Experience with OnStar
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 775
Likes: 36
From: Nashville, TN
Experience with OnStar
If you currently use or have used OnStar, I would love to hear about your experiences!
I decided to give OnStar a try with the free one month trial and so far, I love the phone app where I can see the status of my Vette! While, this is not major need, it is a cool feature.
If the app could spit out codes for CEL in its diagnostics function, that would be very cool!
I decided to give OnStar a try with the free one month trial and so far, I love the phone app where I can see the status of my Vette! While, this is not major need, it is a cool feature.
If the app could spit out codes for CEL in its diagnostics function, that would be very cool!
Popular Reply
Mar 27, 2026, 10:13 PM
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 190
Likes: 124
From: Pacific Northwest
I used it for a year but found out that it was sending data to LexisNexis for use by the insurance companies. That and also paying $45 a month made it a hard no for me, despite the convenience and features. I understand GM has since stopped the practice (with LexisNexis anyway) but the damage to their credibility is done.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2013
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I have OnStart on both my Chevy's. The app is a big perk.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,196
Likes: 107
From: Fairview, TX
If you currently use or have used OnStar, I would love to hear about your experiences!
I decided to give OnStar a try with the free one month trial and so far, I love the phone app where I can see the status of my Vette! While, this is not major need, it is a cool feature.
If the app could spit out codes for CEL in its diagnostics function, that would be very cool!
I decided to give OnStar a try with the free one month trial and so far, I love the phone app where I can see the status of my Vette! While, this is not major need, it is a cool feature.
If the app could spit out codes for CEL in its diagnostics function, that would be very cool!
The bold part I have on my Ford F150 at no cost. You are right that it is cool but not really needed. I can check my fuel level from my sofa to see if I need to leave early on my next trip. I have always wondered why Chevrolet charges for it while it is free on a Ford.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 190
Likes: 124
From: Pacific Northwest
I used it for a year but found out that it was sending data to LexisNexis for use by the insurance companies. That and also paying $45 a month made it a hard no for me, despite the convenience and features. I understand GM has since stopped the practice (with LexisNexis anyway) but the damage to their credibility is done.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,044
Likes: 9,808
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
The crash response feature is worth the cost. My car only used it once in ten years but it did provide a quick response. I put my car backwards into the Turn 10 wall at VIR at about 90 mph, which knocked me unconscious for about 10 seconds after the impact. The PDR provided the evidence of what happened: the car hit the wall with the right rear corner, lifted up in the air and pivoted CCW for almost one full turn before the nose came back down and hit the ground. As this was happening, the car initiated a call to OnStar, the dial tone, dialing and ringing could all be heard, along with the OnStar crash assistant answering the phone. I woke up to the words, This is OnStar are you or is anybody in your vehicle injured? Do you need us to call emergency services? I told the assistant that I was on a race track and emergency services had been called.
If you are in trouble, OnStar has a greater range than your cell phone, as it uses the car antenna for communication Vs the small antenna in a cell phone. Depending on where you are located when you have an accident, cell phone coverage can be nonexistent.
Bill
If you are in trouble, OnStar has a greater range than your cell phone, as it uses the car antenna for communication Vs the small antenna in a cell phone. Depending on where you are located when you have an accident, cell phone coverage can be nonexistent.
Bill
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,406
Likes: 481
From: NY
I used it for a year but found out that it was sending data to LexisNexis for use by the insurance companies. That and also paying $45 a month made it a hard no for me, despite the convenience and features. I understand GM has since stopped the practice (with LexisNexis anyway) but the damage to their credibility is done.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
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Never went past the trial period on any new car. The cost just wasn't worth it to me plus the LexisNexis issue did not endear me to it.
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I don't know whether this was discussed on another thread but "GM Agrees to $12.75 Million California Settlement Over Driver Data Collection". My data was sent to LexisNexis (I confirmed by getting the report). When I was shopping for Corvette insurance, it was basically uninsurable with the major carriers. I ended up going with Hagerty who had very reasonable rates.
https://www.lawcommentary.com/articl...ata-collection
https://www.lawcommentary.com/articl...ata-collection