GM is making OnStar subscription mandatory on some models

OnStar, GM’s premium in-vehicle safety and security system offering roadside assistance, automatic crash response, vehicle diagnostics, and more, has become a mandatory add-on on all new Buick, Cadillac, and GMC models.

The subscription used to be an optional add-on for vehicle owners, but now General Motors has made the service a standard for these new models. Beginning in early June, new retail Buick and GMC vehicles sold in the US come with a three-year OnStar and Connected Services Premium Plan. The plan was also made standard on the new Cadillac Escalade in July. Customers have to pay for the service ~($1,500), which is included in the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, even if they do not want to use it.

A GMC spokesperson told the Detroit Free Press that the company chose to make the connected services standard because it’s “more convenient for our customers and provides a more seamless onboarding experience.”

Bottom Line: More will qualify for the OnStar Insurance discount.