ToyotaCare comes with every new vehicle purchased or leased from a Toyota dealership and covers routine maintenance for two years or 25,000 miles
ToyotaCare
Updated:
Dec 13, 2023
Written by:
Alexandra Carver
Alexandra Carver
Writer
Edited by:
Rashawn Mitchner
Rashawn Mitchner
Senior Editor
Key Takeaways:
- ToyotaCare is a no-cost maintenance plan that’s included with the purchase or lease of a new Toyota from a dealership.
- Once your ToyotaCare coverage expires, you can extend your maintenance plan for a price with ToyotaCare Plus or Toyota Service Care.
- ToyotaCare doesn’t cover mechanical breakdown costs. Consider a Toyota or third-party extended warranty if you’d like coverage once your factory warranty expires.
If you’re looking to purchase a new Toyota, you’ll likely hear about ToyotaCare. This vehicle maintenance plan covers the first few years of your car’s scheduled maintenance. Once this plan expires, you’ll have the option to continue your benefits for a price with other Toyota plans.
In this article, we at the MarketWatch Guides Team will go into detail about what ToyotaCare covers. Since it only provides maintenance for your vehicle, we’ll also go into the mechanical coverage you’ll receive with a Toyota warranty. Finally, we’ll talk about why purchasing the best extended car warranty for your needs can be worth it for your peace of mind.
Learn more about our methodology and editorial guidelines.
ToyotaCare Coverage
ToyotaCare is a no-cost maintenance plan that’s included with the purchase or lease of a new Toyota model from a dealership. It lasts for up to two years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first. A separate benefit from your vehicle’s factory warranty, a ToyotaCare plan covers routine maintenance such as oil changes, tire rotations, multipoint inspections and more.
ToyotaCare offers a general recommended maintenance guide for the first 25,000 miles, as seen below. Keep in mind that a conventional oil change should be done every 5,000 miles, and factory-recommended service intervals with ToyotaCare vary by Toyota model.
| Time | ToyotaCare Service |
|---|---|
| 6 months/5,000 miles | Tire rotation, multipoint inspection and fluid level inspection and adjustments |
| 12 months/10,000 miles | Oil change, tire rotation, multipoint inspection and fluid level inspection and adjustments |
| 18 months/15,000 miles | Tire rotation, multipoint inspection and fluid level inspection and adjustments |
| 24 months/20,000 miles to 25,000 miles | Oil change, tire rotation, multipoint inspection and fluid level inspection and adjustments |
Your ToyotaCare benefits will be carried out by Toyota-trained technicians that use genuine parts approved by the brand. Keep in mind that you’ll need to have your maintenance taken care of at a participating Toyota dealership.
ToyotaCare Benefits
In addition to covering routine maintenance services, ToyotaCare also provides you with two years of 24-hour roadside assistance services. Its roadside assistance program covers the following:
- Emergency fuel delivery
- Tire services
- Lockout protection
- Battery jump-starts
- Towing and winching
This benefit allows you to have your car towed to the nearest Toyota dealership or to the Toyota dealer of your choice within 25 miles. Winching is only available if your vehicle is immediately adjacent to a regularly traveled road and is capable of being serviced with standard equipment.
What’s Not Covered With ToyotaCare?
ToyotaCare only covers routine maintenance and roadside assistance services. It doesn’t cover your vehicle in the event of a mechanical breakdown, which is what your limited factory warranty is for. It’s also good to note that ToyotaCare’s roadside assistance benefits are only available to drivers in the continental U.S. and Alaska.
What Is ToyotaCare Plus?
ToyotaCare Plus is an optional extension of your ToyotaCare benefits. Your initial ToyotaCare plan will only last for two years or 25,000 miles, but you can pay extra to extend your plan with ToyotaCare Plus for a total coverage length of four years or 45,000 miles.
In order to be eligible for ToyotaCare Plus, your Toyota must have 31,000 miles or less on it and be within 37 months of its date of first use. If you weren’t eligible for ToyotaCare from the start, then you’re not able to purchase a ToyotaCare Plus plan. Scheduled services covered through ToyotaCare plus include:
- Engine oil and filter change
- Rotate tires
- Multipoint inspection
- Cabin air filter change
- Inspection and adjustment of fluid levels
- Engine air filter change
What Is Toyota Service Care?
If you’re ineligible for ToyotaCare or ToyotaCare plus, Toyota also offers Toyota Service Care. This is a comprehensive prepaid maintenance plan that also includes roadside assistance, and it lasts for two years and unlimited miles. This plan can be purchased for any Toyota regardless if it’s eligible for a ToyotaCare plan or not.
It’s good to note that the same services are covered under Toyota Service Care as under other ToyotaCare contracts. The only difference is that this service plan can be renewed over and over again to continue your benefits as long as you see fit.
Can You Transfer ToyotaCare to a New Owner?
