Safety Connect renewal

How much does it cost per year?

 

$85/yr currently

 

I addition to the phone apps, you get the "Safety" features: the automatic call when the car is involved in an accident (I think it has to bad enough to deploy the airbags), and the SOS button to call for a tow truck or other help, or report an incident which the SafetyConnect dispatcher can forward to e911. The dispatcher is provided with the GPS coordinates of your car. If you call 911 on your cell phone, the e911 center may or may not be equipped to receive the GPS info from your phone. Whether this is all worth $85/yr, that is a personal decision.

 

I'll look at if from the other perspective. I don't have an Advanced, so I don't have those features. However, if they were offered to me for $85/year, I would pass.

I have SOS and GPS/maps on my phone, I remember where I park my car, I don't need to turn on the A/C from a distance, etc. Depending on my age and location and driving habits, the auto-call for an accident might be nice, but not yet.

 

Yeah, the conveniences new technologies offer are often very addictive. I said the same thing about the necessity of smartphone, tablet computer, and many convenient features of modern cars. They are not a necessity at first, but you keep using them so much you become dependant on them. I am glad I don't have that feature on my car.

 

Rather than load features on each car (nav, connections, etc.), my preference is just to have it all on my phone or portable GPS. Move them from car to car and you're set. The NAV on the Prime is pretty lame, and they kill you on updates that are free on a $200 Garmin or the phone you already own. Same with annual subscription fees to additional services.

 

Thanks for the advice. I have several cheap smartphones I use for different purposes, but none has a data plan SIM. So far, I have not encountered any situation I need any of Saftey Connect features and functions. To be honest, as long as I don't get hooked on those technologies, I have no reason to use those features on my phone or Garmin.

 

Here's the other point I missed - I travel all over the country, and prefer the back roads. I am frequently out of cell phone range, so Safety Connect has no connection in those areas. I actually carry two cell phones when I travel, with different providers, to maximize my cell coverage. But, even then I can go for days with no cell service and that's not been a problem. The portable GPS always knows where I am, and from there I can find my way to where I am going. Not to mention the paper maps in the back.

 

I just started my subscription and I'm actually considering cancelling it and having the telematics completely disabled.

Toyota's privacy policy makes it clear that the benefits are more for them than you in their "complementary" offering of the service. Too much data mining. The only thing I'll miss are the crash notifications, but I'm rarely out in the middle of nowhere where there isn't going to be another person to call 911.

 

I actually live in an area with very spotty cell coverage. I don't travel much anymore. Therefore, I generally find very little usefulness of cell phone or GPS for my current lifestyle. That said from time to time when I am away from home area they are useful. I don't need Safety Connect in my car, but I do carry both phone and GPS for those rare occasions.

 

That's another issue. That application works terribly. Honestly, if not for "Toyota reliability" and the great deal on this Prius, I would have passed on it as it reflects pretty poorly on the vehicle. But, the vehicle itself presents well, and so far I really haven't had any substantial issues with it.

 

I have no sheep. In fact I have but one lonely tree and the sun peeking out from the clouds. No idea how to get sheep other than to buy some and put them out in the field with the 2 alpacas.

 

Which is why I never activated Safety Connect on my Advanced.

 

When the free period expires I will most likely renew it, as the GF is going to keep it as her daily driver.

 

Anyone has the latest pricing for Safety connect Renewal. It did work in my first major accident with Prius Prime Advanced and it called the cops even before I got the chance to go back in the car to find my phone. Also someone was talking to me via safety, just finding if everyone is okay.

Although I am still on the edge to get another yearly subscription service

 

IIRC, an annual fee of $80.00 or you can pay it monthly at the rate of $8.00 per month.