Toyota Connected Service: Breaking down what $8 to $32 per month gets you

We’ve covered subscription services for automakers a lot lately, and it all started when Publisher Tim Esterdahl got perturbed over his new 2022 Toyota Tundra’s and remote start not being free, technically. You see, Toyota, like many manufacturers have shifted business plans (i.e. profiteering) to include Toyota Connected Service.

When you look at what’s included, it sounds like an added amount of niceties for those who buy a Toyota vehicle, but take note: Toyota Connected Service costs $8/month or $80/year. It may sound like small change that you won’t miss, but the methods of sneaking this in as a “trial basis” seemed a little shady to us.

So with that in mind, we wanted to break down what was part of the pay-to-play Toyota Connected Service.

UPDATE: 2022 Toyota Tundra connected services extended, remote start update

Remote Start: Not free for Toyota

This was the thing that started it all for us. Esterdahl lost his mind over some key fob issues and even got Toyota’s engineers involved in the fiasco. It was all documented in this great video.

But yes remote start is part of Toyota’s Connected Service (i.e. subscription) and is listed under Remote Connect as $8/month or $80/year. So, even if you use your key fob to do remote start, it won’t work after the subscription expires.

Remote Connect runs through an app on your phone and includes other handy features that also are part of a subscription. They include:

• Guest driver – Get alerts sent to the primary account owner related to exceeding preset limits of speed, curfew or miles driven.
• Vehicle status alerts – Check the status of your Toyota vehicle’s doors, windows, odometer and fuel level.
• Last parked location – Locate your vehicle in a crowded parking lot with Last Parked Location.
• Remote lock/unlock – Remotely lock/unlock your doors with your phone from anywhere.

Editor’s note: Since posting this article, there has been an update to the remote start subscription fee. Be sure to watch the video below for details.

Safety Connect: Pay for extra peace of mind

Of course GM started this entire trend with OnStar, which has made them billions of dollars over the years. But 2022 Toyota vehicles will offer Safety Connect features, for an additional $8/month or $80/year subscription fee.

Some of the Safety Connect services that will cost you include:

• Emergency assistance – Engaging the Emergency Assistance button in your vehicle can connect you with a 24/7 response center agent who can request dispatch of necessary emergency services to your vehicle’s location in case of a medical or other emergency on the road.
• Enhanced roadside assistance – At the press of the Emergency Assistance Button, you can connect with 24/7 Roadside Assistance, which gives you the peace of mind that help is on the way.
• Automatic collision notification – A 24/7 response center is automatically notified in the event of an airbag deployment or severe rear-end collision. The 24/7 response center agent will attempt to speak with the vehicle’s occupants and then notify local emergency services to request dispatch of emergency services to the vehicle’s location.
• Stolen vehicle locator – Should you find yourself in a vehicle-theft situation, immediately file a police report and notify a response center so agents can assist authorities in locating your vehicle using GPS technology.

Drive Connect: Cloud-based extras

“The Cloud” is something we all hear about and few of us really understand what it means. But Toyota’s Drive Connect service is a yet another separate subscription service that costs $16/month or $160/year. Toyota’s Drive Connect subscription debuts in the 2022 Tundra but will be integrated into other Toyota vehicles too.

Think of this service as a personal digital assistance (like Hey Siri), but instead you ask your Toyota for help with various in-car functions such as changing audio settings or the climate control in select models.

Another aspect is cloud-based navigation that includes Google Point-Of-Interest search capability and the ability to share your ETA with contacts in your phone book.

Being Wi-Fi capable allows for system and navigation updates to be installed “over-the-air” so the vehicle will always be up to date. New roads constructed? OTA updates will allow the map to include those too.

Bottom line on Toyota Connected Service

Yes, this shift to pay-per-feature is kind of annoying. But there are many conveniences that make our lives easier, so shouldn’t an automaker attach value to it?

For a full chart of what Connected Services are available for what Toyota vehicle, reference this website. Still unsure about the reliability of your Toyota’s new features? Protect your investment with expert guidance from a trusted San Diego Lemon Law Attorney.

And while all this makes sense from a business perspective, it also adds up. If you want all the services, you could be paying as much as $32 per month or $320 per year.

But just like that service offer from Vinspy to run a VIN code check on that European vehicle you planned on procuring, you may suddenly find yourself praising your forethought, and for making the upfront investment.

However, if you aren’t okay with it, don’t subscribe. If the profits aren’t there, the automakers will get the message. We want to hear your feedback, what services are you okay paying for and which ones bug you? Leave us your comment below.

Related posts:

• Stellantis subscription service includes remote start, too
• Remote start is free for Ford, but other in-vehicle subscription services exist
• Is the 2022 Toyota Tundra JBL audio system worth it?