OnStar subscription?

[razor488]

Does anyone pay for an OnStar subscription and do you find it worth it?

My new Yukon has the 4G LTE hotspot but you have to buy a data plan from Onstar... Why would anyone do this when LTE on your phone works just the same?

Generally the point of WIFI is that its either free or you have unlimited data with it.

 

[kysrsze]

I keep a basic OnStar subscription (no WiFi hotspot in my truck) to keep access to the RemoteLink app on my phone and for the vehicle diagnostics reports that they email. I live in a state with seasons so during the cold months it's nice to be able to remote start from a long distance when it's cold outside.

As for the wifi thing, if you don't have other devices that need it...probably not worth it. Use your phone, IMO.

 

[razor488]

You can actually connect the car hotspot to your AT&T data plan so it draws from that... but of course that is $10 a month lol

 

[Mikef]

I also buy the basic plan. I have for the last 10 years or so on all my vehicles. The phone app is nice. Lock/unlock or start your vehicle from anywhere with your phone. But I really like knowing if my wife or kids are in an accident police/medical will be notified right away as well as I will get a call on my call phone. Fortunately I've never had to use it but I like the peace of mind.

 

[zolt11]

I thought the onstar app remote unlock, lock, and start are free for the first 5 years.

 

[Lyon]

I buy the Onstar service as an added layer of safety. We have three little kids and I really like the idea of crash notification. Also, I travel into areas where my Suburban has been able to get a cell phone signal when none of the phones in the car (from multiple carriers) could simply because it's got a larger antenna with more power behind it.

As far as the hot spot thing goes, I have kids with iPads that are wi-fi only and GM has done the data plans correctly so I can just buy data when I'm going on a trip and not pay for a monthly plan. I like to stream music to my phone on road trips and play it through the car stereo and on long trips that can put me over my monthly data plan, this way I have a simple way to just buy a little more data ahead of time. Also, I wouldn't be all that surprised to find out that the car is able to get a stronger (faster) signal than the phone/tablet.

 

[ebelp]

How do you know if your Tahoe is equipped with the wifi hardware? Where is it located?

 

[sbubbaklein]

I buy the basic Onstar subscription on all of our cars. It came in handy this past year when we hit a deer on Hot Rod Power Tour in rural Iowa. They were on the phone immediately after the bags deployed and helped contact the sheriff as well as the wrecker.

 

[sharper4]

I'm pretty sure that once you download and connect the OnStar app to your phone that it continues to work for up to 5 years, even if you disconnect your OnStar subscription. I don't plan to subscribe after my trial runs out but I do enjoy using the app to send directions to my truck and start it remotely.

 

[zolt11]

I just switch to the basic plan which came to $10 a month.