A remote starter is a lovely feature that allows you to fire your car’s engine even from a distance, enabling you to cool the car’s interior on a hot day or warm it up on a chilly day. Basically, you will be able to start the car without the driver or the key being physically present inside the car.
Of course, you don’t have to worry about theft because your car will typically remain locked during this process. New cars usually roll out of the factory with a remote starter installed in them. If not, you have the convenience of adding it later to your car.
In other words, you are never too late to get a new remote starter installed in your beloved car. The newly fitted car remote starter will work as good as a factory-installed remote starter. That said, the factory-installed remote starter will usually be covered under the vehicle’s basic warranty.
What Is The Average Price Of The Remote Starter Installation?
If you conduct an online search for them, you will see them selling between $50 to $100. Of course, this is without the installation charges. If we were to include the labor charges, be prepared to spend anywhere from $200 to $450 for remote starter installation.
Auto Center | Price |
---|---|
Mr. Tire | $280 – $850 |
Walmart | $100 – $450 |
Midas | $160 – $590 |
Your Mechanic | $250 – $750 |
Pep Boys | $210 – $720 |
That said, luxury car owners may feel a bit robbed as usual because they might have to spend almost double. Yes, the cost can go up to $900 for a branded remote starter installed at a credible auto repair store. Keep in mind that not every technician out there may be capable enough to do a job of this nature.
So, your request to install a remote starter in a car may be turned down in some places. In such a scenario, you might have to visit a few more places to receive a positive nod from someone capable enough to do the job.
Is it a Good Idea to Get a Remote Starter for your Car?
Of course, a remote starter comes with its share of benefits. Other than warming or cooling down your car before you even step your foot inside, it also increases the resale value of the car. So, it isn’t really bad for any car. The good news is that you can get it installed even after many years of having bought a car.
But then, there are a few caveats to it. For instance, you shouldn’t buy an aftermarket part. Also, you should get the installation job done by someone whom you can fully trust. Your safest bet would be to get a remote starter from your car manufacturer.
Improper work or a poor part can cause damage to your vehicle. In the process, you will end up sitting on a pile of costly repair bills.
Important Information: To know if the remote starter is compatible with your car, you will have to check the starter box or the manufacturer’s website. Also, you should never buy a remote starter from one place and get it installed from some other place. Ideally, you should get the remote starter installed in your car from the same place you bought it for. Moreover, you should make sure that the car remote starter has a good range to it. The range would usually be mentioned on the product’s packaging.
Remote Starter Installation Procedure Explained?
Unless you are convinced that you are at a level of a pro car technician, you shouldn’t attempt to get the remote starter installed in your car on your own. Different vehicles will have different mechanisms to accommodate a remote starter, which would be beyond the scope of your knowledge.
So, don’t have high hopes if you are not a mechanical savvy person. After all, you can risk hurting yourself in the process. Not to mention that you can also hurt your car or your wallet by causing more damage to the car. So, don’t ask for unnecessary headaches by attempting a job that you are not qualified to do.
Not to mention that extra parts may be needed, depending on the make and model of your car. You may not have these parts with you to complete the remote starter installation. A pro technician will be able to supply these parts for an additional cost.
How to Save Money on Remote Starter Installation Cost?
There’s nothing much you can do to save money on remote starter installation because you are not advised to install it yourself. Your best bet would be to get the remote starter installed from a credible auto repair shop to avoid unnecessary expenses associated with a bad job.
What looks at first as a fabulous deal may bite you later. So, don’t fall for the low-ball quotes offered by unknown or non-credible automobile shops. After all, you don’t want a trainee to attend to your car, especially when the job is of a complex nature because incorrect installation can cause damage to your car’s electric system.
As a result, you will end up spending more than usual for expenses that were not required when you first walked into the shop. So, supervise the work, if you can. And, get the job done only from a trusted mechanic.
In this manner, you can be sure that the job will be done according to your expectations without costing you more than what it should. Of course, you always have the option of getting price estimates from many pro technicians to book the one that’s right for you.