Honda Drivers Now Have to Pay a Subscription to Open Their Garage Door
Posted by Anchor_Aways@reddit | cars | View on Reddit | 257 comments
Posted by Anchor_Aways@reddit | cars | View on Reddit | 257 comments
drjenkstah@reddit
This whole service as a subscription for cars needs to stop. I’m glad none of the features on my 26 civic sport don’t require it but still upsetting that Honda is doing this route. May have to look at other car manufacturers whenever my current one bites the dust later down the road.
Barson_Crandt@reddit
Unfortunately, they’re basically all doing this. It’s especially stupid for features like this and remote start that other manufacturers are taking away that don’t require any kind of data connection so the subscription is literally just pure profit.
Legend13CNS@reddit
I'm consistently surprised that in 2026, in a industry with a very poor cybersecurity record, people haven't started jailbreaking the subscription features. You're telling me tuners can crack ECUs and there are creative ways to the the entire Adobe suite for free, but nobody's figured out how to get the car apps/features to work without a subscription?
Especially since I work adjacent to automotive R&D and have friends that work directly for OEMs. Some of this stuff is literally setting Subscription_Active = 1 once you get access to the relevant controller. I know that's the hard part, but if people are getting into modern ECUs then it's not a huge stretch from there.
Thomas_633_Mk2@reddit
I would suspect that the majority of people with that talent either:
A, consider a car that can connect to the internet as a security risk, and therefore won't buy one
B, don't care enough about remote heating to make an entire third party app to get what you can do for 70 bucks a year
Fluent_Press2050@reddit
I really wish there was an option do disable the radio. I absolutely do not want my car “connected” except between my car and my phone using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
Cars have been disconnected for 100+ years, why do we need this shit is beyond me.
Is $130 for 3 years really worth pissing customers off?
I honestly hope someone starts a car company for the average consumer, without all the stupid subscriptions, without half the unnecessary gadgets that you use a couple times when new and never again, and price it perfectly. These cars would dominate the market so fast.
ladyorion2021@reddit
Definitely option A.
DL72-Alpha@reddit
Option A.
It's cheaper to restore an older, titled vehicle to new condition than to buy, and insure, one of these god-forsaken Cafe cars.
The Irony, is these older cars with fuel injection should be getting the same or better mileage than the monstrous sized trucks coming out today, Per pound of vehicle.
Thomas_633_Mk2@reddit
My car had a 1.5L in 2002 and a 1.5L in 2026: the 2026 version is 10-15% better on fuel even with all the new emissions equipment, and makes 4hp more. Pretty shit gain for 25 years of progress but it's definitely not worse.
DL72-Alpha@reddit
The 'gain' is using thinner oil. We have reached the limits of physics on ICE vehicles.
J-MAMA@reddit
I do this for my close friends' cars (I refuse to buy anything that has these types of features in my own cars)
I'm a tinkerer though, most people are lazy AF and prefer to just pay up.
TheBolognaPony@reddit
It's worse than that. Many are actively killing the non-data method and replacing it with one that requires a data connection to justify the subscription. For example, Mazda no longer has remote start on your key fob, it's only available in their shitty app and requires a subscription after a free 3 year trial. See also GM with eliminating AA/CP and only allowing apps via Android Automotive and the cars data connection, not your phone.
DL72-Alpha@reddit
"it's only available in their shitty app "
This is where the car gets shoved up the dealers ass.
maximus129b@reddit
Toyota will charge you for same plus digital key(that is advertised as a feature on higher trims only) , cloud only navigation, remote features. Subscription also unlocks remote start from key fob.
kr4ckenm3fortune@reddit
Oops, I broke it and installed aftermarket remote start.
ming3r@reddit
I was losing my shit when we went to an Audi dealership and remote start on evs was done only through app, even on the 130k e-tron gt
Meanwhile my basic bolt ev has it for 1/6 the price.
SexBobomb@reddit
Subaru is the same way with remote starts
Whos the closest to... not doing this shit at all? Might just give them my business
aeroplane1979@reddit
2026 CX-70 here.. That's a one year free trial, not 3. And, as you mentioned, the app is dogshit. It doesn't tell you the current temp in the car, it cannot activate heated seats or steering wheel, and you can't adjust the temperature- it only will set to the last thing it was on when you left the car. And it's slow.
airfryerfuntime@reddit
Toyota did this. They removed key fob remote start and made it so you have to use the app. The functionality is still there, they just disabled it.
