Chuck W.

I am dealing with a California dealer on a special order GS 350. He has included a TDA (Toyota Dealer Advertisement) fee of $704.00 and PDI (Pre-Delivery Inspection) fee of $360.00. This is on a $60,060.00 MSRP car that I am getting for $55,447 plus the TDA and PDI fees.

The dealer told me this is standard and mandatory. I know BMW has the same type fees so I am not shocked.

Is the TDA and PDI a standard charged fee? TIA

rktinc

The Dealer TDA ad fee is a legitimate expense to the dealer. That is a pool that all dealers pay for regional advertising. It is a real cost and is passed on to the consumer.

PDI is typically a "pre delivery inspection" that is paid by the factory warranty to the dealer. It is paid based on the hours or labor required to have a tech check the car over, test drive it, put in fuses, floor mats, etc. It typically take a tech 20 minutes to do it. Unless Toyota no longer pays the dealers for this. Which I doubt.

I ran a Toyota store for several years and can tell you that PDI is a reimbursed item to the dealer. I have never heard of a PDI fee being assessed to a customer. The only item is if they have to go get your car from another dealer in which it does cost to go get it and clean it up. If you "special order" and it gets shipped directly to the dealer from the port. this is pure profit for the dealership. When you take delivery of a new car the day it arrives at the dealership the dealer has NO holding costs other than clean up expense and a sales commission. Pay the TDA. DO NOT pay the PDI.

Chuck W.

Many thanks rktinc.

faifai83

Is this dealership in NorCal or SoCa?

Chuck W.

Southern California; Longo in El Monte (Los Angeles County).

12GS350

That's weird. I bought my GS350 2013 from them too and that conversation never even came up nor do I recall seeing them in the breakdown.

Chuck W.

Check your paperwork. I didn't find it until I broke it down when I got home. It wasn't listed. They later emailed me the complete breakdown with those fees listed.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

isn't there an $895 delivery charge too?

SW17LS

Is this a CA thing? I have bought 4 Lexuses and two Toyotas and have never paid a "TDA" fee.

Chuck W.

It appears it is a regional thing. We have 34 Lexus dealers in California alone. Within a 50 mile radius I have about 10. This may have an impact on the TDA.

mso4

iTrader: (1)

Weird, purchased mine at Longo and did not see this fee. Just MSRP + destination - discount + TTL. That's it. I did not special order mine, it was on the lot.