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‘You're Gonna Cost Yourselves Thousands:' Expert Reveals the Real Reason You Can't Custom Order a Toyota. Is There a Workaround?

A car expert is warning shoppers that if you're trying to custom-order a Toyota (or Honda), you're wasting your time, and possibly thousands of dollars. Vehicle purchase consultant Tomi Mikula (@tomislavmikula) claims the issue isn't demand, but the allocation system that gives dealers little to no control over builds. 'If you've even considered buying a Toyota or a Honda, you'll probably run into crazy wait times, like a two-and-a-half-year waitlist on a 4Runner TRD Pro, or a year waitlist on a Sienna, or a six-to-eight-month wait list on a Grand Highlander,' he said in the clip that's been viewed more than 220,000 times. According to Mikula, Toyota and Honda don't offer true custom ordering, unlike some competitors. While manufacturers like BMW and Ford allow buyers to spec vehicles from the ground up, with dealerships submitting those configurations directly to the factory, Toyota and Honda primarily rely on an allocation system , which pre-assigns vehicles to dealers based on historical sales data and regional demand. Rather than submitting individual customer builds to the factory, Toyota dealers receive batches of pre-configured vehicles every two weeks. Buyers can 'build' a car on the Toyota website, but that doesn't mean the factory will make it. As Mikula puts it: While some dealers may request changes to their allocation, Mikula claims those requests are often denied, especially for popular trims or color combinations. Toyota has publicly acknowledged the use of this allocation model in past dealership communications. Waitlists Can Be Misleading The result, Mikula says, is that many Toyota and Honda buyers are unknowingly placed in a queue that may never deliver what they want. For example, he said Toyota's 4Runner TRD Pro, Sienna, and Grand Highlander are all in high demand, with online estimates of wait times ranging from six months to two years depending on the region and configuration. But allocation-based matching means that if your preferred build doesn't show up in the next batch, or a salesperson overlooks your request, you're likely to be skipped . Worse, Mikula says, sales staff may prioritize buyers who walk in ready to sign, over customers already on a deposit list. Dealers Have Little Incentive to Prioritize You According to Mikula, one reason the system leads to long wait times is that there's no centralized way to match every customer's preferences to incoming cars. It's up to dealership staff to manually sort deposit lists against incoming allocation lists. Errors, forgetfulness, or simple laziness can result in missed customers. 'I can tell you the amount of times that I've heard horror stories from dealerships that just lost their name on a list completely,' he said. BMW and Others Offer True Customization By contrast, automakers like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Ford offer build-to-order systems that give dealerships 'slots' with the factory. Customers can spec a car exactly how they want—paint color, interior trim, packages, even wheel design—and the factory builds that configuration. Brands like Ford and Ram encourage factory ordering via Build & Price tools, and customers often receive a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) within weeks. That VIN ties to the exact vehicle being built, and buyers can track it through production. Mikula's advice: 'You do not want to put a deposit on a car unless you can actually get a VIN and a window sticker.' How to Protect Yourself as a Buyer To avoid frustration, Mikula recommends a few tips for Toyota and Honda shoppers: Don't assume the website's 'Build' tool leads to a factory order. It's often just a wishlist. Ask for a VIN and window sticker before placing a deposit. Clarify your flexibility. If you're OK with alternative colors or missing one minor feature, let the dealer know—don't get skipped. Negotiate pricing up front. Dealers have more leverage once you've waited six months and are emotionally invested in the vehicle. Shop around. Some dealers manage allocation lists better than others. Mikula says his average Sienna client waits 30–60 days, while the national average is 8+ months. We've reached out to Mikula for comment. We'll be sure to update this article if we hear back. Now Trending 'What in the World Should I Do?': Woman Takes Her Chevrolet Into the Body Shop to Fix a Dent. Then She Gets It Back 'We Never Did That at My Shop:' AutoZone Worker Says it 'Hurts His Soul' Whenever a Customer Requires Him to Do This. Why? Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )