DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. — Five Toyota dealerships in the country’s southeast region are among 56 to receive the 2014 National Leadership Award for outstanding performance in the Toyota Rent a Car (TRAC) program.

The recognized dealerships include Toyota of South Dade in Homestead, Fla., Headquarter Toyota in Miami, Arlington Toyota in Jacksonville, Fla., Thomasville Toyota in Thomasville, Ga., and Scott Clark Toyota in Charlotte, N.C.

The annual program honors the top Toyota dealerships that recognize the benefit of keeping customers engaged with Toyota products. Breeding this level of customer loyalty through exciting TRAC opportunities helps generate more showroom traffic, increase TRAC brand awareness, and ultimately, sells more vehicles, officials said. Winners are determined by a point-based criterion that emphasizes several key factors used to measure successful TRAC, including training, fleet size and marketing.

“We support 176 dealerships in the five-state region, representing 20% of the nation’s market share, and they all contribute to that success by maintaining Toyota’s highest standards of excellence,” said Ed Sheehy, president, Southeast Toyota Distributors. “We are especially honored to congratulate these five award recipients who have joined an elite group of Toyota dealers nationwide. They truly understand the importance of providing an exceptional customer experience and know the value in offering services like TRAC to promote brand loyalty.”

Whether a consumer wants a rental for business or pleasure, requires temporary transportation while undergoing vehicle maintenance or repairs, or wishes to take advantage of the Try Before You Buy program — which offers car buyers the perfect opportunity to see how a new Toyota fits their lifestyle before purchasing — TRAC has several dependable and fuel-efficient choices to suit a customer’s needs for days, weeks, and even months, according to the company.

Available exclusively through participating Toyota dealers, TRAC utilizes the latest Toyota models at very competitive rates. Additionally, every TRAC vehicle comes with complimentary 24-hour roadside assistance, covering mechanical breakdowns, fluid deliveries, tire changes, jump starts, lockout service and towing.

“The Toyota Rent a Car National Leadership Award truly recognizes the best of the best dealers for our franchise,” said Tom DeLuise, TCUV and TRAC national manager. “These dealers have demonstrated their commitment to customer satisfaction and understand the importance of customer retention. Toyota would like to thank this elite group of dealers that continue to help us grow our rent a car business and have emerged as our leaders as we move into the future.”

Southeast Toyota will present the five TRAC National Leadership winners with a personalized crystal award during a ceremony to celebrate the achievement. Each winning dealership will receive identification as a TRAC National Leadership Award recipient on the Toyota.com/rental website, and the TRAC manager and a guest from each dealership will be invited to a Toyota‐hosted appreciation award trip.