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Your vehicle is a necessary part of everyday living, whether you're using it to commute to work, take the kids to school, visit family, or even take a cross-country road trip. A breakdown or other mechanical issue can be frustrating in the best of times, but in the winter it can be dangerous. What's more, breakdowns can be more common in the winter because cars don't run as well in cold weather. However, with proper maintenance and preparation, you can keep your car running well even through the cold months ahead. Follow the following five tips to keep your car running smoothly this winter. more 1. Check Your Battery Car batteries are heavily affected by cold weather, especially their cranking ability. At 0°F, a battery has about half the ability to start a car that it does at 80°F. This means that an older battery that might crank your car just fine in the summer can struggle or even fail to start it up in winter. Luckily, checking your battery is easy and simple. Remove the plastic caps on top of the battery and check the fluid level inside. Your owner's manual should have full instructions for how to check your battery and what to consider when doing so. You should also replace your batteries every few years—after five years, if it shows signs of weakness, you should replace it as soon as possible. You can also bring your battery by Waldorf Toyota, where we'll check it, service it, and even replace it for you if need be! 2. Clean Your Windows Oftentimes, winter weather leads to frosted windshields. Before you drive, remove frost, ice, and snow from your windshield using a scraper. If you can't see out of your windshield, you're putting yourself and other drivers in danger. If you know it's going to snow and you're parking outside, store your wipers in a raised position so that they don't freeze to the windshield. You can also wash the winter residue from your windshield with a winter-blend washer solution. Finally, test your defroster and make sure the heater is working properly, and wash your headlights for the best possible nighttime visibility. 3. Replace Your Wiper Blades While you might not think much about your wiper blades unless it's raining, they're an integral part of your ability to see and stay safe when you drive. We recommend replacing wiper blades twice a year, and our service department keeps plenty in stock for whenever yours are starting to show wear and tear. 4. Check Your Engine Oil The single most important maintenance task to keep up with for your Toyota is keeping up with your oil changes. Winter weather can be hard on your engine, as oil naturally gets thicker with colder temperatures. If it's been a minute since you've had your oil changed, consider doing so now before the truly cold weather sets in. During the oil change, have the filter checked, as well as the radiator and heater hoses, for cracks and leaks. Replace them if they're showing their age. 5. Check Your Tires Your tires are the only four points where your car touches the road. It's absolutely paramount that they stay in good health, not only for your safety but for others. If you're in an area that has harsh winter weather, consider buying winter or all-season tires that will perform better in slick conditions. Even if it's not time to replace your tires, make sure they're properly inflated. Air pressure decreases as its temperature decreases, so your tires could become flat overnight if a front moves in. Check them in the morning before your drive. Need Service? Come to Waldorf Toyota! You don't have to do these repairs and maintenance tasks on your own. The Toyota experts at Waldorf Toyota are factory-trained to service every Toyota model, so you can trust that we'll treat your car right. Plus, our specials make it easy to afford the service your car needs to stay running! Give us a call or schedule service online today.

May has arrived, and along with Mother's Day weekend that many people travel for, Memorial Day also kicks off the summer vacation and travel season. This year, instead of fighting through traffic or listening to music from radio stations that you’re not familiar with, download some new apps to take along. more Here is a list of some of our favorite Holiday Travel Apps: Spotify – For less than $10.00 per month, you can stream unlimited music to your smartphone. By downloading the music beforehand, you can listen to your playlists on or offline, keeping your ears satisfied on your road-trip. Waze – Heading somewhere far away? Download the Waze app, and keep apprised of traffic conditions, speed traps, and potential dangerous road conditions, all free-of-charge! Citymapper – Visiting a new city? Check out Citymapper for more detailed planning information than Google Maps, including real-time departures and disruption alerts, along with Uber integration and cycle routes! Tripit – Flying or taking mass-transit out of town? Download the Tripit app, and keep all of your flight, car rental, hotel, and event bookings in one streamline place, rather than having multiple itineraries! App in the Air – Flying out of town this year? Check out the App in the Air to keep track of your flight departures, with awesome coverage of airlines and airports. No matter where you’re headed, or how you’re planning to get there, make your holiday travel more enjoyable, just by downloading a few apps! If you’re headed out of town by car, stop in to our Service Department, and make sure your car is road-trip ready, before you head out.

