OnStar has become a crucial selling point for General Motors as the automaker continues to invest heavily into the service and what it’s capable of.
The service itself has set out to carve its value proposition and provided 10 reasons why a subscription won’t make users feel as if they’ve wasted their fee.
- OnStar can unlock your vehicle should you lock keys in the car
- The AtYourService feature can save you money on the go
- Remote start can help accumulate precious moments of sleep
- Vehicle Locate can help you remember exactly where you parked your vehicle
- Turn-by-turn directions help keep your eyes focused on the road ahead
- OnStar can run full diagnostics on your vehicle
- Internet! OnStar will make your vehicle its own Wi-Fi hotspot
- The service can save you money on auto insurance
- The service is free for three months, so take advantage of its features
- The blue OnStar button is ready to help you in numerous ways.
We’ve briefly touched each point, but you can see how OnStar fleshed out each reasoning at the link right here. Do you subscribe to OnStar? If so, let us know why in the comment section below.
Comments
too expense for someone on fixed income like a disabled vet.
Agree it is expensive, but that misses the point: the system doesn’t work reliably, at least my experience was not good. For example, when picking up my new vehicle at the dealer, GM Onstar rep said that if I would just give the person on the Onstar call my credit card, they would extend the free full coverage through the end of the year. They didn’t. He also said that I could have free wifi for 3 months in exchange for a credit card number (now offered on new GM vehicles). They started charging my card almost immediately. Lesson learnt: do not give GM your credit card number. I complained to GM. No resolution, except that one month after buying the brand new car Onstar just quit working…they had promised 6 months if I didn’t give them the credit card. It lasted a month. I went online to find they still had my credit card and would not allow me to cancel the card online, even though they did not deliver as promised. Kind of went downhill from there. Onstar is a good reason not to buy GM, which is unfortunate because some of their vehicles are actually pretty good. Service delivery? If you want service, you might try some brand other than GM. That was my experience. That said, I do like the engineering in some of their vehicles and would buy another GM vehicle if Onstar could be easily removed (that is, taken completely out of the overhead console…you can disable it by removing a fuse).
It is a great service. A little pricey at $40 per month for the best package, but convenient. It is one of the reasons we are driving Chevrolet product instead of Fords!
Well worth the money for peace of mind. I think it is a great service; the ability of OnStar to contact you in case of an accident is especially important.
I have it but like others have said it’s a bit Expensive. I think the top package should be $20 at most!
OnStar is priced very competitively for the services offered.
My wife and I own a 2016 2500HD and an 2016 Mercedes GLA 250.
Mercedes offers a service very similar to OnStar called mBrace. The top mBrace package is about $57/month. While it offers a level of service above OnStar it is priced above OnStar.
Well that’s Mercedes.
That’s like saying Wendys is offering competitively priced burgers compared to Outback.
Other manufacturers offer services similar to OnStar at similar prices. BMW and Infinity just to name a couple. Again, OnStar is competitively priced. You may not think it is worth it and that is your choice, it’s your money, but it is no more expensive than the others.
Further… GM should offer a concierge service similar to Mercedes. I think it would be well received.
Before anyone says anything, my truck was $20k more than the wife’s Benz.
Okay, I hear you. But a strong analogy is Ford — not Mercedes, Banz, BMW.
Ford doesn’t offer anything that competes with Onstar. Neither does FCA.
Couple of suggestions:
1) I think GM/OnStar should offer a limited-lifetime package with a one-time subscription price that would cover the life of the vehicle. It would terminate when the vehicle is sold or transferred. This would help eliminate renewal fees and give peace of mind to life-long customers.
2) I also think OnStar should expand in offering in-dash navigation screen based systems to older OnStar equipped vehicles. Example: I have a 2012 Chevy Sonic LTZ Hatchback. The ONLY OnStar system offered was Directions and Connections with “Turn-by-Turn.” I would have purchased an OnStar in-dash screen based navigation system that had “Destination Download” if it was offered. As I understand, the subscription price for Directions and Connections “Turn-by-Turn” without a screen based navigation system is the same price as “Destination Download” which is a screen nav system. The aftermarket nav systems are not compatible with OnStar. If OnStar would offer such a product that could be grandfathered into older OnStar vehicles, they would give customers a product that’s up-to-date without having to purchase a new car.
