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Recently, we’ve written a lot about subscription services for the automotive industry. It all began when Publisher Tim Esterdahl became upset that his new 2022 Toyota Tundra’s remote start wasn’t actually free. You see, Toyota has changed its business strategies (i.e. profiting) to incorporate Toyota Connected Service, as have many other manufacturers.
When you consider everything that’s included, Toyota Connected Service may seem like a good addition for individuals who purchase a Toyota vehicle, but keep in mind that it costs $8 per month or $80 per year. Although it may seem like insignificant compensation that you won’t notice, the techniques used to smuggle this in on a “trial basis” appeared dubious to us.
In light of this, we decided to outline the components of the Toyota Connected Service, which is a pay-to-play service.
In This Article...
Remote Start: Not free for Toyota
This was the catalyst for everything for us. Esterdahl went crazy over certain key fob problems and even implicated Toyota’s engineers in the debacle. All of it was captured in this fantastic video.
However, remote start is mentioned under Remote Connect and costs $8/month or $80/year as part of Toyota’s Connected Service (i.e., a subscription). Therefore, even if you do a remote start using your key fob after the subscription expires, it will not function.
Other useful services that are also included in a subscription are available with Remote Connect, which is run through an app on your phone. They consist of:
- Visitor driver Receive notifications when the primary account owner has exceeded the set speed, curfew, or mileage limits.
Does the Toyota app require payment?
The Toyota app was created to provide a simple method of staying connected. The Toyota app also assists the driver in maintaining vehicle knowledge. Additionally, the app gives car owners access to repair specials, maintenance data, and recall notifications.
The software provides a distinctive in-car entertainment experience and is available for Apple and Android. It facilitates the connection of a smartphone to a Toyota car. There are no additional fees or yearly fees must be paid. This Toyota software allows you to use a variety of well-known apps on your phone while driving. These are listed below:
- Pandora
- OpenTable
- MovieTickets.com
- Slacker Music
- IHeartRadio
- Location-Based Search
Entune can be useful whether one needs to look up the weather, reserve movie tickets, or locate a restaurant in a specific city.
Utilizing the smartphone app couldn’t be simpler. The user only has to download this software from Google Play or the iTunes App Store. They must next register their vehicle using the VIN, or vehicle identification number. After that is finished, particular model-specific information will be accessible. These can be specific recalls or the vehicle’s warranty. The app also contains additional vehicle-specific data including the owner’s manual and how-to manuals.
Additionally, drivers will be able to make service appointments, request roadside help, and get some service discounts. There is also a forum where drivers may ask other Toyota owners questions about their vehicles.
When it comes to smartphone connectivity and car performance, Toyota is in the lead. There are several different Toyota apps available that can improve convenience and safety.
Do you need help downloading the Toyota app or do you have any more questions about it? Please feel free to ask any questions you may have at Stevenson Hendrick Toyota Jacksonville.
What is the monthly cost of the Toyota app?
On all new Toyotas, depending on the model, buyers receive a free trial of Toyota Remote Connect that lasts somewhere between three and ten years. The service has an after-trial price of either $8 per month or $80 per year.
Does the Toyota remote starter cost money?
Drivers must pay $8 per month or $80 annually to continue registered in Toyota Connected Services once the free trial has expired. You may already be a part of this initiative if you bought a new Toyota in 2018 without even realizing it. Even the moderators flagged a recent Reddit discussion touting the program as “possibly deceptive” when it was posted.
Drivers may no longer have access to remote starting after the Toyota Connected Services trial expires, a Reddit user said. The carmaker acknowledged to The Drive that remote start will cost extra for owners. The feedback on Newsbreak reveals that many drivers are not overly thrilled with the change.
The Verge also notes that some drivers unintentionally learned about connected services. Why some vehicles’ remote starts would still function while theirs did not was a common query among users in a Toyota forum. This implies that Toyota won’t even let you know when your free trial is up.
Additionally, the fact that Toyota Connected Services and the duration of the trials are not mentioned in the dealership videos doesn’t help. Dealers simply state that while you have the Audio Plus package, remote start is still an option. That doesn’t apply to all Toyota vehicles, as we’ve learnt.
Toyota Entune is it free?
Toyota’s Entune audio display system had a three-year grace period before owners had to start paying a membership fee when it was first introduced. So what is the price of Entune? As of right now, Entune is free to use unless you want to add a satellite radio plan.
The fact that Entune is free and useful in so many circumstances increases the value of all Toyota automobiles that make use of the program. Here are some of the highlights of Toyota’s Entune system for people who are not yet familiar.
Toyota navigation is it free?
The advantages of systems like Toyota’s in-car voice navigation system for the best hands-free driving experience are numerous.
You can find places without ever taking your eyes off the road thanks to built-in navigation systems that offer a voice recognition capability when you’re on the road. Additionally, you can use this approach to navigate beyond the fundamentals. You can look for interesting places to stop along the way. When you arrive at your desired location, you might discover other things of interest.
There may be certain additional safety safeguards built into the functionality of the system, depending on what it is. To keep you concentrated on the road, some Toyota GPS car systems may offer features that cannot be utilized while driving.
For instance, while you are driving, the lights on various navigational functions, such as the screen buttons, may be darkened. This built-in feature helps you avoid being distracted by a screen that is too bright, making using technology while driving safe. To help reduce distractions, certain other navigational features are designed to be fully unusable while driving.
Can you use an app to unlock a Toyota?
In case you didn’t know, every Toyota vehicle has a download button for the Toyota App on your phone. You can use the app to access services like remote vehicle starting, remote unlocking, remote locking, guest driver functions, and vehicle locator.
You may watch a video that Toyota employees made below that explains how to use Remote Connect in the Toyota App and goes over all the capabilities the app has to offer.
What features does Toyota Connect offer?
Toyota Connected Services is a collection of functions that includes things like receiving car health reports, quick roadside help, and remotely locking and unlocking your doors. Take a look at some of the highlights of this bundle because it is intended to offer you confidence while driving on Tracy’s roads.
I want to sign up for Toyota Connected Services.
- Download any applicable Toyota apps on your connected device and confirm that your Toyota has the essential hardware and functionality for Toyota Connected Services.
- Visit www.toyota.com/owners and select Join Now from the menu in the top right.
- Fill out the registration form with your name, email address, and password so that you may later access your account. To create an account, click.
- You’ll receive an activation link in your email; click it to finish activating your account.
- You will be informed that your account is operational on a page you will reach after clicking the link. Use the email address and password you created in step 3 to log in. Press Let’s Go.
- You must input the VIN for your Toyota vehicle after logging in. Click “Submit.”
- For servicing appointments, enter your zip code and choose your chosen dealer. To add a vehicle, click.
- Select Enroll on the next page.
- The services that apply to your vehicle will then be visible to you.
- Examine the opt-ins, then press Continue.
- Enter your contact details and then click “Confirm Order.”
- Review the details, then push To view the Terms and Conditions, click here. When done, click Submit after checking the Authorize box.
- The approved user will be displayed on the following screen if your car has Toyota Remote Connect functionality. To get an authorisation code sent to your email, click Submit. To activate the feature, key in the code into your car’s Entune multimedia system.