The world of car key fobs can be confusing, especially with advanced features like remote start becoming increasingly common. Recently, there’s been some chatter online questioning if even basic key fob functionality, specifically remote start, is becoming a subscription service. Let’s clear up the confusion, particularly when it comes to those stylish Blue Key Fobs you might see.
It’s important to state upfront: your blue key fob itself is not a subscription service. The ability to lock and unlock your doors using your blue key fob is a standard feature and does not require any ongoing payments. The discussion actually revolves around a broader suite of connected services, like Toyota’s “Remote Connect,” which does operate on a subscription model.
This “Remote Connect” feature, available on certain Toyota models equipped with Entune 3.0 Audio Plus or Premium Audio, offers a range of functionalities beyond just remote start. Think of it as a comprehensive smartphone app for your car. Toyota generously provides a 1-year free trial of “Remote Connect” on eligible vehicles. This trial period unlocks features such as:
- Remote Engine Start: Start your car from your smartphone, perfect for pre-heating or cooling the cabin.
- Remote Door Lock/Unlock: Control your door locks from anywhere using your phone.
- Vehicle Status Alerts and Health Reports: Receive notifications about your car’s condition and access vehicle health reports.
- Guest Driver Limits: Set parameters for other drivers, like speed limits, curfews, and mileage restrictions – ideal for families with new drivers.
- Parking Lot Vehicle Finder: Easily locate your car in a crowded parking lot.
- “Drive Pulse”: Get scored on your driving efficiency and safety habits.
- Recent Trip Summaries: Review details of your recent drives.
After the complimentary trial period, continuing the “Remote Connect” service requires a subscription, currently priced at $80 per year. Many Toyota owners who subscribe to “Remote Connect” primarily utilize the Toyota Remote Connect app on their smartphones or smartwatches to access these features.
However, here’s a lesser-known trick, especially useful if you are focused on just the remote start functionality and prefer using your blue key fob: you can actually initiate remote engine start without the app and without an active “Remote Connect” subscription (at least for a short trial period that might be independent of the full “Remote Connect” trial, depending on the vehicle and region – always check your vehicle’s manual for specifics). The secret is in a specific button sequence on your blue key fob. To remotely start your Toyota using your blue key fob, simply press the lock button twice, and then press and hold the lock button a third time. It’s important to note that original equipment Toyota blue key fobs do not have a dedicated remote start button.
Crucially, standard lock and unlock functions on your blue key fob, including those stylish blue key fobs, are completely independent of the “Remote Connect” subscription. You can always lock and unlock your doors with your blue key fob without paying any subscription fees.
This system, including the “Remote Connect” subscription and the blue key fob remote start method, has been in place since the introduction of Entune 3.0 in 2017. Therefore, the idea of key fob subscriptions isn’t new; it’s more about understanding which features require a subscription and which are standard with your blue key fob.
In conclusion, while Toyota’s “Remote Connect” and similar connected services do come with a subscription after a trial period, your blue key fob, even a distinctive blue key fob, is not a subscription service. You can confidently use your blue key fob for basic functions like locking and unlocking, and even utilize the hidden remote start feature without worrying about ongoing fees for the fob itself. Just remember that enhanced connected services like remote start via app, vehicle status alerts, and guest driver features are part of the “Remote Connect” subscription package.