I would even be happy if MyLink could be grandfathered into my 2012 Sonic, but GM told me it’s not compatible for that year. That said, I am curious what OnStar’s future plans are for screen based navigation systems? Is the torch being passed to MyLink? In any rate as an OnStar subscriber, I would love to be able to have an in-dash nav system without sacrifice losing OnStar’s features.
Android Auto is where it’s at. You don’t need a built-in nav system, just your phone. I use GPS way more now that I have Android Auto than I did with my last car. It’s just so easy to hit the button for my frequent destinations and get directions that take current traffic conditions into account.
I realize that for you this would mean buying a new vehicle. But when you come to that point, trust me, you don’t need a built in system. You just need Apple Carplay or Android Auto (whichever phone you have).
I have had this in several cars and here is what I have found.
Most of what is available with On Star is available on my cell phone.
The price was too high.
It was nice to have the phone in the system but then you can not take it with you. They need to give you a hand set that works in and out of car.
The directions often could not get me to where I needed to go including the GM Goodwrench Race shop once.
The really good part with the monthly reports and remote start and unlock is was offered to me free for at least 2 years from GMC.
Now that Apple and Android play is now in car it has diminished the need even more.
GM should pare this down to the thing really needed that can not be offered by your cell phone. Then they should make it a thing that is free or very cheap. I do not see this as a long term thing as much of what they originally offered has been replaced with a Smart Phone and I expect more will be soon.
Offer things that are of value that are not on the phones and then take it and make it a feature of the car you get for buying GM. They can still offer the reports on oil life and tire pressures. Also use it to offer dealers service opportunities. The emergency feature could still be included and used as a free safety feature and the locator as a security device.
These are things many people would buy a car for but they would never pay monthly for.
Technology in cars will change fast and often. My link is on the way out and our smart phones will replace many features. We will be able to do so much more and not have to pay extra for nav or other things in car.
Agreed.
“GM should pare this down to the thing really needed that can not be offered by your cell phone. Then they should make it a thing that is free or very cheap.”
The way for people to get what you just said can be helpful via this analogy.
If you use PCs you know of Malwarebytes. It’s a malware service that can run live on your PC to help protect you from malware. They give you a free version which doesn’t protect you live but only when you ask it to look. To get the live version requires $20 per PC. If your house has two PCs that’s $40 a year.
Okay. Let’s look at merely Windows 10 users, okay? Let’s say Malwarebytes offered a free version for three months and then insisted upon.. $1 a year afterwards. If you have two PCs you have to pony up $2 a year.
Two stinkin’ dollars. Anyone anywhere who wants to complain about that should be hit in the head hard with dung shovel. This means most people would dive at it. But to be conservative let’s say half of all current Windows 10 users.
That’s $175 million dollars per year. Let’s say Malwarebytes has 30 employees being paid $80,000 each. That leaves Malware bytes with 172.6 million a year.
And for the third time: that’s MERELY HALF OF ALL Windows 10 users. The number of all Windows users is 1.25 Billion.
Umm… why aren’t they doing this again?
My 2009 Chevy Equinox is Onstar equipped but OnStar will not activate here in Puerto Rico.
While your cell phones may be quite capable, there are several reasons not to rely soley on them. Ask yourself, ” Have I ever left my cell phone at home or at work? Has my cell phone ever been inoperable, even temporarily because of damage or needing a charge? If I use Apple Carplay or Android Auto do I have enough data available or do I have to pay for more data? ” If you’ve answered yes, to any of these questions, then you know why you should have OnStar as a backup. In the event of an emergency sometimes seconds can make a difference to a successful outcome or not.
I would like to see OnStar basic security and emergency services included with the price of the vehicle for the duration of the power train warranty. One may never have to use OnStar during a free trial period of only months, but at least once in a five year period there will come a time when you will need/want to have OnStar handy without having to worry if you’re paid up or not.
Left phone at work? No! I live with it and make sure not to ever leave it anywhere.
Cell Phone in operable? No! Never an issue and I update phones yearly now.
Cell phone in need of a charge? No! I have a cheap plug in cord.
Out of Data? No! I have never used my plan up per month and carry over data.
Now you know why I have little need for the extra cost of this on top of the phone. A little responsibility and planning can save many dollars.
But I do agree the basic package should be made available.
I have not tried it but the emergency answered on my friends vehicle when his wife pressed the button drunk. They never opted in with On star yet they picked up. I am not sure if this was an odd thing or the norm. I know police can use the locator even if the plan is not active.
