Some Carmakers Charge Extra for Automatic Crash Notifications. These Don’t Make You Pay More for This Lifesaving Feature.
Car Brands With Free Automatic Crash Notification
Acura AcuraLink Assist-Additional features: Some Acura vehicles rely on the driver to connect their own phone, and will use that connection to dial for help—a feature known as AcuraLink Assist. Additional features, including remote lock/unlock, Amazon Alexa integration, and in-vehicle WiFi, with a subscription, are available on certain vehicles with a monthly subscription, as is an ACN feature that works over a built-in cellular connection.
Availability: Available on select vehicles and trim levels. Free service is provided on some AcuraLink Assist-compatible vehicles as long as a phone is paired via Bluetooth.
Audi Connect CARE-Additional features: Remote lock/unlock, car locator, stolen vehicle locator.
Availability: On select models, according to Audi.
BMW ConnectedDrive-Additional features: Unlike automatic crash notification, other features, such as roadside assistance, are free for a trial period but then require a subscription.
Availability: Requires Live Cockpit Plus or Pro packages, or BMW Assist eCall option on some 2019 or newer models. BMW says the feature is active “for as long as the network technology can support it.”
Ford/Lincoln 911 Assist-Additional features: Remote lock/unlock, remote start, vehicle status check. Unlike many other systems, these vehicles don’t use a built-in cellular connection. Instead, they rely on the driver to connect their own phone and will use that connection to dial for help. “This means the driver has to remember to set the system up and have their phone inside the vehicle,” Knizek says. “The phone is also less protected during a crash than a built-in system, but it is better than no system at all.”
Availability: All new Ford and Lincoln vehicles, as long as the feature is activated and a phone is paired through Bluetooth.
Genesis Connected Services-Additional features: Lock/unlock, car locator, remote start, vehicle status check.
Availability: All model year 2023 and newer vehicles.
Honda HondaLink Assist-Additional features: Some Honda vehicles rely on the driver to connect their own phone and will use that connection to dial for help—a feature known as HondaLink Assist. Additional features are available on certain vehicles with a monthly subscription, including an automatic crash notification feature that works over a built-in cellular connection.
Availability: Available on select vehicles and trim levels. Free service is provided on some HondaLink Assist-compatible vehicles as long as a phone is paired via Bluetooth. With other vehicles, there’s a yearly fee of $89 after a free trial period of 12 months to use a car’s built-in cellular connection for HondaLink with automatic crash notification.
Hyundai Bluelink+Additional features Lock/unlock, car locator, remote start, vehicle status check.
Availability: 2024 model years and newer, but not available on some trim levels.
Jaguar/Land Rover InControl Protect SOS Emergency Services- Additional features: Vehicle status check, vehicle locator.
Availability: All new Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles.
Mazda Automatic 911 Dialing-Additional features: Like Ford and Lincoln’s systems, Mazda’s Automatic 911 Dialing doesn’t use a built-in cellular connection. Instead, it relies on the driver to connect their own phone and will use that connection to dial for help. Aside from automatic crash notification, features such as remote lock/unlock and vehicle finder require a paid subscription after a trial period.
Availability: All new Mazda vehicles, as long as the feature is activated and a phone is paired through Bluetooth.
Polestar Connect-Additional features: Digital key, remote lock/unlock, battery level.
Availability: All new Polestar vehicles.
Porsche Connect Care-Additional features: SOS button.
Availability: 911, Taycan, Panamera, and Cayenne from the 2022 model year and newer. Automatic crash notification doesn’t require an active account to work.
Volvo OnCall-Additional features: Aside from automatic crash notification and an SOS button, features such as remote lock/unlock and vehicle finder require a paid subscription after a trial period.
Availability: All new Volvo vehicles.
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