TheBolognaPony@reddit
You can still do the key fob (at least I can on my '25 Sienna), but it supposedly is somehow tied to a data connection and will require a subscription after like 8 years or something?
Zrepsilon@reddit
Thankfully GM reversed course on all but their EVs because of the supreme backlash.
Too_Chains@reddit
Source? Nothing says that. Best they could do was wait until 2028.
Zrepsilon@reddit
Right, kind of like how the US government said we were going to mandate all EVs by 2030.
In other words there is no way that happens, they’ll kick the can again. So many people will immediately rule out a vehicle that doesn’t have CarPlay. I cannot wait to get it on my Model Y. Even tesla who is the best in the game admitted defeat. Zero chance GM wins that battle against the consumer.
Too_Chains@reddit
We already did. My girl went from an equinox to a mach e. Im not sure if it expires in '28 too.
NightFuryToni@reddit
They didn't, in fact they are doubling down. Current cars don't have it removed yet is because it's still on the older infotainment platform. Once the cars gets refreshed to the newer system it will be removed.
https://9to5google.com/2025/10/24/gm-android-auto-carplay-remove-gas-cars-gemini-assistant/
TheDrunkenMatador@reddit
It’s because the same few banks own all the voting stock in car companies and direct the board members they own to all manage them in the same way to eliminate real competition
_Nick_2711_@reddit
The car jailbreaking scene is about to get wild
dont-YOLO-ragequit@reddit
I'm thinking the end game is a trojan horse into building a reliable network that will be able to disable cars (and send a repo) when people are late on payments.
withoutapaddle@reddit
They are all doing it, but some much worse than others. Last time I checked, Ford still lets you do remote start, remote lock/unlock, monitor everything, etc through an app for free for the life of the vehicle (transferable to used buyers also, since it works on my used 2020).
drjenkstah@reddit
Yeah. Unfortunately. There are a few that aren’t but that will likely change down the road. Maybe I’ll just buy a car and show them I don’t want any of their services by declining all those subscription features. Eventually their data will show customers don’t want a subscription.
ethereal3xp@reddit
It started from that money greedy Musk - Tesla model.
Now other carmakers are unreasonably trying to follow it.
Toyota has a small charge per month to allow - remote start.
Its ridiculous
t-poke@reddit
Sorry, but no it's not. Tesla isn't nickel and diming you with subscriptions.
AFAIK they have two subscriptions - one for premium connectivity, which allows you to use the phone's cellular connection for streaming music, which is entirely reasonable because that has an ongoing cost associated with it. The other is full self driving, which one could argue whether or not that's worth it but is a niche product that most people probably don't want.
Unlike most auto companies, there's no subscription fee to use remote connectivity features like lock, unlock, turning on climate control, etc. That's free.
c0reM@reddit
The solution is to not subscribe to anything.
People need to vote with their wallets. Sure, buy the car if you like it without subs. Otherwise pick something else.
These leeches need to make exactly zero dollars off subscriptions to figure out it doesn’t work. And boy I sure do hope people don’t help normalize it.
J-MAMA@reddit
People nowadays absolutely LOVE paying for services that used to be free
Needless to say it'll be industry standard here shortly
max_power1000@reddit
There was a post today in another sub on Frito-Lay’s bet on the $7 bag of Doritos costing them billions. People are already voting with their wallets against blatant cash grabs.
Maybe the first buyer of a new Honda will pay for the subscription for a year after the freebie runs out since they’re already from an upper rung on the economic ladder, but a garage door opener that hangs on your visor is $12 and never costs you another dime. More than enough people, particularly second and third owners will opt for that over a subscription just like they don’t pay for OnStar, Bluelink, etc. Think about how many drivers of cars that have CarPlay and Android Auto installed natively you still see putting their phone in a windshield mount every day, and that doesn’t cost them anything. Sleek integration doesn’t matter as much as automakers think to a huge number of drivers, and I think that compounds even more when that sleekness imposes cost.
dont-YOLO-ragequit@reddit
Thing is this is not aimed at those with options. This is aimed at those with the lowest credit they are allowing, the lowest depot for the car and those who lease the vehicle in the hopes of passing it to the next one.
