[ScottinMA]

Having read through a number of posts about OnStar as my free subscription is about to run out I wondered whether my memory is accurate. I thought that during the purchase of my 2017 Volt in December 2016 I was told that OnStar came with the car for 3 years. It's been six months and I received the end of service reminder from OnStar. I am suspecting that this may pertain to enhances features from OnStar that are ending. All I care about are the features I can use on my phone app. Could care less about having the dial an ambulance when I plunge into a ravine. If anyone has info about which OnStar services might remain after my 6 month subscription is up it would be most appreciated. The vehicle was purchased in Boston at Quirk.

Scott

 

[ScottinMA]

Replying to my own thread I just received the following message from OnStar that I am sharing in case anyone else my find it helpful:


"Our records show that the trial Guidance Plan will expire on 06/11/2017 and your feedback is greatly appreciated. The complimentary Basic Plan is active until 12/11/2021. The complimentary Basic Plan provides monthly OnStar Vehicle Diagnostic e-mails, Dealer Maintenance Notifications and access to the myXXX mobile app. The full suite of OnStar services, including Automatic Crash Response, Emergency Services, Crisis Assist, Stolen Vehicle Assistance, Turn-by-Turn Navigation, and OnStar Advisor support require a paid OnStar plan."

 

[Mc2wheels]

My 2016 came with 3 years of onstar. My wife's 2017 only got 6 months.

 

[gjtoth]

This is my first car with OnStar. However, I have a bunch of friends that have had it for ages. When I asked them how often they used it, to a person they said, "Never". Yet they PAID for it!! Most of them used it as a sort of "Help! I've fallen and I can't get up!" thing. That's a good chunk of change to pony up when there are apps that do the same thing at a fraction of the price. My free subscription is about to run out, too. Buh-bye!

 

[limbery]

If you've got 4 yr. roadside assistance with the car anyway, why pay so much extra to get the OnStar?....a lot of the functionality is overlap....and how often do you need the crash detection etc?

 

[Nebula]

I'm a data guy and I like the data I get from onstar in the app and what it provides to voltstats.net

On another note, I've used onstar to report several drunk drivers and debris on roads that could cause accidents or serious damage to other vehicles.

 

[PrivatePilot]

I'm a data guy and I like the data I get from onstar in the app and what it provides to voltstats.net

x2. I'm a data junkie.

 

[limbery]

I'm a data guy and I like the data I get from onstar in the app and what it provides to voltstats.net

On another note, I've used onstar to report several drunk drivers and debris on roads that could cause accidents or serious damage to other vehicles.

That OnStar data isn't cheap though!

 

[sosmerc]

So am I correct in assuming that if I let my free OnStar go away my Voltstats.net goes away?

 

[llninja]

This is my first car with OnStar. However, I have a bunch of friends that have had it for ages. When I asked them how often they used it, to a person they said, "Never". Yet they PAID for it!! Most of them used it as a sort of "Help! I've fallen and I can't get up!" thing. That's a good chunk of change to pony up when there are apps that do the same thing at a fraction of the price. My free subscription is about to run out, too. Buh-bye!

As with my 2013, call onstar and ask to be switched to onstar basic after your initial 3 years is up. It give you key fob capability and texts notifying you that you car has charged will continue. I'm good until oct 2021.

 

[llninja]

I'm a data guy and I like the data I get from onstar in the app and what it provides to voltstats.net

On another note, I've used onstar to report several drunk drivers and debris on roads that could cause accidents or serious damage to other vehicles.

911 works better to report drunks and debris. Bypasses the middle man.

 

[Shivetya]

they are twice the price they need to be to even begin getting my interest. 19.99 a month is just laughable, 16.50 a month when you pay for a year doesn't make it better. I probably would jump at 99 a year. As for losing access to the app to start/stop the car, that one day will bite GM in the ass. Especially when people acquire the cars used and find out three or four year old cars cost money to use an app on them.

their data costs are on top of already obnoxious pricing the of their "assistance plans" and so overpriced its bizarre. Maybe that kind of data price was good tens year ago

 

[llninja]

they are twice the price they need to be to even begin getting my interest. 19.99 a month is just laughable, 16.50 a month when you pay for a year doesn't make it better. I probably would jump at 99 a year. As for losing access to the app to start/stop the car, that one day will bite GM in the ass. Especially when people acquire the cars used and find out three or four year old cars cost money to use an app on them.

their data costs are on top of already obnoxious pricing the of their "assistance plans" and so overpriced its bizarre. Maybe that kind of data price was good tens year ago

I repeat, you can switch to Onstar Basic free for 5 years which includes remote start. It does not include vehicle status so you can't get battery or tire levels, but onstar texting still works, somit can notify you when the battery is full. All FREE!!!!

 

[Shivetya]

if someone buys an older Volt and doesn't subscribe to Onstar, what are they able to do for free in its entirety? like after that five years

 

[TSquare]

if someone buys an older Volt and doesn't subscribe to Onstar, what are they able to do for free in its entirety? like after that five years

Expect nothing and you won't be disappointed.

 

[llninja]

if someone buys an older Volt and doesn't subscribe to Onstar, what are they able to do for free in its entirety? like after that five years

So without a basic subscription to Onstar, you get nothing. No monthly summary emails, no keyfob functionality on your smartphone, no text notification when the car is charged or a reminder if you forgot to plug in. That's pretty much what you get with basic. To be able to see the car's state of charge and tire pressure, you have to upgrade to one of the paid options.

So at a minimum, see if they will give you the 5 free years of basic.

 

[n1acguy]

I have a 15 Volt that I didn't renew and I still get vehicle status, monthly reports, key fob function, ability to send locations to the in dash nav, vehicle status including tire pressure, and vehicle location. I don't get turn by turn or crash notification, but so what.
Now, I have a 17 Malibu that I also let expire after the Initial 6 months. I get monthly reports, key fob function, ability to send to in dash nav. I don't get vehicle status or tire pressure, location, or turn by turn.

It seems the Volt came with a full trial for 6 months, then a reduced plan for 3 years. Now they only offer a full trial for 6 mos, then just basic.

 

[El Dobro]

I'll have to check with them to see if my phone minutes will still apply if I let the subscription expire next month.

 

[llninja]

I'll have to check with them to see if my phone minutes will still apply if I let the subscription expire next month.

Nope, phone minutes disappear unless you renew. When I first bought the volt, I got suckered into 100 min for $10. I think I used 3 minutes total that first year so at $3.33 per minute, that was outlandish. But my cellular plan has unlimited minutes, so why bother using the car's phone when Bluetooth integrates well with smartphones.

 

[drmx]

I repeat, you can switch to Onstar Basic free for 5 years which includes remote start. It does not include vehicle status so you can't get battery or tire levels, but onstar texting still works, somit can notify you when the battery is full. All FREE!!!!

I purchased new in August of 2016, included 6 months of the Guidance package, which auto downgraded to the Basic Plan for the remainder of 5 years, showing as "Paid Through 2021-07-31" in my account. While the "Parked Location" feature no longer works in the myChevrolet app, the remote commands and battery range/tire pressure still report their levels.