# How common are remote starters on cars? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 29, 2013, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-are-remote-starters-on-cars/672595 "2013-10-29T22:08:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-are-remote-starters-on-cars/672595/21 "2013-10-30T14:13:31Z")
Given that in the last week three people have stopped me to say “You’re lights are still on!” I doubt it’s going to stop anytime soon. I’ve never had a remote starter, but always wanted one. I can’t think of any friends who have one. Heated seats accomplish almost the same speed with less crime risk; but with Celtling in the child seat there’s no benefit to her. I’m confused about leaving the car on when you get out though. It’s already warm then, and I can’t think of any scenario in which that wouldn’t be dangerous. I live in a higher population area though, so if I left my car on while shopping I’d expect it to be gone when I returned. I’d also expect the insurance company to say “Sucks to be you, idiot” if I tried to recover anything after doing so. ---
**Author:** ![bahimes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@bahimes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bahimes)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-are-remote-starters-on-cars/672595/22 "2013-10-30T14:13:55Z")
> [@GreasyJack](#): > > Sure, but that’s probably your answer. I live somewhere where remote starters are fairly common, but if I saw someone’s car running when it wasn’t even below freezing I’d assume they accidentally left their car running or accidentally hit the remote start button and would possibly feel the need to alert them. > > To answer the question in the title, I do think they are a bit of a cultural thing (in addition to obviously a climate thing). They seem to be the technological extension of “Honey, go out and start my car wouldja?” which, back when you had to leave the keys in, was only possible in rural and suburban areas. In more urban areas, the idea of leaving your car running for 15 minutes to warm it up has never even occurred. Perhaps that will change now that they’re more frequently being offered as factory options. I had a remote starter/alarm system installed in my Ford Ranger when I went to Jordan. It wasn’t because of the climate. ---
**Author:** ![FluffyBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@FluffyBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FluffyBob)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-are-remote-starters-on-cars/672595/23 "2013-10-30T14:13:58Z")
I find this strange. They have been common in Canada for what must be twenty years. Even before that cars running to warm up have been a part of the winter landscape for ever. I would think Wisconsin would be the same. When they were new everybody wanted one and word spread fast. It’s like heated car seats - a no brainer for winter. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-are-remote-starters-on-cars/672595/24 "2013-10-30T14:15:38Z")
They’re pretty common here. How common? Maybe 5 to 10% of cars have them. I don’t think you’d find anyone with a driver’s licence who isn’t familiar with them. ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-are-remote-starters-on-cars/672595/25 "2013-10-30T15:00:59Z")
I’ve got one on all 4 of our daily drivers, ranging from 1996 to 2011. Atlanta gets plenty cold enough to warrant one. ---
**Author:** ![glaeken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@glaeken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glaeken)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-are-remote-starters-on-cars/672595/26 "2013-10-30T15:17:13Z")
I have never seen a car in the UK with a remote starter. I guess it just does not get cold enough here to warrant it. Most cars are also manual as well so I guess that might have some impact as using a remote starter on a car left in gear would be something I could see a lot of people doing by accident. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-are-remote-starters-on-cars/672595/27 "2013-10-30T15:49:23Z")
It seems from the read through that remote starters are not that uncommon, but your use of it is uncommon, leading people to comment as to a unusual condition, and perhaps one that on average a person would want to be notified about, and why you are getting notified so often. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-are-remote-starters-on-cars/672595/28 "2013-10-30T16:01:22Z")
> [@glaeken](#): > > I have never seen a car in the UK with a remote starter. I guess it just does not get cold enough here to warrant it. Most cars are also manual as well so I guess that might have some impact as using a remote starter on a car left in gear would be something I could see a lot of people doing by accident. The interlock for remote starters on manual transmission cars prevents this, but also make them a pain in the butt to use. As I understand it, you have to leave your car running, shift into neutral, exit the car and shut the car down with the remote starter. Only when you have done this will the remote starter attempt to start the engine. ---
