it's the prime time of year for traffic, bad weather, accidents and collisions. Toyota of Orlando is here with tips to help make holiday travel easy, no matter where the season takes you. Hit the road for the holidays with ease Tip #1: Plot your holiday travel route carefully and have a backup. Make sure you know where you're going, obviously, and plan your holiday travel route to make your road trip easy and stress-free. Bring money for tolls and plan rest stops so you can stretch your legs. You should also have a backup route plotted out in case your main route gets clogged with traffic or closed due to weather. This can save you a lot of time AND stress - and don't forget, you can use the navigation found in so many of our Orlando Toyotas to get the job done. Tip #2: Check traffic and weather before you leave. Check traffic and weather BEFORE you leave the house the day of your trip so you don't find yourself stuck in a bad situation. If your normal holiday travel route is backed up with traffic, you can choose another or allow yourself the extra time to get to your final destination. If there's bad weather, you can prepare yourself and your car accordingly or decide to delay your trip for a day or so until the skies are clear. Tip #3: Be patient and keep yourself occupied. Long trips combined with traffic can lead to some serious boredom and frustration. Keep yourself occupied during holiday travel! Download an audiobook, make a special playlist, or subscribe to a new podcast. Bring books, games, toys, and movies for your passengers (especially if you drive an Orlando with a DVD or Blu-Ray entertainment system). And don't forget snacks and drinks - there's nothing worse than being stuck in traffic with an empty stomach. Tip #4: Never drive tired. If you feel tired, pull over and call it a night at a hotel or friend's house along the route. Driving while fatigued is just as bad as driving drunk and puts you, your passengers, and others out on the road in serious danger. Don't risk getting into an accident - rest up and hit the road refreshed the next morning. Tip #5: Pack wisely. Pack your car wisely. This means putting the things you need - like snacks, your phone charger, medications, books and games, and anything else important - within arm's reach. Make sure you put heavy items in the bottom of your cargo area and never stack luggage to the ceiling; you should be able to see clearly out of the back of your vehicle at all times. Prep your car for a road trip with Orlando Toyota service Happy holidays from our Orlando Toyota family to yours! Get your car prepped and ready to hit the road this holiday season with auto service. Call us today at (407) 298-0001.

Schedule Service Halloween is just days away and whether you're hitting the road to find the best trick-or-treating spots or heading to a spooky celebration, safe driving is important. Not only are the roads busy, there are also a lot of drivers who choose to get behind the wheel while intoxicated. Toyota of Orlando is here with six spookily safe driving tips to keep you and your little monsters safe on Halloween night! Read these safe driving tips before you scare up some fun this Halloween Tip #1: Turn on your headlights. You should always use your headlights from dusk until dawn, but especially on Halloween night. Your headlights will allow you to see any little ghouls and ghosts that might cross your path better, allowing you to avoid an accident or a collision. Turn them on as soon as the sun starts to set. Tip #2: Use defensive driving skills. These skills help you to avoid accidents rather than reacting to them as they happen. To use these safe driving skills, simply pay attention to the road. You should scan the road around you to keep an eye on other drivers, do away with distractions like phones, leave plenty of distance between you and other cars, and follow the rules of the road. Tip #3: Double check crosswalks. Orlando is a busy city when it comes to trick-or-treating and scary celebrations, especially in suburban and urban areas like downtown. Always come to a complete stop at crosswalks and red lights and double check them before you pull through - pedestrian traffic will be a lot heavier on Halloween night and you need to be on the lookout for witches and werewolves in your path. Tip #4: Report drunk drivers. If you see a drunk driver, don't try to stop them or chase them yourself. Instead, make note of their vehicle's make, model, color, any distinguishing characteristics (like stickers or accident damage), and the direction they're headed. Then call 911 and report them so the police can handle this scary situation safely. Keep your little ghouls and ghosts safe on Halloween night Tip #5: Never wear a costume that impedes your vision. You may have an awesome mask to rock at your Halloween party, but leave it off until you arrive. You should never drive with a mask, dark glasses, or anything else that prevents you from seeing clearly when you're behind the wheel. Similarly, make sure that you and your passengers can safely buckle your seatbelts around your costumes. If you can't, take them off for safe driving until you're ready to do the Monster Mash. Tip #6: Let trick or treaters out in a safe spot. When you pull over to let your little monsters out for candy duty, be sure it's in a safe spot. Turn your hazards on so other drivers can see you and make sure everyone exits the vehicle on the curb side rather than step out into the road. Also, make sure you double check the road before you let them cross the street. From our Orlando Toyota family to yours, have a safe and happy Halloween! We hope you scare up some spooktacular fun and don't forget - we'll be open all night with scary-good deals on new Toyotas!

