Recently TikTok user @otwdesigncrystal shared a video complaining about alleged subscription costs for her new Toyota, and it got over a million views. [1]
Must Read
- Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don’t have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here’s how
- Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake — here’s what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP
- Robert Kiyosaki says this 1 asset will surge 400% in a year — and he begs investors not to miss its ‘explosion’
She doesn’t specify the model, but she says it costs $40,000, which puts it in company with the Camry XSE, RAV4 Prime and Tacoma TRD Off-Road vehicles.
“We’re in a Toyota 2025, and we noticed that on the screen you can’t use navigation unless you pay a subscription fee for it,” she said. “Which is insane, like you can just hook your phone up and use navigation on your phone that’s free. So, we looked at the subscription fees, and it’s $15 a month. It’s also $15 a month to stream music to the actual screen in your car. Okay, together it’s $25 a month. I also saw somebody on a forum say it’s $8 a month to be able to see your oil level and your tire pressure. ”
The right-wing political channel @WallStreetApes on X shared the video, and the X post has received 5.7 million views so far. Many users expressed their shock in the comments, but others pointed out it wasn’t exactly accurate.
According to a Community Note publicly visible under the post, it is "misinformation" since Bluetooth, CarPlay, and Android Auto can be used for free for music and navigation, and the paid services Toyota Audio Multimedia and Drive Connect allow you to play music and use cloud-based services without your phone.
Toyota does offer various “Connected Services” trials and subscriptions in bundles priced at $15 to $25 a month for features like remote locking and car health updates.
And the post obviously hit a nerve for a reason: it appears the subscription fee model has taken over American wallets.
Read more: I’m almost 50 and have nothing saved for retirement — what now? Don’t panic. These 6 easy steps can help you turn things around
Why does everything require a subscription these days?
Toyota isn’t the first car company to offer add-on services via subscription. Other automakers have also experimented with subscription-based features, though most stop short of charging for essential functions. Across the industry, these programs tend to focus on connected or performance-related extras rather than fundamental functions like Bluetooth or Apple CarPlay, which remain free.
For example, Mercedes-Benz sells an “Acceleration Increase” add-on for its EQE and EQS sedan and SUV models, which unlocks extra horsepower for a monthly, yearly or lifetime fee, and Tesla, which considers itself an AI and robotics company — not a car company, offers a Premium Connectivity plan that enables live traffic updates, video streaming, and in-car data use.
The 21st-century shift from businesses that sell units of a product to subscription services can be traced to Netflix, which moved from DVD-by-mail subscription to a hybrid model with streaming in 2007 and, in doing so, mainstreamed the idea of paying monthly for on-demand media.
As broadband spread and digital distribution matured, other sectors followed. Adobe abandoned boxed software in 2013 for Creative Cloud subscriptions, which was the watershed moment for creative tools. Similarly, Microsoft Office was also turned into a subscription service.
Marketers and CEOs realized subscriptions could deepen relationships and generate valuable data on customers, and business professors argued that any business could be remade on the subscription model.
The 800 pound gorilla of subscription services is Amazon. As journalist Corey Doctorow has written about in his new book, Amazon used Prime as a way to lock in both customers and merchants. The result has been lower quality and higher prices. [3]
Dissatisfaction with the necessity of enrolling in a subscription service has been supercharged since all products have been moved to a digital subscription model. As other businesses have tried to replicate Amazon’s success in locking customers into lucrative (for the company) subscriptions, they have turned to questionable practices that often feel like extortion. As Charlie Wartzel wrote in The Atlantic, HP’s decision to “brick” their printers remotely if you don’t have an expensive ink subscription, feels like a betrayal of customer trust instead of catering to their needs. The story was titled “My Printer Is Extorting Me.” [4]
Are automotive subscriptions worth it?
Though the encroaching ubiquity of subscription-for-service businesses is annoying, you still don’t need a subscription to own and drive a new car. Add-ons are still discretionary, and whether they are worth it for your driving experience depends on how you use your vehicle day to day. If you already rely on your phone for navigation and streaming, the free connectivity offered through Apple CarPlay or Android Auto may be all you need, making a cloud-based navigation plan unnecessary.
Drivers who want conveniences like the ability to remotely start their car from a smartphone app, real-time traffic built into the car’s display or an in-car Wi-Fi hotspot might find value in a subscription plan, especially if those tools enhance safety or save time on a long commute. It’s a good idea to take advantage of trial periods before committing, since most automakers, including Toyota, allow you to test connected features for several months before charging.
For shoppers, your best defense is information. Before buying, ask the dealer to print the connected-services sheet for your exact vehicle identification number, showing which features are free, which come with trials, and what renews automatically.
With the average new-car price now exceeding $50,000 and interest rates still high, it’s important to budget carefully and avoid piling on monthly app fees unless they replace existing costs. Choose models that include the features you care about for the full ownership period or that support free phone projection so you can skip unnecessary subscriptions. Set reminders for when trial periods end, and only renew the services that truly enhance your experience behind the wheel.
What to read next
- Are you richer than you think? 5 clear signs you’re punching way above the average American’s wealth
- Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich — and ‘anyone’ can do it
- This tiny hot Costco item has skyrocketed 74% in price in under 2 years — but now the retail giant is restricting purchase. Here’s how to buy the coveted asset in bulk
- 22 US states are now in a recession or close to it — protect your savings with these 5 essential money moves ASAP
Join 200,000+ readers and get Moneywise’s best stories and exclusive interviews first — clear insights curated and delivered weekly. Subscribe now.
Article sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.
@otwdesignscrystal/TikTok (1); AxleAddict (2); Cory Doctorow/Verso (3); The Atlantic (4)
This article originally appeared on Moneywise.com under the title: TikToker accused of ‘misinformation’ after claiming new Toyota requires a paid subscription to use basic features
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.