Those who buy to own or are cross shopping will avoid this the most.
rosen380@reddit
My 2026 Accord does-- I was super disappointed when I got it home and realized that homelink was gone.
niel89@reddit
You can get it installed/diy but that's weak it isn't included
Anon198791@reddit
It was excluded because a lot of these models came out in the Covid chip shortage time... that was their item to be excluded ti save chips instead of leaving out Heated Seats like GM did.
DocPhilMcGraw@reddit
It’s not officially gone. It’s now listed as an added accessory.
So when you go to build the Accord, you have to select the Homelink mirror under accessories for them to add it when you buy it. It’s just no longer a standard.
_0110111001101111_@reddit
If you use CarPlay, there are plenty of solutions that let you control your garage using it. I have a meeros solution and whenever I’m near my home, the button to open the garage door pops up on screen. No subscription required.
DefinitelyNWYT@reddit
They had em removed it from standard equipment on our 2024 CRV. I was livid. I convinced the dealership they'd be adding it free of charge as this is long standard equipment. I will not be paying a subscription for such simple features.
Dunaii4@reddit
Yeah, I'm so sick of having to pay my dealer every month just so my car will start.
(I drive a LR, basic function is a subscription).
fistfulofbottlecaps@reddit
I'm planning on fixing up my dad's 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee once I get my 2018 VW paid off... I'm just so over all this, and I know the good ol' 4 liter won't let me down.
billythygoat@reddit
The only saas subscriptions should be optional QOL things like their app to see if your car door is locked and how much gas you have, on Star, and that’s really it. Nothing that requires servers or live chat should be locked behind a subscription
psimwork@reddit
It does.
They're not. The article is pure bullshit. Homelink is still an option for the Passport as a dealer-installed-option. Whether or not it was included in any trim levels previously I don't know, but this is very much available without subscription if you want to use it.
Hondalink as a software does offer integration with Chamberlain garage doors. And you do have to use a paid tier to access it. But honestly it's a pretty minor benefit to the tier (the primary one(s) being app-based remote start).
Do I like that they charge for this feature? Of course not. But I also know that cellular networks charge an ongoing fee to connection to process the telematics requests. So I at least understand the argument in-favor of it. Communications that go outside the car aren't free, and they're ongoing, so they pass the cost along to the consumer. This makes sense.
But this situation is not like the BMW charging for seat heating, or other car companies charging for performance upgrades. That does NOT require an ongoing communication. That is just pure greed, and it's completely bullshit.
strongmanass@reddit
That wasn't what was reported either. As far as the word is used, a subscription is a fee you pay in perpetuity for ongoing access to a service. If you stop paying, you lose access. The BMW heated seat thing was more of a payment plan. All cars would ship with heated seats. You could select the option at purchase and pay for it then.
If you didn't, then you had the option to pay for it when you received the car, either a flat fee or in installments equal to 1/36 of the option price. If you decided you wanted them only 6 months of every year, then after 6 years you'd have paid for the option. You'd no longer be charged but you'd retain the heated seat functionality.
The backlash was fundamentally because they changed heated seats from a hardware option to an access (software) option, and that caused people to scream "subscription" even though that's not what it was.
Personally I think it had potential benefits. If I in Boston buy a CPO car from Florida because they use less road salt, it's possible the original buyer didn't select heated seats. With that proposed plan from BMW I could option heated seats on a secondhand car. It's all moot though so whatever.
ApprovingGrief@reddit
IIRC not sure if it BMW or another manufacturer, the long term goal was that these features purchased would be available as long as you own the vehicle. It was their way of making money off the used car market because the next person who purchased the car would have to purchase that functionality because the feature being enabled would have been licensed to you not the vehicle itself.
strongmanass@reddit
My recollection is that part was ambiguous. But the fact it was ambiguous probably wasn't a good sign.
psimwork@reddit
Huh. Well you're right in that I definitely had never heard that detail, and it's an interesting one.