When it comes down to an emergency situation - and we're talking a big one, like a trip to the hospital for someone who was injured - should you drive? Is it worth taking to the highway to get someone to the hospital when they need treatment, or should you call for an ambulance and emergency transport? Toyota of Orlando is here to help you weigh out the options and make an educated decision. Know what questions to ask yourself when deciding if you should call an ambulance Typically, you can ask yourself a list of questions to decide if it's necessary to call an ambulance. Here are the main ones you should pinpoint: Is the person's condition life-threatening? Will their injuries be aggravated if you move them? Is their injury or illness something that could potentially get worse on the way to the hospital? Could you be delayed by traffic, bad weather, or other unforeseen complications on the way there? Does the person need the emergency services available on the ambulance in terms of medicine or equipment? Weigh out your emergency situation If you answer "yes" to ANY of the above questions, then you need to dial 911 and request an ambulance for the situation. It's not worth risking the drive to the hospital in your own vehicle. Why? Here are some of the main reasons: You could be delayed by traffic, rain, snow, an accident, and other things that you can't necessarily predict, slowing your estimated arrival time and possibly making the person's condition worse. You may find yourself rushing, which means you're more likely to slam on the gas and brakes, forget basic road rules (like using turn signals and coming to complete stops at stop signs), and drive aggressively. All in all, rushing means you're a lot more likely to not use safe driving habits and you can get into an accident on the way there, which can injure you AND make the person's injuries significantly worse. When you call 911 and an ambulance arrives, the EMTs can start treating right away and treat the person all the way to the hospital. If you drive the person to the hospital yourself, you'll have to go through the triage process and possibly wait to be admitted, losing crucial time that the person could already be getting treatment during. Additionally, the EMTs will know exactly where to take the person who needs treatment. What if the person is having a heart attack but the necessary equipment to treat the condition is out of commission at the hospital you would normally go to? The EMTs will know and can take you the right place to get the fastest, most efficient treatment. Emergency vehicles have sirens and lights in them to alert other drivers to get out of their way and clear a path. EMTs are also trained to drive in emergency situations without panicking... you probably aren't. Have more questions about driving in an emergency situation? Call us today - Toyota of Orlando is here 7 days a week at (407) 298-4500 for your convenience!

It's Child Passenger Safety Week and here at Toyota of Orlando, we want to share some of our best child safety tips regarding car seats for your precious cargo. Driving with kids in the car is a whole different ballgame and brings into play all-new aspects of safety that you may have never even considered before. Let's get started! What is Child Passenger Safety Week? Child Passenger Safety Week is sponsored by the NHTSA and focuses mainly on car seats and their installation. Did you know that almost half of all car seats are installed incorrectly? And when car seats are installed incorrectly, they can't function properly to keep your small passengers safe in the event of an accident or collision. So, how can you ensure that you're following the best child safety rules when you're carting the kids around town? Here are a few tips. Use these child safety tips from Toyota of Orlando to choose the right car seat Tip #1: Choose the right type of car seat. There's no "one-size-fits-all" when it comes to car seats - infants, toddlers, and larger children all need different types of seats to best keep them safe. Additionally, you need to consider rear-facing versus front-facing seats. Infants should always ride in an infant seat until they outgrow the weight/height limits, and should always be facing rear. Toddlers should also remain in a car seat fitted to them until they outgrow it, and it's recommended that you keep them rear-facing as long as you possibly can for safety reasons. When your child finally outgrows the car seat, our Orlando Toyota dealership recommends fitting them for a booster seat to ensure that the car's seatbelts fit them properly. And remember, children should be in the back seat until the age of 13. Tip #2: Register your car seat. When you buy a new car seat, you'll receive paperwork that comes along with it. There should be an included registration card that you can send in free of charge to the manufacturer. This will sign you up for any news about the car seat when it comes to recalls or problems and you'll be notified right away. Don't skip this child safety measure! Tip #3: Make sure you know HOW to install the seat. So you've chosen the right seat and registered it... now it's time to install it. As mentioned, many people install their seats incorrectly, which is a big safety hazard. Your best bet is to install according to the directions that come with the seat and then take your vehicle to a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician to have them check it. Typically you can find them at your local police station or fire station and the inspection is free (and absolutely worth it). Our Orlando Toyota dealership highly recommends you take this extra step to ensure the safety of your family! Want more child safety tips, or looking for a ride that's designed to be both family-friendly and exceptionally safe? Visit Toyota of Orlando today. We're open seven days a week at 3575 Vineland Road, and you can scope our entire inventory of family-oriented new Toyotas!