April is National Car Care month, and in effort to help you ensure you’re taking the best care of your car possible, we’ve created a brief checklist of all the things that may get neglected throughout the year, especially during the busy winter months: more Check Vehicle Registration Expiration Date – Now that we’re in a new month, and 4 months into the new year, double check your Registration on your vehicle to ensure the expiration date has not passed. Verify Your Automobile Insurance Coverage – Request a copy of your Insurance Declaration Page to ensure your coverage limits are where you want them to be, and that your premium is paid up-to-date. Check All Lights on Exterior of Vehicle – Ask a friend to help you ensure all your lights are working properly. Be sure to check your headlights and tail lights, brake lights, tag lights, and turning signals. If you’re in need of a replacement bulb, contact our Parts Department, and leave the searching to us! Check Brakes and Tires on Vehicle – Take the coin test to your tires. Be sure that you have the proper amount of tire tread on all four of your tires, and that all your tires are wearing properly. Schedule an appointment with our Service Department to ensure that your brakes are in tip-top shape, or if you’re in need of new tires or even just a rotation or balance. Our team of experts are waiting for your call. Check Fluids and Battery on Vehicle – Schedule an appointment with our Service Department to ensure all your fluid levels are where they should be, and that your battery is in proper working condition. Clean Windows, Inside and Outside – The winter months can be especially brutal on your vehicle, between the salt, dirt and grime that gets splattered onto your vehicle, all winter long, this is a great time to ensure your windows are clean, inside and out! At any point in time, our fantastic teams in our Service Department and Parts Department are available to help. Visit us online, or contact us today to schedule your appointment, and make sure your car is spring-time ready!

Here at Waldorf Toyota, we are dedicated to providing the best service possible to our valued clients, and take great pride in the work that we perform. The satisfaction of our customers is our top priority, and we make every effort to ensure our customers are provided with top-notch service, every time they visit us here at Waldorf Toyota. We are excited to announce that three of our employees have been recognized nationally, by Toyota for their outstanding achievements. more Congratulations to Master Certified Sales Consultant, Bob Bowman, recognized by the 2017 S.T.A.R.S. Program! Toyota presents this award to sales consultants who consistently go above and beyond in 5 categories: Selling with honor and integrity, Toyota Product Knowledge, Ambassadorship in the community, Retaining and building relationships with customers, Servicing customers to the effect that they feel happy and comfortable doing business with their store. Some qualifications include total sales, recognition from Regional Toyota Representatives, high customer satisfaction, and attaining Master Product Certification. Bob will be attending an all-inclusive Toyota Conference in Mexico as a reward for all of his hard work. Needless to say, we are proud to have Bob as a part of our team! We are also so excited to have two Toyota Master Technicians on our team recognized by the 2018 Quality Champions Program, Jeffrey Lambert and Andrew Droter. This is an exclusive award, granted to the top 25 master technicians in the nation based on the quality of the product reports they send in over the course of a year. Jeff and Andrew were the top 2 out of all 800 Toyota Master Technicians the Central Atlantic Region and will be attending the National Quality Champions Event in San Antonio, Texas! Andrew Droter, Toyota Master Technician. Recipient of the Toyota Quality Champion Award in 2015, 2016, and 2017. ​ Jeffrey Lambert, Toyota Master Technician. Recipient of the Toyota Quality Champion Award in 2016 and 2017. Congratulations, Bob, Andy and Jeffrey! We're so grateful to have you on our team!

At Waldorf Toyota, we know that when it comes to car shopping, it can be tough to find all the features you want, in the car you want, and at a great price. That’s why we put together the Top 3 reasons why you should test drive the new 2018 Toyota Corolla from Waldorf Toyota near Lexington Park in Maryland. Now available at Waldorf Toyota, the new Toyota Corolla offers a surprisingly spacious interior that’s large enough to fit 5 passengers with all the quality and safety you’ve come to expect from Toyota. more The 2018 Toyota Corolla Delivers Versatile Performance The 2018 Corolla is the perfect compact for drivers in Atlanta, Sandy Springs, and Alpharetta, thanks to a versatile lineup featuring 6 trim levels: the L, LE, LE Eco, XLE, SE and XSE. Equipped with a CVT and punchy 132-hp 1.8L 4-cylinder engine, the new Corolla delivers the ideal balance of sporty driving and efficiency. Plus, with its available CVTi-S Valvematic technology, the 2018 Corolla can produce up to 40 MPG on the highways. Plus, make your drive even more thrilling by activating its available Sport Mode. The 2018 Toyota Corolla Is Well Connected The new Toyota Corolla may look small, but inside it’s surprisingly spacious. You’ll stay focused on the road ahead and all the features will keep everyone on board entertained. Ride in ultimate comfort with standard tech features which include 6.1-inch touchscreen for its Entune infotainment system, Bluetooth ®, USB port, and a 6-speaker audio system! Other available technologies include: SiriusXM ® Satellite Radio Advanced Voice Recognition Siri ® Eyes Free 7-inch Touchscreen Steering Wheel Controls Integrated Backup Camera Navigation Moonroof And More! The 2018 Toyota Corolla Is Safe When you buy a 2018 Toyota Corolla in Southern Maryland, not only are you buying a sedan that is affordable, fuel-efficient and reliable, you’re also buying a compact that is safe. That’s because the new Corolla comes equipped with safety systems, which include Toyota Safety Sense P, and Toyota’s Pre-Collision System – all standard! Combined, these 2 systems provide: Adaptive Cruise Control Automatic High Beams Lane Departure Warning with Steering Assist Forward Collision Warning Automatic Emergency Braking Pedestrian Detection Plus, with the added advantages of ToyotaCare’s 2-year/25,000-mile no-cost maintenance, you’ll feel safer on the road than ever before. We proudly serve drivers in the Lexington Park, Southern Maryland, Alexandria, and the surrounding areas. Visit us today to test drive the 2018 Toyota Corolla at Waldorf Toyota. Learn More & Test Drive the 2018 Corolla See Corolla Inventory