Still, it's not surprising that it kinda blew up in their faces. While I recognize that it's something that is charged monthly up-to-the-point where the option is paid-for and then the payments stop, I think that's a VERY difficult line to walk, given that the hardware would be installed, and unlocked via monthly fee.
It's a lot like the Xbox One "used games" debacle back in the day. The intention was to create basically the EXACT situation we have today with Steam (i.e. when you buy a game, it's locked to the account, and it can be shared within family members, but the game always remains with the original account). But at the time, the decision was such a bad one that it basically torpedoed every bit of momentum that Microsoft had for the Xbox brand (and the X360 was so successful that it outsold the PS3 in North America and did very well against it everywhere else).
But at the time, man... the headlines with "MICROSOFT ATTEMPTS TO KILL USED GAMES MARKET THEN BACKTRACKS. XBOX BRAND BASICALLY DEAD" was all that the public ever really saw, even though they were basically ahead of the curve at the time.
eneka@reddit
they removed the homelink mirror from the '25+ touriing/sport touring models
psimwork@reddit
Yeah my Integra A-Spec Tech doesn't have it either (which is basically a "Civic SI Sport Touring"), but I don't think it's a push towards subscription-based fees. Supposedly you can get an Accord Mirror and modify a few things to the point where it will work. So I'm thinking that it's less an issue towards pushing people towards subscriptions, and more an issue of not wanting to create a variant that will slot into the Civic/Integra/HR-V/ADX as that would create its own supply-chain issue.
...and the fact that it COULD push people towards subscription-based fees is a bonus reason to not create said mirror variant.
eneka@reddit
FWIW the homelink mirror was available on the touring civics from 22-24
psimwork@reddit
Interesting. A Google search just now confirms that. The removal of it for the 2025 model year, and the fact that they don't offer a dealer-installed option WOULD indicate that they're trying to drive people towards a subscription.
This is honestly a bit silly if that's the case - the Hondalink subscription ONLY works for chamberlain openers with Wifi integration (as far as I know). So while I could at least understand the removal of it from the touring civics and adding it as an option, it strikes me as really odd that they would just remove it completely without any option to add it.
DrunkenDude123@reddit
Rocking a 2006 accord here. It’s gonna be a while before yours bites the dust trust me
Legend13CNS@reddit
If we want it to change we need to vote with our wallets. Which starts with people need to start paying more attention to what's included and what's technically a subscription feature. I see too many people completely blindsided by their feature/app trials running out and then they're unhappy.
My EN has remote start on the key fob, the rest of the subscription features are basically useless party tricks (find where I parked, remote start with the A/C and seats preset, "car health" info that really just nags you for not paying the dealer to do things) and they want $300/yr for those features. The 3 year trial ran out and it's made pretty much zero difference. I likely wouldn't have bought the car if any of the important/fun features were behind a paywall.
Alive_Internet@reddit
When my HondaLink free trial expired on my Civic, I refused to pay to renew it based on principle.
kinkycarbon@reddit
They’ll all do it because an EV makes locking features behind a subscription something automotive makers want.
trackdaybruh@reddit
Shareholders of said car companies: “no”
jiggajawn@reddit
I've given up on buying cars at this point. Once my current one is dead (already replaced the engine in it once), I'll be using rentals when I need em.
huhwhat90@reddit
I'm gonna be on the lookout for well-maintained, older cars. I already hit the "Old Lady Special" jackpot once. Maybe it'll happen again?
feels6@reddit
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Iowa_Mike@reddit
This is another example of things that should be illegal but aren't. As long as politicians are owned by corporations it never will be either.
GodsFavoriteDegen@reddit
Ah, the Reddit -> Blogshit -> Reddit content pipeline in action.
Here you go, morons.
If you want a subscription-free Homelink mirror on your Honda, all you need to do is check a box. If you forget to check the box, you can have one installed after delivery by the dealer or a local mod shop, or you can buy one from Gentex (the Homelink licensee) and install it yourself.
A Homelink mirror has never been included on Hondas for free. It has always been an option that you paid for.
No-Necessary7135@reddit
Unfortunately, I can't do this with my Civic Si and have to pay the man.