**Author:** ![glaeken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@glaeken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glaeken)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-are-remote-starters-on-cars/672595/29 "2013-10-30T16:35:39Z")
That makes sense. It would be pretty dangerous not to have some sort of failsafe like that. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-are-remote-starters-on-cars/672595/30 "2013-10-30T16:50:07Z")
> [@Risen from the Gravy](#): > > A little confrontational, don’t you think? Nothing you do means diddly shit to me; I was just offering a comment. sorry. It wasn’t meant for “you”. It was meant towards people in public who have the same attitude. If I want my car running whats it too them? I had some libby in Madison rant at me about wasting gas. I’m sure the 3 minutes I kept my car running isn’t going to kill the planet. And I think 40’s is cold. Especially this time when we just got over summer. It feels colder to me. Call me an extremist but I like my car roasting in cool/cold weather and frigid in the summer. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-are-remote-starters-on-cars/672595/31 "2013-10-30T16:53:17Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > and possibly[looking for a car to steal.](http://newsok.com/thief-helps-himself-to-car-left-running-in-parking-lot/article/3883941) Not worried about it. It’s impossible to drive my car with the remote starter activated. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-are-remote-starters-on-cars/672595/32 "2013-10-30T17:20:05Z")
> [@glaeken](#): > > I have never seen a car in the UK with a remote starter. I guess it just does not get cold enough here to warrant it. Most cars are also manual as well so I guess that might have some impact as using a remote starter on a car left in gear would be something I could see a lot of people doing by accident. In the UK it is against the law to leave a vehicle with the engine running. From the Highway Code: > [@](#): > > The Driver and the Environment > 123 > You MUST NOT leave a parked vehicle unattended with the engine running or leave a vehicle engine running unnecessarily while that vehicle is stationary on a public road. Generally, if the vehicle is stationary and is likely to remain so for more than a couple of minutes, you should apply the parking brake and switch off the engine to reduce emissions and noise pollution. However it is permissible to leave the engine running if the vehicle is stationary in traffic or for diagnosing faults. > Law CUR regs 98 & 107 ---
**Author:** ![Mallard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Mallard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mallard)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-are-remote-starters-on-cars/672595/33 "2013-10-30T19:54:02Z")
Remote car starters have been around and available, probably dating back over 40 years. However, they weren’t very practical until fuel injection vehicles became the norm as opposed to carburetors. There was no practical way to set the automatic choke without someone in the car to step on the accelerator pedal to set the choke on a carbureted car. I’m in western Canada and I can assure you, remote car starters rose quickly in popularity over the last 20+ years. I added my first one on my first fuel injected vehicle, a 1994 Buick Regal and have had one on all my cars since. I got a new '07 Impala with the first factory remote start and it’s a total piece of garbage. It’s been losing range for the last 2 years. I’ll probably end up putting on an after market remote one of these days. Cold winter morning, hot summer day, you can run your car with your heater or AC going, doors locked and no keys in it. There’s nothing like it! ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-are-remote-starters-on-cars/672595/34 "2013-10-30T20:04:39Z")
I’m a little confused. When you park, you turn the car off, get out, lock it, and then restart it remotely? Then you go shopping? So you’re walking away from a running car? That is strange, and has nothing to do with how common remote starters are. Usually people remote start a car a few minutes before getting into the car, not immediately after getting out of it. I think that is what confuses people. And if you’re only going to be out of the car for a minute or two, the car will not heat up or cool down enough to matter much. So, while it’s your gas and your car, it’s just not that common at all. Strange in fact. That’s what is causing peoples’ reactions. I’ve had a remote start for years now, and I might still mention to you that your car is running if I saw you walking away from it. Walking to the running car wouldn’t be strange at all, but walking away from it is. ---
