Toyota's Key Fob Remote Start Will Now Require a Subscription

[Best_man23]

Toyota owners enjoying the remote start feature on their 2018 or later car may be in for an unpleasant surprise. They may have to pay an unexpected subscription fee to keep the feature working.

On 2018 and later Toyotas, remote start is part of the Toyota Remote Connect suite of services. A Toyota spokesperson told the site, “the vehicle must be enrolled in a valid subscription in order for the key fob to start the car remotely.”

Buyers get a free trial of Toyota Remote Connect that ranges from three to 10 years on all new Toyotas, depending on the model. After the trial period expires, the service costs either $8 per month or $80 per year. Toyota Remote Connect includes other features that might make it worth the investment. It features in-vehicle Wi-Fi, a function to help you find your parked car, a system that lets you check the odometer and fuel level remotely from your phone, and certain teen driver controls for parents.

If you have a 2018 or newer Toyota and rely on Remote Connect to operate your car, you may want to check on the status of this subscription (or perhaps look to get out of your Toyota once the chip shortage has passed).

https://www.kbb.com/car-news/toyotas-key-fob-remote-start-will-now-require-a-subscription-fee/

[SWBTATTReg]

1. Still a nifty service I guess. What happens if you truly lose the Fob, get a replacement?

[Miguelito Loveless]

3. The least of your problems

I am sure you will still have the service, you will just be out hundreds of dollars for a new fob.

[mbusby]

5. A new fob...

... is around 300.00.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

7. I paid $325 for my first car.

So it was a 10 year old Caprice Wagon that got 9 mpg in the city (6 if there was good music on the radio.)

[SWBTATTReg]

11. Whoa! I didn't realize that they had jumped up in price so much! When I brought my last car,

I expected to get two sets of fobs/keys, and they only gave me one, so I hounded them until they got me the 2nd set...I'm glad I now did (hound them for the 2nd set which I was owed). Wow! Someone said their first car was $325 or so, and mine was around $200 (early 70s), so it's amazing how much prices have jumped since then, and then you see the min. wage rates still stuck at the 1980s rate (fed. rate). Ridiculous, isn't it?!

Thanks for the scoop...

[XanaDUer2]

2. Always looking for ways to remove money from customers' pockets

Nt

[Pobeka]

4. In the UK, these wireless keys are a boon to auto theft.

Most people leave a key close to the (house) door. Two criminals, one with a RF amplifier stands near the door capturing the signal, and retransmitting it to the second who is standing by the car.

Off they go.

What looks like a convenience is a huge security hole.

Its just a matter of time until US thieves catch on...
---

Those old keys had to literally be in the key slot on the steering wheel for car to detect them (basically RFID), and cars with that technology would not start if the key wasn't there. Auto theft had been dropping dramatically due to that key technology.

[SoCalNative]

12. I used to leave them there

until I realized what could be done, so now both are kept in my bedroom far away from my car. If I need to unlock my car I can always use the app on my phone if I don't want to go fetch one of the fobs.

[Auggie]

8. Highway robbery, no pun intended ...

remotely is not the only to start the car, right? You can still stick a key in a slot?

[SoCalNative]

13. Not usually

most cars have pushbutton start ignitions now. The tiny key provided can only be used to unlock your door if the battery in the fob is dead.

[TheBlackAdder]

9. Check out this video. It might be the start of pay-as-you-go automotive schemes by all companies.

.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1017698352

.

[ColinC]

10. I feel like remote fobs have the potential for more harm than good.

As they can easily be hacked to access your car. They would need to have a shorter range for it to be safe, IMHO

[liberal N proud]

14. $$$$$$$