GodsFavoriteDegen@reddit
Well, I mean, you don't have to. You can add the mirror. If you don't already have auto dimming (and I'm pretty sure that the Si doesn't, for... reasons), all you need to do is get power up to it. The process for doing it, including the mirror part numbers, are already well-documented.
You can also use the dooker that came with your garage door. It's a Honda, not a Faraday cage.
t-poke@reddit
As always, the actual truth makes this far less outrageous and clickbaity.
And if you don't have a HomeLink mirror and are an iPhone user, you can always buy something like this. Add it to HomeKit, and when you're near your home, an icon to open or close it should appear on your screen in CarPlay. At least it does for me - on the screen that has the map on one side and music controls on the other.
Thomas_633_Mk2@reddit
At this point I do have to ask how that's any easier than just clicking a remote, you're still pressing a button
t-poke@reddit
It's an option if you want something integrated into the car without ongoing subscription costs.
MezzoSoaprano@reddit
It's the same bullshit headline like when people complain about BMW's "heated seats subscription"
You can buy the option when you configure the car.
You can buy the option later too.
You can also opt for the monthly subscription, if you think it's better for your use case (like you live somewhere where its only useful in January).
It's entirely up to the buyer if they want to buy or subscribe.
psimwork@reddit
You beat me to it. I saw this article and was like, "wait - are they talking about the Hondalink/Chamberlain integration? It's been that way for years. They still have the Homelink mirror option on most cars".
In my case, my Honda car (an Integra) does NOT have the Homelink mirror option, which pisses me off (supposedly I can get one for an Accord and use it, but it's still irritating that it's not just offered by default).
Eastern_Bet3714@reddit
OEMs definitely get paid to offer MyQ integration. Unfortunately, it seems that only Tesla is doing it right where the garage button appears intelligently when you approach your driveway. Honda integration is quite asinine. You need to be connected to CarPlay or Android Auto and you would need to go to the Honda link app to open your garage if you miss the notification. I wouldn’t mind it if it worked similar to Tesla. I ended up sourcing an accord mirror which is an easy 20 minutes job.
psimwork@reddit
Good to know on the accord mirror. I'll probably end up doing that when I do the heated steering wheel option as I'm getting ready to move to Minnesota.
catgirl-lover-69@reddit
Spending 60k (CAD) on an Integra S and no homelink mirror pissed me off.
hugh_madson@reddit
I thought it was peculiar that the Accord didn't have one too. I grabbed a spare garage opener on Amazon and clipped it to my visor
m0viestar@reddit
Obviously it didn't piss you off enough. You still purchased the car.
catgirl-lover-69@reddit
Very true
psimwork@reddit
Understandably. I wasn't sure until just a second ago, but it looks like it isn't available on ANY Honda vehicle that uses the Civic as a platform (Civic, Integra, HR-V, ADX).
Why this is the case is anyone's guess. My guess would be primarily that it is a supply chain thing and that it probably COULD have been made to use a standard homelink mirror, but some department didn't talk to another, so a wiring harness/mount was used that didn't work for the homelink mirror. The rule of "never attribute to malice that which can be attributed to incompetence" would seem to apply here.
Now, do I think that Honda definitely likes people using Hondalink/Acuralink instead as an ongoing subscription fee? Yep. But working with the company I work with right now, I can say that just as much as an ongoing trickle of incoming money (subscription fees), the thing they like very bit as much (if not more) is a big hit of $$ up-front - that being a Homelink mirror ($250 one-time versus $110/year for two years) is very much desired.
Beyond this, I'd also bet that there's not much of a correlation between those that use Homelink versus paying for a Hondalink subscription (i.e. a correlation might be the rate of Hondalink subscription going down with the purchase of a Homelink mirror install). So the ideal situation for Honda would be to sell a Homelink mirror AND have a Hondalink subscription.
Snazzy21@reddit
But why does it need to be a subscription? It's bullshit, you subscribe to have them NOT remove a feature that would have been a one and done purchase in the past.
GodsFavoriteDegen@reddit
Because it's a fundamentally different product that actually involves an ongoing use of resources rather than a electronic frob built into your rear view mirror?
