Toyota RAV4 Availability and Wait Times (2024)
Since the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 auto manufacturers have been struggling to keep up with the demand of new vehicles due to global supply chain constraints. In 2022 and 2023 many vehicles from a variety of brands were difficult to find and purchase. Notably the RAV4 was one of these vehicles with wait times of months or even years just to get your hands on a base model.Â
As of March, 2024 it seems that the supply is finally catching up to demand. Wait times in some regions and for some models have decreased drastically. With a bit of luck you may even be able to find yourself a deal!
In this article we will present the availability and wait times for several different regions for the RAV4 , RAV4 Hybrid and the RAV4 Prime.
Note: We will continue to update this article as we receive new information.
Average Wait Times
The current wait time for a RAV4 can be up to 4 years with an average of 8.78 months based on our data. However, the wait times vary drastically depending on your location and desired model.
Let’s start by looking at data for each RAV4 model.
By Model Year
| Model | Waitlist Lengths | Average Wait Time |
|---|---|---|
| RAV4 (Non-Hybrid) | Up to 10 months | 2.8 months |
| RAV4 Hybrid | Up to 3 years | 9.0 months |
| RAV4 Prime | Up to 4 years | 13.1 months |
As mentioned above much of the range in data here is due to the different wait times based off of region. In the United States you can expect significantly shorter wait times. In Australia you could be waiting nearly an entire year for a non-hybrid RAV4,
RAV4 – waitlist length up to 2-3 months for specific model configurations. Average wait time 0 months. Average of 6 months wait in Australia. Wait times in Canada have decreased for regular rav4s
RAV4 Hybrid – waitlist length up to 3 years in Canada and Australia. Up to 6 months in the USA for specific configurations. If open to more broad options, wait time in the USA is 0-2 months in most regions with many dealers having inventory available currently.
RAV4 Prime – waitlist up to 4 years in Canada. Average wait time 18mos. In the US average wait time is 3-4 months however if you are willing to search other markets there are units available currently.
Now, let’s look at individual countries, which will paint a clearer picture of the situation.
By Country
| Country | Waitlist Lengths | Average Wait Time |
|---|---|---|
| USA | 0-18 months | 1.8 months |
| Canada | 0-48 months | 10.5 months |
| Australia | 4-36 months | 15.5 months |
RAV4 wait times in the USA are the shortest among all countries. This country is the 4th largest automobile market in the world therefore it is a high priority for Toyota. With a bit of searching to local or even regional dealers Americans can find Rav4s relatively quickly.
Looking at Canada, there are a very small amount of non-hybrid RAV4s that are available. With that in mind you can still expect to wait quite a while if you are looking for a specific combination of trim level and color. The wait times in Canada vary a lot by region and model, so we recommend you check out our full breakdown of Canadian RAV4 wait times.
The range of wait times in Australia is more stable but overall you can expect a longer wait time. The RAV4 Prime is not allocated to Australia so the wait times on the RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid when compared to the U.S. and Canada are actually much longer.
We go into greater detail on this market in our Australia RAV4 wait time guide.
Reasons for the Wait Times
While the wait times and availability have certainly improved over the last year. It is still nothing like the pre-Covid 19 world.
Numerous factors have caused this long wait time. Here are a few to consider.
- Higher demand
- Limits on production
- Constrained Supply Chains
- Automotive part shortages
- Geopolitical Events
- Post-COVID economic recovery
Of the three RAV4 models, the Prime is the hardest to produce. That’s why the wait time for this plug-in hybrid is the longest.
Thinking about jumping on a wait list? Here’s what you’ll need to know.
Reserving Your Spot and Shortening Your Wait Times
Firstly, one thing to consider is the human aspect of this whole process. For context, I am a salesperson at a Toyota dealership in the United States who has sold a number of RAV4 Primes and RAV4 Hybrids. From the dealership perspective, every buyer is equal whether they have cash in hand or are financing. If you can buy and want a vehicle they have, you will be valued! The catch is with these rare vehicles you are not a valuable customer today and maybe not a valuable customer this year even. So how do you get a foot in the door?
The salesperson that answers your phone call or email is your way in. At the end of the day if they forget you then you won’t get a vehicle from them. They want to sell you a car of course, it is how they feed their families, the trouble is that they have to juggle the buyers sitting in front of them today looking to buy a used Tacoma with the buyer that is willing to buy a RAV4 Prime that won’t come in for 6 months. A deal today is going to take up the majority of their focus.