“I have not tried it but the emergency answered on my friends vehicle when his wife pressed the button drunk.”
This is the core problem with the product. They decided money for them is more important saving your life. I thought GM was supposed to be off that script instead of embracing it.
Imagine — JUST IMAGINE – the marketing shift to say “OnStar cares about you. That’s why we’re offering it for free now. To all GM Customers.”
Of course they’d only be offering BASIC service free. You push a button for help — you get it. You can even tell OnStar who your ‘AAA’ service provider is. If you never bothered to set this up with them — or don’t have a AAA like service — they send their people — and then bill you.
Groovy phone services and tricks should be something you pay $20 a year for.
You pay for your home security system, cable/satellite tv, your phone, your medical, your life insurance, etc. even when you’re not using them-if you want the service available when you want to use it or need it, then you pay for it, simple as that. For the reasons I mentioned above, not everyone is as responsible as you and having a backup like OnStar can be a lifesaver. Remember, your cell phone is only as good as your ability to use it/access it. For example, in the event of a severe accident where your cell phone has been thrown out of the vehicle, or is unreachable while you are pinned behind the steering wheel or been rendered unconscious-what good is your phone then? OnStar provides automatic crash response where they will automatically send help to within one meter of your location whether you are conscious or not. That’s not a “Groovy phone service or trick worth $20 a year”, that’s a reality, but you decide if your life or that of a loved one riding with you is worth an OnStar subscription or not. I’m not saying you replace your cell phone with OnStar, but as a backup, especially in emergencies, OnStar has proven itself. As far as slamming your car into a wall and having OnStar not working, well for the reason I pointed out, I will take a chance that my OnStar will work over my ability to use my cell phone while I’m pinned in the wreckage.
Way to TOTALLY miss my point. Well done!
I’m not saying that OnStar should be free. I’m saying there’s more value in making that push for help button free. Only that part. It’s an AMAZING and RARE opportunity for a company to actually BOND to a customer. Marketing people TRIP OVER THEMSELVES to get an opportunity like this.
Know how I’m right? Suppose by this time next year Toyota had SkyVoice, an identical service. But they gave the HELP feature away, unlike GM. “When you call for help… we help you… because you’re a part of the Toyota family.” That’s GOLD in corporate relations. GM would follow their lead or look like greedy turds.
And STOOOOOPID GM is sitting on this golden opportunity and picking their noses. Idiots.
The call for help should be free with the life of the car. What happens ONCE you call is an entirely different matter. I never said the tow truck should be free.
If you have AAA — OnStar should check that you’re okay, and if okay, patch you through to AAA. For a backhanded fee from AAA that you never know about. And GM should work with AAA to reward OnStar customers… because OnStar can help find stolen cars and such. Maybe the ‘fee’ to AAA is simply AAA pushing OnStar.
If you don’t have AAA (or the like), OnStar will ask if it’s okay to send someone to help. But warn you it’s going to cost. And of course OnStar charges a noticeable fee on top of the tow.
So if you’re following me the call for help still costs you money — but not as a service in an of itself. You either have someone like AAA linked to your OnStar account or pay OnStar for the tow. The only ‘free’ part is being able to call for help.
All OTHER OnStar services cost money.
Question — in a major accident (driving into a wall) isn’t it true there are less odds your OnStar system will be functioning VS your cellphone?
Your cellphone may be working but you may not. I agree with bat on that point.
First, you have to make a point in order that others don’t miss it. But let me see if I get your gist. Basically you believe OnStar should provide a free emergency contact service with every vehicle, whereby they contact help for you. Notwithstanding the cost to have the hardware and software installed in increasing numbers of vehicles and updated automatically as peripheral technologies change, nor the cost to hire and train the OnStar emergency responders, nor the cost of running such a system 24/7 in the US and Canada you think this “goodwill” would translate into increased sales of GM products? Is that right? And I suppose you would be the first to buy a GM for exactly that reason? I will call you when that happens and then you can come on in to my dealership and sign up!
How about instead, Onstar charges a reasonable fee for a comprehensive service that hardly any other automaker currently provides, so that only those who want it, pay for it? What a concept!!!
Onstar sells your personal data and info to third parties for $$.
After reading the comments about OnStar on the link below I am reconsidering whether I shall renew it when the time comes.
https://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/onstar.html