Again, the "feature that would have been a one and done purchase" is still very much available as a subscription-free choice. You can option it when you purchase the car, or have the dealer add it afterwards, or add it yourself if you're feeling handy.
halotechnology@reddit
Jeeeeez how many trims are there ???????
testthrowawayzz@reddit
Too many people don't read what they're buying and then get surprised when it goes they find out what they actually bought
rioryan@reddit
It’s disappointing that autoblog would publish this. At best it’s misleading.
nauticalfiesta@reddit
autoblog went to shit after they got bought out last year. Its all slop and adverts now.
aprtur@reddit
It's in the article, but buried about half way through. "Oh no, there's a telecom-enabled subscription service option so you can choose which or the two you want now!" If they got rid of the home link option entirely, I'd get it, but this is just a big nothing burger.
FourEyesAndThighs@reddit
They went through an ownership change a couple years ago, and they are a sad husk of what they used to be.
The_Bucket_Of_Truth@reddit
I just read the article and if you do you realize this person messed up and bought a new car without the Homelink mirror. Which in cars is often but not always tied together with auto dim function which in my view is a must have in any vehicle over that cheap tab thing that flips down.
RIP_Soulja_Slim@reddit
It's disappointing but a huge percentage of current news is literally just journalists trolling around social media for some outrage bait thing that they can turn in to an article.
This has been the norm for years, way back when it started with "people are outraged at" citing three tweets from random nobodys, now we got reddit scraping left and right.
psimwork@reddit
"Rage = Clicks" is all the mentality that most sites have anymore, sadly.
bullet50000@reddit
And the fact that this comment is not the top one is even more evidence of this. People preferring to believe "EVERYTHING IS ENSHITTIFIED" to the point of believing stuff that's not true in context.
Vhozite@reddit
Just my 2 cents but most automotive “journalism” that isn’t some kind of instrumented test drive ends up being worthless clickbait.
FourEyesAndThighs@reddit
I blame Autoblog for being such a spammy, clickbait, piece of crap website now. They’re the ones spreading the misinformation.
eneka@reddit
the accessory is not avai
It was generally available on higher trimmed models.
they removed the homelink mirror from the '25+ Civic touriing/sport touring models. No accessory available either. 22-24 Civic tourings had the homelink mirror as standard.
phobos2deimos@reddit
Yeah this is manufactured outrage. The MyQ app isn’t even owned by Honda. Bad article and stupid thing to complain about.
baconlord1337@reddit
Not necessarily. My 21 elite passport came with a homelink mirror. EXL and up had them equipped. Around when the 23 new gens hit is when they made it an accessory.
psimwork@reddit
I can't speak for the Passport (or higher-end trims on other vehicles), but my '20 Civic Sport (not touring) I paid to have it installed.
To your point, however, the 2020 EXL may have had it as a default option.
Is it bullshit that the top-end trims don't have homelink as a standard feature? Absolutely. But the person in the original /r/mildlyinfuriating post, and more-to-the-point the author of the blog is simply wrong. They didn't lock the garage door functionality behind an ongoing subscription fee - they removed the feature and now charge $461 for it (per the Honda webpage that I just looked at).
Bullshit, yes. But it's not the bullshit that the blog entry is peddling.
Leek5@reddit
While it not free. The EX-L and up 10th gen accord came standard with homelink. Which they took out in the 11th gen
NCSUGrad2012@reddit
The the generation accord came standard with the V6
wetwillycf@reddit
This is the latest post on my Reddit journey that I wish I could magically be the top comment.
Additionally, I want to add that Chamberlain has been incredibly consumer hostile for eons starting with removing Google Assistant and Siri/Apple Home integration years ago (lol when first launched they charged for that) and forced you to only use the MyQ storefront I mean app - I laughed when I saw how my they want for the integrated app in my Integra's infotainment before crying for those who paid for it
Gregorovich@reddit
Honda parts guy here. This is the correct answer, the subscription through Hondalink is in lieu of the accessory Homelink mirror. This is not to use a feature that is already installed on the car.
SouthOrlandoFather@reddit
I open my garage door with my phone and no monthly fee. It doesn’t matter what vehicle I buy.
Magnus_The_Totem_Cat@reddit
Am I the only person with a garage door opener?
StrangeSmellz@reddit
Yes, you are the only person on earth left with one.