**Author:** ![Mallard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Mallard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mallard)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-are-remote-starters-on-cars/672595/35 "2013-10-30T20:37:35Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > I’m a little confused. When you park, you turn the car off, get out, lock it, and then restart it remotely? Then you go shopping? So you’re walking away from a running car? That is strange, and has nothing to do with how common remote starters are. Usually people remote start a car a few minutes before getting into the car, not immediately after getting out of it. I think that is what confuses people. > And if you’re only going to be out of the car for a minute or two, the car will not heat up or cool down enough to matter much. So, while it’s your gas and your car, it’s just not that common at all. Strange in fact. That’s what is causing peoples’ reactions. > I’ve had a remote start for years now, and I might still mention to you that your car is running if I saw you walking away from it. Walking to the running car wouldn’t be strange at all, but walking away from it is. Some remote starters have a feature that if you hold down the “start” button while your car is still running, when you switch the key to “off” so you can remove the key, the car stays running with no keys in and you can lock the doors. If you’ve experienced -35 to -40 or even colder temps in the winter, trust me, you’ll know why you want to do that. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-are-remote-starters-on-cars/672595/36 "2013-10-30T22:22:01Z")
I looked into it, about the cheapest I could get a combo starter/install done was $300. The average car in the US is 11 years old also, so for a lot of people $300 (minimum) is not worth spending. I think there is something like 250 million cars in this country, and only about 14 million new ones sold every year. The vast majority of people don’t have remote starters. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2013, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-are-remote-starters-on-cars/672595/37 "2013-10-30T22:42:14Z")
I’ve never had nor seen a car with a remote starter myself. I live in Chicago, where it might be useful, but I don’t like wasting energy myself. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2013, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-are-remote-starters-on-cars/672595/38 "2013-10-31T00:03:29Z")
> [@Mallard](#): > > Some remote starters have a feature that if you hold down the “start” button while your car is still running, when you switch the key to “off” so you can remove the key, the car stays running with no keys in and you can lock the doors. If you’ve experienced -35 to -40 or even colder temps in the winter, trust me, you’ll know why you want to do that. I see. No, I’ve never been in weather that cold before. Unfortunately, I am moving to Alaska soon, so I might need to see if my vehicle does this as well. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2013, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-are-remote-starters-on-cars/672595/39 "2013-10-31T02:44:08Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > I’m a little confused. When you park, you turn the car off, get out, lock it, and then restart it remotely? Then you go shopping? So you’re walking away from a running car? That is strange, and has nothing to do with how common remote starters are. Usually people remote start a car a few minutes before getting into the car, not immediately after getting out of it. I think that is what confuses people. > And if you’re only going to be out of the car for a minute or two, the car will not heat up or cool down enough to matter much. So, while it’s your gas and your car, it’s just not that common at all. Strange in fact. That’s what is causing peoples’ reactions. > I’ve had a remote start for years now, and I might still mention to you that your car is running if I saw you walking away from it. Walking to the running car wouldn’t be strange at all, but walking away from it is. You’re in Georgia? let me tell you, a February day near the lake in Milwaukee can be freaking cold! Dante’s inferno cold! Even a few minutes with the heat off can cool down the interior quite quickly. I usually have my cars rigged so I can press the remote, and/or the lock button on the door 3 times and the car will stay running after I pull the key out. When it’s 15F out getting into a toasty car is worth any extra gas that’s burned! The sports cars I’ve owned have usually been manual tranny. I did it once, but hooking up the remote starter to a manual tranny car requires removing certain safety features. Plus, you have to remember to park the car in neutral or you cn have a problem when you try to remote start the car. (YMMV depending on how you hook it up). Cars have gotten so that it’s pretty hard for the layman to hook up a remote starter himself. I had the entire dash off a Jeep when I realized I wasn’t going to be able to pull it off myself. The security features on it were very difficult to defeat with an “over-the-counter” remote starter. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2013, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-are-remote-starters-on-cars/672595/40 "2013-10-31T04:12:46Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I don’t like wasting energy myself. When it’s -35 C, it’s not a waste of energy. :eek: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-are-remote-starters-on-cars/672595.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-are-remote-starters-on-cars/672595.md?page=3)