New Year's Day has come and gone, and almost everyone has a plan in place to improve their life, whether with fitness, organization, or even managing finances. But what about bettering your automobile? It’s not too late to set a resolution to keep your vehicle at it’s best this 2018. more Your vehicle is most likely one of your most valued and relied on possessions, so, why not take every measure to ensure you're keeping it in tip-top shape throughout the year? Here are a few ideas for New Year's Resolutions, specifically for your automobile: Keep up with your routine maintenance. Your vehicle's routine maintenance is one of the easiest things to overlook—whether it's not having the time to have maintenance addressed, or the money. Although it's easy to neglect, it's also one of the most important aspects of your vehicle's longevity and can help you save money and time, in the long run. Schedule an appointment with our Service Department to have your routine maintenance addressed. Keep your vehicle's interior and exterior clean. Although it's tough to maintain the cleanliness of your vehicle, especially in the colder months, you may feel better if you do. Having a clean vehicle may help reduce stress, especially if your vehicle tends to get cluttered easily. Keep up with your neglected maintenance. Have a rattling noise that's been driving you crazy for a while, but haven't had it looked at yet? Bring your car in for Service, and let our experts help you pin-point the problem, before it becomes a bigger problem. Schedule regular check-ups. Just like your physical health, it's important to keep tabs on your vehicle's health. Schedule regular appointments to have your car checked, to ensure everything is in working order.

It’s December, which means snow, sleet, and ice in our area can arrive at any time. We thought it might be useful to share some tips for driving in winter weather, especially if you're traveling out of town for the Holidays! more Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Be sure that you gradually ease into the gas or break when the roads are slick, to avoid spinouts. Drive slowly. Even if the roads aren’t terrible, black ice paired with speed can be a recipe for disaster. Be sure to slow down and take your time when the temperature is below freezing. Increase your spacing between yourself and the vehicle in front of you. Allow for plenty of stopping room, in the event that your car begins to slide. Test your brakes before you get out on the roadway. Come to a few harsh stops in your driveway, before you venture out, to test the road conditions and your brakes with the slippery roads. If you can avoid it, don’t come to a complete stop. If you can safely coast through an intersection without having to come to a stop, or to make a turn, you’re likely to keep traction longer than if you stop completely. Slow and steady wins the race. When faced with a hill, don’t hit the gas too fast and try to gain too much speed. Take your time, drive slowly and steadily until you reach the top of the hill. If you can avoid it, stay inside. Allow road crews to treat the roadways before you get behind the wheel. Driving in winter weather can be frightening, especially if you don’t do it very often. Take these tips along for the ride, and stay safe, if you can’t stay off the roads. Contact us today to set up an appointment with our Service Department, to ensure your car is ready for the quickly approaching winter weather!

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, along with the busiest travel holiday of the year! If you’ve traveled on this holiday in the past, you know that planning is key to a seamless, relaxing trip, and we’ve got just the list to keep you organized this year! more Stay Connected – Download the latest travel apps for your phone before you hit the road—Spotify is a great channel for music, Waze will help with traffic, and Citymapper will be your best-bet for navigation! Travel Late or Early – Instead of sitting in a huge mess of traffic this year, leave in the middle of the night, or early in the morning to avoid traffic jams—you’ll get to where you’re going much faster, and your passengers will thank you… especially if you have kids! Pack Wisely – Make sure to bring temperature-appropriate clothing, shoes, and coats, especially if you’re heading north or to the mountains! Have Your Car Serviced – Make sure that all of your fluid levels are topped off, your brakes, lights work properly, and that your car is up to date on all routine maintenance including oil changes and tires. Contact our Service Department to set up an appointment to have your car prepared for your road trip! Have Travel Documents on Hand – Be sure to carry your Insurance Card, Roadside Assistance information, and any other vital information, in case of emergency. Make All Stops at Once – If you have children, it might be challenging trying to travel with the constant stopping for bathroom breaks, food, and drinks, but, if you stop in a place where you can use the restroom, grab a sandwich and a bottle of water, all in one place, you’re guaranteed to save time instead of loading and unloading everyone into and out of the car at each place. Visit us online to schedule your appointment with our Service Department, to ensure your vehicle is up-to-par for your Thanksgiving travel. Buckle up, and enjoy the ride!