Ok_Possession_3975@reddit
What I wonder is does the car not come with an opener button you can program? My 2003 Toyota has a programmable button, my 2015 Honda has a button, so did they just remove that button and force you to use the app? Are they removing the physical programmable garage door button in the car?
ZeroWashu@reddit
I thought the feature was cool in my 18 model 3 where it would open the door as I pulled up and while that can be installed on the new model Y I just find the door opener fob perfectly fine. Heck I could have an integrated opener on the Road Glide!
fobs worked fine before and I am just fine with one now. plus I can play that silly game of trying to find out how far away I can be to open it.
SecretPantyWorshiper@reddit
Still using the one my mom gave me in 2005 😅
HayleeRee@reddit
Right….i didn’t know there was any alternatives until now. I also grew up without a garage at all
ftaok@reddit
Can anyone confirm that you can still get the mirror with the Homelink buttons as a factory (or dealer option) on new Hondas?
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Quegyboe@reddit
And the automotive industry is wondering why sales are collapsing. New cars are shit.
CravingKoreanFood@reddit
I love late stage capitalism!
Streelydan@reddit
This sucks, but in car garage door buttons have always sucked…I use CarPlay and an apple HomeKit smart garage door opener. I can use Siri or a CarPlay widget to toggle the door.
billyhatcher312@reddit
thank god i dont buy modern garbage cars everyone is paywalling features for no fucking reason but greed im so glad i stay away from modern slop cars and stick to 20+ year old cars that are more reliable than modern cars past 2020
BikerBill50@reddit
Or just use the opener that came with the door …
goblinking67@reddit
Just put your clicker on your visor
Yippeekyaa3345@reddit
If only there was a simple, battery operated remote control that didn’t require an app. A simple thing one can clip in the sun visor to open the garage door. It would be great if that was a thing! /s
CarpeNivem@reddit
According to the headline, apparently modern Hondas have radio jammers for those.
ur_sexy_body_double@reddit
everythjng must be seamlessly integrated into your iLife
PrpleMnkyDshwsher@reddit
You say this, but you should look into the shenanigans the biggest opener manufacturer in the US, Chamberlain is pulling.
MiLKK_@reddit
This argument is so stupid because yes you can have the garage door opener on the visor but it doesn’t take away the fact features that used to come standard on cars are being paywalled.
Skensis@reddit
Much rather not have the opener on my visor, it's nice being able to just program the opener into my cars system.
Far_War_7254@reddit
I feel like everyone's forgetting that there's a middle ground here: the little overhead cubby that you just stick the remote into and use an actual button.
RollTh3Maps@reddit
Remotes aren't disabled when the key isn't present.
mr_bots@reddit
I think people think you’re defending the app when this is how integrated home link works.
RollTh3Maps@reddit
Yeah. I specified that in other comments, but not this one. Simply saying we don’t need HomeLink or the app because we can use remotes is ignoring a major advantage HomeLink has over remotes that you’re losing.
Ihate_reddit_app@reddit
A lot of cars don't have that cubby anymore either.
Far_War_7254@reddit
Unfortunately
gHHqdm5a4UySnUFM@reddit
Yeah I think a lot of those cubbies got taken away to fit in more cruise control sensors
Oo__II__oO@reddit
AA/CP plus Zwave. For an incredibly complex and expensive solution to solve the issue of a missing button.
noisymime@reddit
You can also just get one of those $30 garage door wifi openers have Carplay popup a button when you get close to home. Works a treat and is dead easy to setup.
MiLKK_@reddit
Agreed
Yippeekyaa3345@reddit
It was sarcasm not an argument. For the sarcasm impaired, the /s at the end of a comment indicates it was guess what, sarcasm.
RollTh3Maps@reddit
/s could very easily mean that you're being sarcastic about not knowing that garage door remotes exist and that you think it's dumb that people are complaining about this.
Yippeekyaa3345@reddit
Sarcasm impairment is a horrible thing to suffer from.
RollTh3Maps@reddit
I recognize sarcasm. There are just multiple ways that sarcasm could go with your comment. I know you really want to be condescending about this, but if you can't see that, then you should probably take a step back.
skinnies@reddit
lmao he's so wrong about sarcasm, you'd be better off explaining it to a wall.
