What You Can Expect to Pay for a Remote Start System

Remote ignition systems add a luxurious flair to your vehicle even if it isn’t a luxury car. They can also be very handy. Especially, if you live in a region where the temperatures reach frigid lows, being able to warm your engine up while you are still sipping your coffee from the comfort of your kitchen can be very helpful.

So your car did not come with a remote start system. Can it be outfitted with an after-market system? Yes!

If your car was available with a remote ignition system when it was new you can actually have the manufacturer install one. But even if your car is older or never had that option, to begin with, you have after-market options.

Today we are going to tell you about how much you can expect to pay to have a remote ignition system installed in your vehicle. We will also go over some factors that affect cost.

Average Price

It is important to note that if you buy your remote starter online, it will not include installation costs. You may see some remote starters for sale online for $150, $100 or even $50 but you will still need to pay someone to install it for you.

Unless:

You are very familiar with the electrical wiring systems of your car, paying for installation is pretty much unavoidable if you want your remote start to work right.

The average cost for a mid-range (range refers to the distance from which the car can be started remotely) remote ignition system with installation is between $220 and $380. Keep in mind that this is your basic unit, installed on a domestic vehicle by a reputable technician.

That last bit is important. You should always choose a reputable installer and here’s why….

Warranties

You should select an after-market remote starter that comes with a factory warranty. You should also choose an authorized installation shop to make sure you don’t void this warranty. Remote starters can be finicky so you want to make sure that it is installed correctly and that you can return it under warranty should something go wrong.

Determining Factors

There are factors that will drive up the cost of your remote ignition installation. For example, imported vehicles (especially European ones) have different wiring systems so installers charge more. Let’s say for instance you have a luxury European vehicle. You could be looking at up to $800 to install a remote ignition system in it.

Remote start features will also drive up the price. Additional features like keyless entry, remote trunk access functions, long-range remotes, and bypass integration will make the unit and the installation more expensive.

Installing a remote start in a manual transmission car will also be more expensive. Manual remote start systems need to be outfitted with additional fail-safes in case the car was left in gear.

We hope this post has given you a better idea of what it may cost you to install a remote ignition system in your vehicle. Now you can enter into the purchase much more informed, and who doesn’t love that?