Happy Friday the 13th! In honor of the occasion, Toyota of Orlando is talking superstitions - specifically, driving superstitions. There are more out there than you'd think, and today we're discussing some of the most common ones and where they originated from. We've all heard of the typical superstitions - don't walk under a ladder, don't let a black cat cross your path, don't break a mirror, avoid the number 13. But what about when it comes to your ride? Here are some of the most interesting superstitions we've heard from drivers. #1: Holding your breath when you pass a graveyard It's a common driving superstition that whenever you pass a graveyard in your car, you should hold your breath. Why? Some people believe it's to avoid making the ghosts jealous (you know, because you're alive and can still breathe) while others do it to avoid breathing in any spirits. #2: Touching the ceiling when you go through a yellow light Have you ever heard the superstition of touching the roof of your car when you pass through a yellow light? (By the way, we don't recommend - keep your hands on the wheel.) Some people also kiss their fingers before touching the ceiling. Either way, it's a silent way of saying thank you that you got through the light without being hit or pulled over. #3: Picking your feet up when you cross a bridge or railroad Again, we don't recommend - it's not smart to take your feet off the pedals when you're driving. But some drivers believe that you have to lift your feet off the floor of the car when you go over a bridge or railroad tracks. Apparently, it's believed that if you don't, you'll never meet your true love or get married. Some people even believe that if you don't, you'll die young. #4: Holding your breath in a tunnel Supposedly, it's good luck to hold your breath while driving through a tunnel. If you can make it through the entire tunnel without breathing, then you can make a wish at the end and your wish will come true. (Not super smart, though - holding your breath can lead to passing out, which isn't ideal behind the wheel of a car.) #5: Putting change under the seat of a new car Some drivers throw some loose change under the seat of their new car for good luck (and it's handy in case your E-Pass stops working, we guess). Think those are weird? Check out some of the most common NASCAR driving superstitions. A lot of drivers refuse to drive green cars because they see the color green as an unlucky omen. A driver racing way back in 1920 was killed while driving a green car, and that's where the superstition originated from. Additionally, many NASCAR drivers have an aversion to shelled peanuts, even going so far as to ban them from the pits and garages. Why? For some reason, there was a rash of accidents before the first World War where unshelled peanuts were found in the car. What's your #1 driving superstition? Leave a comment and let us know... and have a safe and happy Friday the 13th!

We all know how messy the car can get in a matter of hours, especially if you're carting kids around town. However, the mess can actually be more than just annoying to look at. Crumbs can attract bugs and other pests, things rolling around can become hazard if you're in an accident, and spills are more likely - all of which can bring down the resale value of your ride, too. Toyota of Orlando is here with 6 simple car care tips to keep your ride decluttered all year long. Decluttering your ride is part of car care Tip 1: Remember that less is more. We know you want to be prepared for all eventualities, but do you REALLY need three different jackets in your car in case you get cold in the restaurant? Try to pare down what you do keep in your car so you're prepared for everything, but don't overdo it when it comes to supplies. Tip 2: Go through your stuff periodically. Make it a point to go through your car supplies periodically. Has that snack expired or busted open so it's now stale? Has your charging cord frayed so that it's almost unusable? Is it summer now so you can stash the winter boots you have in the trunk back in your closet? Routinely organizing your belongings and swapping out what you don't need will help your car stay clutter-free. Tip 3: Get to know your ride. Does your Orlando Toyota have any secret storage spots that you haven't yet discovered? Give it a search to see if you're missing out on under-seat or under-floor storage spaces where you could store things you don't use often. Tip 4: Decide how and where to store things logically. Do you REALLY need to keep an extra pair of shoes in the front seat with you? Store things that you need at hand (like charging cords, insurance and registration, etc.) near you, but store less-used items a little further out of reach. For example, keep the sunscreen and extra diapers in the backseat, but stash your roadside emergency car care kit under the floor in the trunk or cargo area. Tip 5: Have a trash can on hand. Keeping a trash can or trash bag in your car will MAJORLY cut down on clutter - you won't be tempted to stuff your empty coffee cup into the door cupholder and leave it there for a week. Detail your Orlando Toyota routinely to keep clutter low Tip 6: Clean your car routinely. A big part of car care and keeping your ride decluttered and high in value is cleaning it regularly! Make sure you vacuum and wipe surfaces on a routine basis, as well as treat any stains that pop up and empty the trash. Need to shop for cleaning supplies or want to schedule a car detailing? Call our car care experts at Toyota of Orlando today - we're open seven days a week at (407) 298-0001!