You’re tired of sitting in an ice box every morning on your commute and so you decide to shop for a remote start system to heat up your vehicle. Naturally, you’re going to hop on Google or Amazon and search “remote starter”.
Here’s what you’ll find: remote start cost not including install
Purely going off these results, you’ll see prices anywhere from $50 to $100.
However, there are two CRUCIAL flaws with these results:
These prices do NOT include installation.
Most remote starters sold online are NOT under warranty.
Either of these reasons should sway you away from buying one of these systems. Unless you are a certified 12-volt automotive electrician, you should not attempt to install a remote starter on your own. You can risk hurting yourself, your vehicle, and your wallet in case repairs to either are necessary. Instead, visit a professional retailer, who understands remote starts and is comfortably installing the brand of your choice.
So how much will a retailer charge me for remote start?
Based on a brief survey of Compustar dealers, a basic, short-range remote starter installed on a non-luxury vehicle will range from $249.99-$399.99. The price you’ll be quoted will largely depend on the year, make, and model for your vehicle.
Different vehicles use different mechanisms for starting the engine. A professional installer will understand how to integrate a remote start system with these mechanisms, to ensure the car is being remotely started safely and securely. It is very important to contact your local retailer prior to visiting the store to make sure they are able to install a remote starter onto your specific vehicle. That said if you contact one retailer and they say “No”, don’t fret! Try another retailer, as retailers often have varying levels of comfort with different vehicles.
Extended-range remotes
Bypass integration modules (required for most newer vehicles)
Luxury or certain vehicle makes
Manual-transmission vehicles
Keyless entry or trunk-pop functionality
The key is to read any fine-print on such promotions and to be proactive with your communication to the retailer. Most of the time, retailers are not trying to rip customers off, and there is generally a simple explanation for any increase in costs as certain factors and make an install more complex.
Compustar’s 4 Steps to buying a remote starter:
Regardless of what brand of remote start you’d like for your vehicle, our team at Compustar suggests following these steps when purchasing a remote start.
More info? Contact us!