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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.

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!