10 Best Remote Car Starters 2024 in the US

The last thing you want to do on a winter’s day is get up, go out into the cold, sit in an even colder car, and wait for it to warm up while you drive to work. The same applies for a hot summer’s day. Fortunately, these days you don’t have to put up with that hassle, since there are plenty of remote car starters available on the market. A remote starter has become a common feature for new cars, but even if your car is older, you can find a starter to install (or have installed) without too much trouble. Here are some tips for finding the right starter for your car.​

Remote starters: These are the most straightforward models out there. A remote starter will get you car going, and that’s it.

• This is the best option if you’re looking for a budget starter and don’t need many bells and whistles.

Smart phone starters: For the technologically-inclined, there are a number of starters on the market that work directly with users’ smart phones.

• Smart phone starters are the ideal choice for people who like to link as many parts of their lives as possible with their phones.

Security systems: These starters aren’t standalone units, but are integrated into car security systems.

• These are a great option for people who like the idea of a remote starter, but who have concerns about the safety of leaving a car running outside of their house.

If you look through the reviews section of car starters, here are some of the common themes that you’ll notice:

• Installation: A remote starter is an important piece of equipment, so it’s essential that it be easy to install correctly. Once it is installed, it’s just as important that it keeps working for as long as possible. That’s why the best models are easy to install (although if you know you’re not mechanically inclined, you should probably trust a professional to do the job) and constructed of durable materials that can take being left out in the elements.
• Sensitivity: This is especially important for security systems. You don’t want to be the owner of the car whose alarm goes off every time there is a stiff breeze, but you also don’t want to be the one whose car gets broken into. A good system will strike a balance, not reacting to every little thing while still keeping your car safe.
• Batteries: Batteries die. That’s an unfortunate fact of life, but you don’t want to have to replace the battery on your remote (or replace the remote itself, if its batteries can’t be removed) every few weeks. The best models feature long-lasting batteries, as well as ones that can be replaced when they finally go out.

• Range: Remember the purpose of the remote starter—to save you the hassle of going out and starting your car in the hot or cold. If you know that you typically park your car a hundred or more feet from your house, it doesn’t make sense to buy a remote starter with a 20-foot range. Be sure to check out the product description and buy a starter that’s strong enough to meet your needs.
• Straightforward controls: Obviously the remote will include a start button, and will almost certainly have an unlock button and a panic button. Those three are fairly standard, but there are plenty of more complicated remotes on the market. You might find them useful, but if you’re someone who likes to keep things simple, look for a remote that does, too.
• Functions: When it comes to functions, you get what you pay for—or, more to the point, you pay for the things you get. When shopping for a remote starter, be sure to look at exactly what functions the starter system can provide, and choose one that offers only the things you’re looking for and will use, so that you don’t waste your money.

Viper: Viper has been one of the industry leaders in car protection technology since its founding in the early 1980s. The company has a well-deserved reputation for producing quality car alarm systems, so it comes as little surprise that they have moved into remote starters.

Python: Another leader in car protection, Python offers a variety of security systems that offer customers a number of features, including remote controlled starters.

Autopage: Autopage is one of the oldest and most successful automotive security companies in America. It was founded in 1979, and has been producing car alarm systems ever since. In recent years the company has moved into producing remote control starters and phone apps.

Bulldog: Bulldog Security has been producing automotive electronics since 2001. Even though it is one of the newer companies on the list, it has already established a reputation for quality.

Avital: Avital is a leader in automotive technological development, with over 100 patents for car security devices.