The way to increase the likelihood of you getting the car you desire while potentially decreasing the time to get one is by communicating to the salesperson your enthusiasm and seriousness. Here are 3 ways to do that:
- If possible, be flexible! You are already searching for a very rare vehicle. If you are only open to purchasing a RAV4 Hybrid or Prime with the exact specifications, color and packages that you desire then be ready to wait. If you are more flexible with what you are looking for then communicate that! A customer who is open to red, blue or silver and could do with or without an even more rare premium package will be higher on my list because I am more confident that I can find something that will work!
- Allocations come out every two weeks. Ask the salesperson when their next allocation is so that you can set a reminder and reach out to see if they got one. We are not perfect and work with a lot of different customers. As I mentioned before, it is very easy to forget to follow up on a 2 month old Prime lead on allocation day when I am worried about selling a used Tacoma today. If you blow up my phone I will definitely be checking as soon as I have my new inventory allocated!
- Be a customer that is advantageous to sell to. Not money wise of course… I would avoid paying a markup over MSRP if possible. There are dealers (including mine) with no markup or at most very small add-ons. A valuable customer to me is one that I know CAN buy and will do so when I have the car. Toyota measures its dealers off of two major metrics. First, is volume which is self explanatory as to what they want. More cars sold = more cars allocated. Second, is turn rate or, how long a vehicle sits on the lot before it is sold. Faster turn rate = more cars allocated (also more rare and higher margin models are earned). A RAV4 Prime should be sold within two days of its arrival on any dealer’s lot. Especially before the 15th and 30th/31st. If you are willing to purchase the vehicle soon after it arrives you will be more likely to have a salesperson work hard to get you one. Even if you place a deposit on a vehicle, if a dealer has a Prime on the lot that is not signed for on the 31st and they need another deal to hit their bonuses and/or metrics they will sell it.Â
Also, if looking out of state consider that some dealers have policies preventing the sale of rare vehicles outside of their market. If they are willing to sell it to you then I would suggest offering to fly out to purchase it. Delivering a vehicle is very complicated and comes with a myriad of obstacles with identity verification and shipping. A customer flying in to buy a car from me will always receive my best efforts because I know they are taking a risk and spending a lot of time doing business with us!
Most dealerships require a deposit at the time of the reservation. This deposit is then put toward the cost of the vehicle once it arrives. Deposit amounts vary, so it’s important to speak with your local dealership. Here’s a generalized idea of what’s charged per country.
- USA: $500 to $1,000
- Australia: $500 to $1,000
- Canada: $1,000 to $1,500
It’s up to the dealership whether the deposit is refundable or not. In the United States, the majority of deposits are non-refundable, while Australia and Canada seem to offer more refundable options.
Additionally, some dealerships do not charge a deposit at all. Others will ask for a more specific number such as 10% of the vehicle price
Impacts on Customers
Sadly, a lot of Toyota customers are being strung along. Dealerships offer short estimates in hopes of gaining business but end up with unhappy customers that are stuck waiting for a RAV4.
At this point, no one would blame a Toyota owner for choosing a different brand or vehicle. It takes a very loyal person to continue waiting for the RAV4.
Will Conditions Improve Soon?
There are a few indications of the future RAV4 market. Here are some insights worth looking at.
- According to Cox Automotive, “Toyota said it is targeting 150,000 vehicles in inventory by year-end 2024, compared with 81,000 at the end of 2023.”
- In 2023 Toyota sold 434,943 RAV4s in the U.S. which was an increase of 18.6% compared to 2022
- In January and February of 2024 Toyota is off to a hot start with a reported 79,482 RAV4s sold.
(Cox Auto, Inc., and Car Figures)
With rising supply and increased growth obligations expect Toyota dealers to decrease prices in an effort to hit their unit monthly unit goals.
To add an anecdote from my new Toyota dealership is expecting a record year in new car units sold.
So, what is Toyota doing to fix things?
Outlook
With average wait times decreasing and supply of vehicles increasing I believe we are headed to a buyer’s market that we have not enjoyed since March of 2020. More vehicles are piling up and dealers are cutting prices to move inventory. Some consumers are finding excellent deals on aging inventory like Ram 1500s. Still, expect high demand vehicles like the RAV4 to be more difficult to acquire but keep in mind the reason why these vehicles are in higher demand.
For many, the trusted reliability of a Toyota is worth the wait!
If you need assistance in finding the right RAV4 we can help! Check out our Car Shopping Service where our experts will help you locate the perfect vehicle!