OnStar, GM’s subscription-based telematics service, was recently updated with a new look and a new design, with The General rolling in a number of connected features underneath the broader OnStar umbrella. OnStar is currently available via several different plan levels, each with their own collection of services. These include Google built-in functionalities, such as Google Maps. However, once a given OnStar subscription runs out, some of these features may no longer be available. As such, we’re taking a closer look at how much it will cost to keep Google Maps in a Chevy vehicle.
For 2023- and 2024-model-year Chevy vehicles, OnStar Remote Access is included for three years, offering functionalities like remote vehicle control and mobile app integration. OnStar Remote Access excludes emergency and security services.
Now, with the launch of the 2025 model year, Chevy vehicles are equipped with OnStar Basics, which is equipped as standard for eight years. This entry-level package includes features such as remote command, voice assistance, real-time traffic updates, Automatic Crash Response, and built-in Google Maps navigation.
Once an OnStar subscription period expires, drivers who wish to retain access to Google Maps will need to subscribe to an OnStar plan that includes the maps feature. Pricing starts at $14.99 per month for the Remote Access plan and App Access plans, which focus on core connected vehicle features like navigation and remote personalization.
Higher-tier plans offer additional services, such as Emergency Services and Stolen Vehicle Assistance, with costs rising to $52.99 per month for the top-tier Premium Plan. Each plans also offers access to Super Cruise, GM’s semi-autonomous driver assist system, which is available across the OnStar plans tier list for an additional $25 per month.
Check out the table below for a more thorough breakdown of pricing and feature information for the various OnStar plans:
| OnStar Plans | Premium | Preferred Plus Wi-Fi | Essentials | Preferred | Safety & Security | Connected Vehicle | App Access | Remote Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $52.99/month | $46.99/month | $42.99/month | $31.99/month | $32.99/month | $26.99/month | $14.99/month | $14.99/month | |
| Automatic Crash Response | X | X | X | X | X | - | - | - |
| Emergency Services | X | X | X | X | X | - | - | - |
| Crisis Assist | X | X | X | X | X | - | - | - |
| Roadside Assistance | X | X | X | X | X | - | - | - |
| Stolen Vehicle Assistance | X | X | X | X | X | - | - | - |
| Connected Navigation | X | X | - | X | - | X | X | - |
| Turn-By-Turn Navigation | X | X | X | X | X | - | - | - |
| OnStar Guardian App ($15/month) | X | X | X | X | X | + | + | + |
| Remote Key Fob | X | - | X | - | - | X | - | X |
| Mobile Map App | X | - | X | - | - | X | X | X |
| Remote Personalization | X | - | X | - | - | X | X | X |
| On-Demand Diagnostics | X | - | X | - | - | X | X | - |
| HD Streaming (if properly equipped) | X | X | - | - | - | X | - | - |
| Voice Assistant (Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa) | X | X | - | X | - | X | X | - |
| Unlimited In-Vehicle Data ($25/month) | X | X | + | + | + | X | + | + |
| In-Vehicle Apps | X | X | - | X | - | X | X | - |
| Super Cruise if equipped ($25/month) | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
- X = included
- + = add-on option
- – = not available
Notably, GM is aiming to phase out the popular Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring services from newer GM vehicles. Instead, GM aims to offer OnStar with Google built-in functionality.
Comments
Forcing a customer to buy your product (onstar/google maps) instead of allowing them to use competitors’ products (carplay/android auto) sure smacks of anticompetitive behavior. No one at GM knows about the microsoft browser war lawsuit from the ’90s?
Bill, The reason they are forcing this on customers is because, without GM forcing it, OnStar would be out of business. Most people are aware that OnStar has reported to insurance companies how your car was driven. They say they don’t do that anymore since the class action lawsuit was filed.
Let’s remember that it still has smart phone integration, the benefits of ‘google built’ in far out weigh the loss of Apple Carplay, no one was raving about Apple Carplay when GM launched it in 2014, and no one was criticizing Toyota and Honda for only recently adopting it!!! ( it didn’t appear in ALL Toyota line up till 2022!!!) You will still be able to use your smart phone data once the free period has finished. If you prefer you can subscribe for $14.99 a month via Onstar.
