If you’ve been paying attention to modern vehicles over the past few years, then you’ve surely noticed a whole slew of incredible new features and technologies that might not have even been dreamed of over a decade ago. This includes things like driver-assistive safety features, Alexa in-vehicle assistant, wireless phone charging and, of course, Wi-Fi Hotspots. That’s right, there are tons of cars on today’s market that offer Wi-Fi Hotspots built right into the vehicle. But, how exactly does that work? Since we’ve currently got over a hundred vehicles in stock with this feature, we thought we’d give you the rundown.
Paid Data Plan
First things first, to get it out of the way, no you don’t get free internet by purchasing a vehicle with a built-in Wi-Fi Hotspot. You still need to purchase a paid data plan, which can typically be done through the dealership you purchase the vehicle at, but you might also be able to go to any provider and find a plan that works for you. Once you purchase a paid data plan, your vehicle will work as a Wi-Fi Hotspot similarly to your wireless router at home.
How to Use
Once you have a vehicle with the built-in Wi-Fi Hotspot and have purchased a data plan for it, you and up to seven (typically) individuals can connect to the hotspot and stream content, download apps, play music, browse the internet or make video calls without using your phone’s data plan. Setting up the hotspot and maintaining it typically requires an app provided by the OEM, such as the myChevrolet app or MySubaru app. You’ll use the app to set up your network, choose a password and so on. Some vehicles may also let you do this through the infotainment system.
Once the network is set up, you’ll be able to connect to it on your devices just like any other network. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’d be happy to help!
