Buy Toyota Minivan $0 Markup in California

~~~ Lesson learned ~~~

• Purchasing a hard-to-find car model from out-of-state dealership can avoid paying markup price in California
• Purchasing a car from out-of-state dealership requires a visit to a California DMV to secure a new license plate.  If the car is purchased inside CA, this step is not necessary.

~~~

About 18 months ago, I started looking to purchase a new Toyota hybrid minivan, but found only two Toyota dealerships in the San Francisco Bay Area that would not charge mark-up price or known as "seller adjusted price".  They were the Redwood City Toyota (currently renamed to Swickard Toyota 101) and the Oakland Toyota dealership.  I joined the wait list at Swickard Toyota 101, because closer to home and shorter waiting time.

Fast forward to May 2025, my new Toyota Sienna 2025 has arrived for a month.  I did not purchase from Swickard.  Hopefully, by sharing my experience here,  you will find the article helpful to you about securing a new Toyota with no markup price.

 

Comfortable interior for a 8-seater (center seat has been removed)

1. Configure your custom build of Toyota model to secure an estimate price which is the MSRP - https://www.toyota.com/configurator/build/step/model/year/2025/series/sienna/?bap_guid=4d75a2b6-1f2b-46d5-8ffd-93503b532f7f
2. Find the availability of the Toyota trim you like - https://www.toyota.com/search-inventory/
1. For my minivan, I strongly prefer a blue color, hybrid model 8-seater with the least expensive trim - LE AWD with LE+ package.
3. Contact the Toyota dealer to confirm that there is no seller mark-up price.

Based on these criteria, I had to expand the Toyota inventory search to within 500 miles.  I was able to find one available blue minivan at Klamath Falls Toyota at Oregon. 😀