Doesn’t matter. They can’t prevent you from using it for 5-8 years and then go “ok, all’s good now, go ahead and use a third party app”.
My son’s 2021 Tacoma has CP and AA.
So you’re saying I get Google maps for free for 8 years with the OnStar basic plan which is included? After that, if I still own the car I will pay $14.99 a month or whatever it is in 2034. I’m okay with that. That’s a future me problem.
Google maps in my 2024 Silverado has already expired. If I want it back, I have to subscribe to one of their overprice plans. Hard pass. CarPlay works so much better. Not sure why the article says you get it for 8 years. Maybe in the new EV vehicles but not ICE vehicles.
Have you tried Hotspot from your phone. Pretty sure it works with mobile Hotspot.
It definitely DOES work.
I do this in my 2022 Silverado.
The article says the 2025 models get it for 8 years, I don’t think they told anyone about it though because this is the first I’ve heard about it.
I have some issues with this article. GM is not phasing out AA or AC. Also you get 8 years of GBI for free. No one knows what it will cost in 8 years. It might be more or less. The average person does keep a car that long.
They’ve already phased out AA/CP in most EVs and I’m guessing their plan (not announced that I’ve heard) is it will be phased out everywhere. I wonder why the Honda Prologue is selling better than the Blazer? Maybe because it has AA/CP.
Don’t be dumb, you can use mobile hotspot.
Because the Rubes believe in Honda “quality” not knowing they’re driving a GM platform.
I’m not buying a subscription car. Simple as that. I keep them for a long time, well after the few free years of access, and probably beyond the several years the particular cell tech the car uses will be obsoleted. The it’ll just be a rolling brick.
You can use mobile Hotspot. Typically works better than AA and CP
Everyone thinks you need to have the subscription to drive the car but you don’t. What GM does with their subscriptions is add convince to your drive. But you are not required to have these. Let’s take Remote start for example. If your vehicle has remote start then you can just use the key fob or pay for the added convince of being able to start your car from anywhere and have a notification of when the vehicle started. And as for navigation you can either pay to have navigation in the car or just use google maps on your phone and if you don’t have a smart phone, my first question is why, but you can still purchase paper maps.
So pay or go back to early 2000’s tech. Got it.
Don’t be stupid, you can Hotspot data to Google built in.
I use speciality Garmin devices such as off road and/or travel trailer GPS units that have free updates.
I could care less. All the fuss I read about CarPlay and Android Auto seems silly “to me”. We complain about all this stuff, but it wasn’t that long ago that we didn’t even have Bluetooth. In 2008 there were still a good number of vehicles without Bluetooth and most brands didn’t have CarPlay/AA till 2015 or after. Heck, Mazda didn’t offer them till nearly 2020 and even then some didn’t have it.
Like someone else said. Being 8 years from date of purchase, how many will still have that vehicle? For those who do, who knows if they will still charge for it then or how much it would be. Just like satellite radio prices have come way down, so too with these things. So let’s not get too worked up over it.
GM figures 8 years down the road when the vehicle is just paid off lol, most owners will gladly pay what they’re charging at that time for the OnStar plan that they’ve become accustomed too. It should after all be slightly less than what their car payment was.
STILL, waaaaaaaasaaaaay over priced! Not-even-close. Come to think of it, I do not know a single person who subscribes to OnStar. In typical GM fashion, the idea that they could have a couple hundred million subscribers for a reasonable price, or a few million at a high price, they choose the high price..
How is it overpriced if any phone mobile plan costs ~$50/mo?
This begs the question:
Have you driven a Ford lately?
And they can just Hotspot from their phone.
The safety & security plan is going up $3.00 per month starting JAN2025 according to an email I got for my wife’s 2022 Camaro SS. Debating whether or not to keep it as it’s not driven as much since we retired & use my SUV for road trips. I think these plans are overpriced just like most cell phone plans.
24 Terrain … embedded NAV .
Don’t care, don’t need it, I have a mobile phone.
You can just Hotspot to your infotainment