When the Road Gets Rough on Your Ride 

Hey there, cool cat, we like your style! You're a careful driver, calm and collected. You park far from other cars when you can (bonus points for getting in those extra steps!). You keep a safe distance on the highway. But no matter how cautious you are, the road—and the parking lot—sometimes have other plans.

A rogue shopping cart bonks into your door while you're loading groceries. Someone in the spot next to you flings open their door and, bada bing: a ding. A tiny pebble from the truck ahead becomes a projectile and cracks you right in the windshield. These little mishaps can feel impossible to avoid, and honestly, they kind of are. But here's the good news: they don't have to ruin your day or drain your wallet. 

Why the Small Stuff Matters

A tiny dent or chip on your paint or windshield might seem like no big deal. And they may not be – at first. But these small blemishes can snowball into bigger hassles. Left untreated, a tiny chip can grow into a major crack in your windshield. Rock chips, dings and scratches on your vehicle’s paint can lead to rust and corrosion. One moment your car looks great, and the next moment there's a ding staring back at you every time you walk up to it. 

And let's talk about cost. Fixing these issues often comes with a bigger price tag than most people expect. The average cost to repair a windshield chip ranges from $50 to $150, depending on the number and location of the chips, while replacing an entire windshield can vary widely, based in part on the age of your vehicle. Windshields on newer Toyota vehicles contain elements of the Toyota Safety Sense suite of features, and can house sensors, cameras and software to help drivers with parking and enhance safety, among other things. Great stuff, but replacing high-tech windshields can surpass $1000, according to Kelley Blue Book.  

Dent repairs vary widely too, with costs climbing based on the size and location of the damage. Other factors affecting price are hourly labor rates, availability of parts, and the make and model of your vehicle. The experts at Harry’s Auto Collision have created a dent repair cost estimator and guide, ranking dent repair from minor with no paint repair ($150 to $500), to large, with paint repair ($500 to $15,000). That’s a broad range! What seems like "little" problems can add up fast. But we’re here to help. Take a deep cleansing breath and read on.

Your friends at TFS have a plan designed to ease your mind and eliminate the stress and unexpected costs of windshield and dent repair. Our plan, Tire & Wheel Protection Platinum with Paintless Dent Repair and Windshield Repair*, is here for you. 

Have you heard of Paintless Dent Repair? It’s a genius method for repairing dents and dings. Trained technicians use specialized hand tools to gently massage metal panels back to their original shape—all without affecting your car's paint job.

Coverage applies to dents and dings within accessible body panel areas up to four inches in diameter. So those mysterious dents that seem to appear out of nowhere in parking lots can be fixed. You’ll never even know they were there! Exclusions to know about: If repairing the dent would damage or disturb your car's original paint or finish, it won't be covered under this protection. But for most everyday dings, Paintless Dent Repair can be a solution that keeps your car looking sharp without the need for expensive body work or repainting.

Windshield Repair Coverage is designed to repair and stop the spread of chips or small cracks caused by road debris. It's specifically for your front windshield—the one that gets hit most often. There are some situations where this coverage doesn't apply. Stress cracks—the kind that happen from temperature changes or pressure rather than impact—aren't covered. Neither are cracks that have already grown larger than six inches. That's why acting fast matters. The sooner you get that chip looked at, the better your chances of a simple repair instead of a full replacement. 

To recap: Here are three big reasons to say yes to Tire & Wheel Protection Platinum with Paintless Dent Repair and Windshield Repair: 

It helps keep your car looking great. Whether it's brand new or new to you, you want your Toyota vehicle to look well-cared-for. Taking care of dents and chips as they happen means your car stays looking sharp. 

It helps manage surprise costs. No need to try to budget for a rock hitting your windshield or for parking lot door dings. This coverage means these little bugaboos won't turn into unexpected bills that put a dent in your monthly budget. 

It helps protect your car's value. Planning to trade in or sell your car someday? Vehicle condition matters when it comes to resale value, and visible damage like dents and windshield cracks can lower what buyers are willing to pay. 

So while you can’t control the road – or the parking lot – you can prep for it. Talk to your Toyota dealer about Tire & Wheel Protection Platinum with Paintless Dent Repair and Windshield Repair. 

*The purchase of a Voluntary Protection Product is optional, cancelable (subject to specific agreement terms), and not required to obtain credit. 

The obligor for Tire & Wheel Coverage, Paintless Dent Repair, and Windshield Repair Protection Coverage is Toyota Motor Insurance Services, Inc. (“TMIS”), located at 6565 Headquarters Drive, Plano, TX 75024, Texas license number 143. The obligor is Toyota Motor Services Company in Georgia, New Jersey, New York and Vermont. In Massachusetts the selling dealer is the obligor.  

In Florida, Toyota Motor Insurance Company (“TMIC”) is the obligor. The address of TMIC is 6565 Headquarters Drive, Plano, TX 75024, Florida License Number 02871.  

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Toyota Financial Services is a service mark used by Toyota Motor Insurance Services, Inc. (TMIS) and its subsidiaries. Voluntary Protection Products are administered by TMIS or a third party contracted by TMIS. 

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