Yes, ToyotaCare is transferable as long as you haven’t exceeded the plan’s term of two years or 25,000 miles. If you’re looking to transfer a ToyotaCare Plus plan, a $50 transfer fee applies, and you’ll only be able to transfer it once from the original owner to a private party.
How Much Does ToyotaCare Cost?
ToyotaCare comes free of charge with the purchase or lease of a new Toyota model from a dealership. However, once these benefits run out, you’ll need to pay for an additional ToyotaCare Plus or Toyota Service Care plan if you’d like to continue maintenance coverage.
There is no information directly from Toyota on the cost of a ToyotaCare Plus plan. However, we researched what customers paid for these services. One customer reported being quoted $299 for a ToyotaCare Plus plan after their original ToyotaCare expired. We found that another customer was quoted $400 on an extension for their Toyota Tacoma. Keep in mind that your quoted cost for these maintenance plans may vary.
Factors that can affect the costs of a ToyotaCare Plus or Toyota Service Plan include your Toyota model, your location and the dealership that you receive a quote from. It’s important to shop around for quotes from various dealers when looking for the best price on one of these plans.
Do You Need a ToyotaCare Extended Warranty?
While ToyotaCare plans can lower your overall maintenance costs, they won’t cover anything associated with mechanical breakdowns. If you’re looking for peace of mind once your factory warranty expires, it could be worth purchasing an extended car warranty. Also known as vehicle service contracts, these optional protection plans may help cover vehicle repair costs if your car breaks down.
ToyotaCare Extended Warranty Coverage
Toyota extended warranties can protect your vehicle once the original manufacturer warranty has expired on your vehicle. The company offers three different coverage options, which cover components outlined in the table below:
| Toyota Extended
Warranty Plan | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Platinum | As a bumper-to-bumper warranty, it covers all components listed under the Gold and Powertrain plans, in addition to extra components in each category listed below. Additional covered items include but are not limited to seat belts, hinges, door lock assembly components and door handles. |
| Gold | All Powertrain plan components are covered in addition to air conditioning, heating, brakes, computer and electronics, cooling system, electrical, fuel system, steering and suspension components. |
| Powertrain | Components related to the transmission, axle assembly and engine are covered. |
Coverage with a Toyota extended warranty includes access to perks such as 24/7 roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, meal reimbursement and lodging reimbursement. Restrictions apply to these benefits, so be sure to fully read through your contract before signing it. A Toyota extended warranty can cover your car anywhere from 3 years/50,000 miles to 10 years/125,000 miles.
What Toyota Coverage Do You Already Have?
If you’ve recently purchased a new Toyota vehicle, it’s good to know what coverage it currently has. See the table below for a comprehensive breakdown.
| Toyota Factory Warranty | Coverage Terms |
|---|---|
| Basic Coverage | 36 months/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain Coverage | 60 months/60,000 miles |
| Rust-Through Coverage | 60 months/unlimited miles |
| Emissions Coverage | Varies under federal and California regulations |
Pros and Cons of Independent Warranty Coverage
Just because you own a Camry, Corolla, Highlander or RAV4 doesn’t mean you need to buy your extended warranty through Toyota. There are many independent reputable extended car warranty companies on the market that offer plans for both new and used vehicles alike.
You can typically purchase an extended warranty from a third-party provider at any point in your vehicle’s life, which makes these providers a great choice for those looking for a used car warranty or an extended warranty for cars over 100,000 miles.
You’ll find coverage with limits up to 200,000 miles or more with many independent extended warranty providers, which can provide peace of mind to people looking to drive their car for many years. Aftermarket extended warranties also typically provide the freedom to choose a certified repair shop you’re comfortable with for covered repairs.
If you’re looking for a guarantee that you’ll receive genuine Toyota parts or a Toyota-certified technician, you may want to consider a manufacturer extended warranty instead. Whichever you decide to go with, we recommend obtaining quotes from various providers in order to find the best fit for your needs.
If you’re looking for more general information on car warranties and what they entail, check out our complete car warranty guide.
ToyotaCare: The Bottom Line
ToyotaCare helps to cover routine maintenance for two years or 25,000 miles. However, following a maintenance schedule doesn’t guarantee that your vehicle won’t experience a mechanical breakdown at some point. We recommend purchasing an extended warranty from a reputable extended car warranty company if you’re looking to avoid a potentially costly car repair bill.
ToyotaCare: FAQ
Below are some frequently asked questions about ToyotaCare:
ToyotaCare is a maintenance plan provided at no cost when you buy or lease a new Toyota from a Toyota dealership. It covers routine maintenance for up to two years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first.
According to RepairPal, a provider of unbiased car ownership resources, Toyota owners spend a total of $441 on average to maintain their vehicles.
In addition to taking care of your vehicle’s maintenance free of charge for the first two years or 25,000 miles, ToyotaCare also provides you with two years of 24-hour roadside assistance. This includes emergency fuel delivery, tire services, lockout protection, battery jump-starts, towing and winching services.
*Data accurate at time of publication.
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