Can you use the Toyota app without a subscription?
You can sign in to the Toyota app and manage basic account details without paying for a subscription. However, most remote and live-services features require an active Connected Services subscription after any included trial period.
What you can do for free
Some basic app usage and account management are available without an ongoing paid plan. Availability can vary by model year and market.
- Sign in with your Toyota ID and manage your profile
- Add and view vehicles associated with your account
- Access basic vehicle information and maintenance reminders where supported
- Browse in‑app help, manuals, and owner resources
Free access focuses on account management and non-remote information. If you want hands-on remote features, you’ll typically need a subscription after a trial period.
Remote features that typically require a subscription
The following capabilities usually require an active Connected Services subscription after any complimentary trial is completed.
- Remote start and stop of the engine
- Locking and unlocking doors remotely
- Live vehicle location and tracking
- Remote horn or vehicle lights and other telematics actions
- Destination transfer or Send-to-Car service (where supported)
- Safety Connect and related emergency services (depending on market and plan)
Prices, exact feature sets, and trial lengths vary by region and model year. Most new Toyota vehicles include a limited trial of Connected Services, after which a paid subscription is required to continue using these remote features.
How to check your subscription status and manage costs
Inside the Toyota app, you can review whether you’re on a trial, an active plan, or have canceled services. This helps you decide whether to renew or switch plans.
- Open the Toyota app and sign in with your Toyota ID
- Navigate to Settings or Connected Services to view current status
- See which features are active, the plan name, price, and trial period
- Manage payment methods, renewals, and cancellations from the app
- Understand what happens if you discontinue a subscription (remote features stop, but basic app access may remain)
If you rely on remote features, plan ahead for renewal dates and any promotional offers in your region.
Regional and model-year variations
Availability, pricing, and trial terms for Toyota Connected Services differ by country, region, model, and year. Some markets offer broader access to Safety Connect and remote features, while others limit certain capabilities or require separate subscriptions.
United States and Canada
In North America, many new Toyotas come with a complimentary trial of Connected Services. After the trial, remote features typically require an active subscription. Exact terms depend on the trim level and model year.
Europe and Asia-Pacific
Europe and parts of Asia-Pacific may structure Connected Services differently, with regional variations in what’s included and how long a trial lasts. Availability of certain features may also depend on local regulatory requirements and vehicle specs.
Summary
In short, you can access the Toyota app without a paid subscription for basic account management and certain non-remote information. To use key remote features—such as remote start, lock/unlock, live vehicle location, and safety services—you’ll generally need an active Connected Services subscription after any initial trial period. Always check your vehicle’s model year and regional terms in the app to understand exactly which features are free and which require payment.
Is there a free Toyota app?
The base Toyota App is free to download and offers some features like basic vehicle information and access to owner's manual, but many of the more advanced "connected services" like remote start, lock/unlock, and a 24/7 response center have free trial periods that expire. After the trial, these services require a paid subscription, which is managed through the app itself.
Free features
- Vehicle dashboard: View basic information like fuel level, odometer, and maintenance alerts.
- Owner's manual and guides: Access digital versions of your owner's manual.
- Safety features: Some safety features, like Enhanced Roadside Assistance and Automatic Collision Notification, are available through the Safety Connect trial and may require a subscription after the trial period.
Paid features
- Remote Connect: Start/stop your vehicle, lock/unlock doors, and find your car.
- Drive Connect: Access cloud-based navigation and 24/7 live agents.
- Wi-Fi Connect: Turn your vehicle into a Wi-Fi hotspot (requires a separate data subscription).
- Service Connect: Receive personalized maintenance updates and vehicle health reports.
Does the Toyota app require a subscription?
Drive Connect requires an active trial or paid subscription. The Drive Connect trial can be activated the same time you register and add your vehicle to the Toyota app. How do I subscribe/renew Drive Connect services? You can renew your Drive Connect subscription using the Toyota app.
How long is the Toyota app free for?
The Toyota app itself is free to download and use, but many of its connected services have free trial periods that end after a certain time, and after the trial, a paid subscription is required. The length of the free trials varies by service, with some, like Service Connect, offering up to 10 years, while others, such as Remote Connect, typically have a one-year free trial.
Trial lengths by service
- Safety Connect & Service Connect: Up to a 10-year trial for select 2023 and later vehicles equipped with the new Audio Multimedia System. After the trial, a subscription is needed to continue.
- Remote Connect: Usually a 1-year trial, though the bZ4X with digital key gets 3 years. After the trial, you must subscribe to use features like remote start and Digital Key.
- Dynamic Navigation: A 3-year free trial is offered on some models.
- Destination Assist: A 1-year free trial is offered on some models.
- Wi-Fi Connect: The trial is 3 months or 2GB of data, whichever comes first.
Important to know
- Trial start date: The trial period for these services begins on the original purchase or lease date of the vehicle.
- Subscription required: After the trial period ends, you must purchase a subscription plan to continue using the service.
- App functionality: The app's basic functions will continue to work, but premium features like remote start will not be available without a subscription.
How to use Toyota remote start without subscription?
You can remote start a Toyota with the key fob without a subscription by using the following method on vehicles from approximately 2018 and newer, which use the Toyota Remote Connect system: press the lock button, then press it again quickly, and then press and hold the lock button for three seconds. Note: This key fob method is intended to work without a subscription, but some sources say the key fob remote start is now tied to a Connected Services subscription, even on new models, so check your vehicle's functionality first.
Key fob remote start method
- Press the LOCK button on your key fob.
- Press the LOCK button a second time within one second.
- Press and hold the LOCK button for three seconds.
- The vehicle will start. If you have a compatible vehicle, the lights will flash to confirm.
Important considerations
- Vehicle compatibility: This method is typically for 2018 and newer models that have the Remote Connect feature.
- Subscription requirement: While the key fob method works without a subscription on older models or after the trial expires, some recent sources indicate that even the key fob function may now require a subscription on certain new models. It is best to test your vehicle's key fob functionality to confirm.
- Trial period: Most new Toyotas with this feature come with a free trial, but it expires after a certain period (usually one year).
- App functionality: The smartphone app remote start feature requires a paid subscription after the trial ends.
