Using Remote Start in the Toyota Remote Connect is simple. To start, download the app and sign in using your Toyota Connected Services login information. The app is available for iPhone users through the App Store and for Android users through Google Play.

Once you’re in the Toyota app, just click and hold Start Engine. A simple tap won’t do it—after all, you wouldn’t want to be able to turn your car on and off with just a stray tap! Hold down the button for about a second, and you’ll see the text “Contacting vehicle” pop up, followed by “Connecting.” This text indicates that the app is searching for your Toyota and initiating a digital connection.

Pretty soon, you’ll see “Connecting” replaced with a 10-minute timer, counting down the time until your vehicle turns off again. Congratulations! You’ve successfully started your car remotely through the Toyota remote start app.

How to turn your Toyota off remotely

Once you’ve used Remote Connect to turn your Toyota’s engine on, the vehicle will run for 10 minutes before turning itself off (unless you show up and start to drive). But if you turn it on by accident—or if you change your mind—you can turn it off remotely by simply pressing “Stop” in the middle of the 10-minute timer. Hold that down for about a second, and the car will turn off again.

Other Remote Connect features

You can do more than turn your Toyota on and off using the Remote Connect app. Other standout features of the app include:

Lock/unlock doors and trunk: Use the app to lock or unlock all four doors or your trunk/hatch.

Vehicle status: The app will track your fuel level and odometer as well as whether your doors and windows are closed.

Guest driver: Set curfews, speed limits, and mileage caps in the app and get alerts if a guest driver (or, say, your teen) speeds past them.

Amazon Alexa connectivity: Link up Alexa to your Toyota to use voice commands.

Finding your car: Honk the horn remotely or look up your last parked location if you’ve lost your Toyota in a busy parking lot.

Electric cars: Battery charge monitoring and charging locators can help you keep the juice flowing in your

Prius Prime

or RAV4 Prime.

You can use Toyota’s remote services via your smartphone or smartwatch. Toyota Connected Services also includes other smartphone capabilities, such as Safety Connect ®, which connects you to roadside assistance, and Drive Connect, which gives you real-time traffic information.

MORE: How to remote start your Toyota RAV4

Is Toyota’s remote start app free?

No. Remote Connect isn’t a built-in feature included in the cost of your new car. Instead, it’s a subscription service that you’ll pay a monthly or annual fee to use.

Google this question, and the first result will be a Toyota webpage promising you that your free trial is available at no additional cost—but that free trial is, well, a free trial. Once that trial period ends, Remote Connect costs $8 per month or $80 per year if you choose to pay in a lump sum.

What’s more, Toyota has indicated that no new vehicles will use a physical key fob for remote start, meaning that

you’ll need to “pay to play” from here on out

. If you own a 2018-2020 Toyota with a key fob remote start, the functionality will be available for three years, but after that, you’ll need to switch to the app—or start getting into your vehicle to turn it on.

A lot of Toyota owners are (understandably) a bit peeved about this development, which falls in line with a trend among automakers toward a subscription model for vehicle accessories.

Which Toyota vehicles have remote start?

The Remote Connect app will only work for vehicles that already have keyless entry enabled through the Toyota Smart Key system. That system is available as an option on most 2011 and newer Toyota models, but it’s not standard for all vehicles or all trim levels. Here’s a guide to which Toyotas have remote start capabilities.

Model	Available on (model years)	2022 trim levels with standard remote start
Toyota Camry	2010 and newer	XLE, XSE, TRD
Toyota Corolla	2012 and newer	XLE, SE, SE Nightshade, XSE, Apex Edition
Toyota Highlander	2011 and newer	All trim levels
Toyota Prius	2012 and newer	All trim levels
Toyota RAV4	2011 and newer	LE, XLE Premium, TRD Off-Road, Limited
Toyota Sequoia	2011 and newer	All trim levels
Toyota Sienna	2011 and newer	All trim levels
Toyota Tacoma	2016 and newer	TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, Limited
Toyota Tundra	2011 and newer	All trim levels
Toyota Venza	2010 and newer	All trim levels

Key Takeaway If your Toyota is from model year 2011 or newer, there’s a good chance it has Remote Connect capability, but check at the dealership if it’s important to you.

How to save on Toyota insurance costs

If you’ve got the Toyota Remote Connect app, you should be able to turn your vehicle on and off remotely. But you might not realize you can also save on

Toyota car insurance

expenses in an app.

No, not the Toyota app—the

Jerry

app. Powered by AI and backed by a team of expert insurance agents, Jerry is the trusted insurance comparison app that saves users an average of $800+ per year on car insurance! Here’s how it works:

Download the Jerry app to your iPhone or Android phone.

Answer a few simple questions about yourself and your Toyota.

Wait about 45 seconds. (You can use this time to look outside, take a stretch break, or sip the caffeinated beverage of your choice.)

Review real-time, customized quotes pulled from a pool of over 55 top-rated insurance providers.