Yippeekyaa3345@reddit
Ha!
skinnies@reddit
ironically you are sarcasm impaired because that's not how sarcasm works. the way you worded your "sarcastic" statement frames your position as remotes being the obvious and acceptable solution to the problem, not that the remotes are a stupid/unacceptable solution.
MiLKK_@reddit
There are people unironically arguing this though when this has been brought up before . I caught the /s at the end.
skinnies@reddit
/s being at the end doesnt even frame his sarcasm correctly. he's just trying to save face after making the stupid argument lol.
Yippeekyaa3345@reddit
Then go argue your point with those that are actually making that argument instead of my sarcastic reply.
testthrowawayzz@reddit
I thought HomeLink has always been a feature that's optional or locked behind upper trims
vhalember@reddit
He has a valid point, the remote which comes with the opener works just fine, and likely with a much longer range.
You also have a point - I, you, we... none of us want a subscription for stuff which used to come as standard. Not only that, they're often data-connected so if there's an outage, that feature is out of order.
Add a stupid touchscreen to this BS, and I've come to the realization I'm not sure I want to own any car post say 2022.
namegoeswhere@reddit
I am going to keep throwing money at my 2011 until the floor rusts through.
MiLKK_@reddit
The remote that I have has a much shorter range than the one built into my Lexus. I can use the one in the car about 3 houses down. I have to be at the end of my drive way to use the remote.
vhalember@reddit
Must vary then. I can use my garage remote and open the door from about 1,000 feet away if I have a straight shot.
The garage door opener is also very new, and has wifi connectivity, which is weird.
RollTh3Maps@reddit
Again, the remote isn't disabled when the key isn't present.
RollTh3Maps@reddit
Garage door opener remotes aren't disabled when the key isn't present, so if you happen not to park in the garage that night, it's one other thing you have to remember to get out of your car. It's an added pain that wasn't necessary before this subscription bullshit.
withoutapaddle@reddit
I mean, I've been leaving my garage door on my sun visor even on cars parked outside for 20 years and nobody has every broken into my car to steal/use the opener.
Being at thing you "need to remember to get out of the car" is highly subjective to where you live and how much foot traffic and/or crime you've got nearby.
RollTh3Maps@reddit
Cool.
If you want the same level of functionality/security you get with HomeLink to make a valid comparison for the sake of this conversation, you'll need to remember to take it out of your car if you aren't parked in the garage. I really don't feel like that qualification needed to be spelled out, yet here we are.
withoutapaddle@reddit
ok
Conscious_Weight@reddit
No one's going to break into your car just to break into your house, they'll just break into your house/garage in the first place. Your garage door being closed isn't going to stop a burglar anyway.
RollTh3Maps@reddit
What does that have to do with making a valid comparison of device capabilities for this specific discussion?
Conscious_Weight@reddit
No one's going to break into your car just to break into your house, they'll just break into your house. Your garage door being closed isn't going to stop a burglar in the first place.
jokzard@reddit
The problem is that you're already paying $1000 to have a button in your car that probably cost them like $60 to install.
CarpeNivem@reddit
As per the headline, modern Hondas radio jam those.
julienjj@reddit
The advantage of button being in the car is that 1) you dont have to replace the remote battery, ever 2) if someone break into the car, without the keys they cannot open the garage door since the ignition needs to be on for the buttons to work.
G36_FTW@reddit
bingo. or steal it to break into your garage later. people have stolen those from people who are at work, gone to the address on the car registration and broken into the garage using the stolen door opener.
tagish156@reddit
But how long until garage door manufacturers ditch the remote and also force you to start using their app.
RegisteredJustToSay@reddit
I think the reason they haven't already is because most over-the-air frequencies your phone is capable of are not at all suitable for medium range low bandwidth comms through relevant materials. Wifi and Bluetooth are great and can have decent ranges when they have line of sight, but you know what blocks it? Aluminum, glass, steel, water if it's raining or snowing, etc. They work for drones because drones fly. Garage openers are in the 400MHz range which is closer to analogue TV transmissions and FM radio than anything else and can do pretty well in a range of conditions and even go through walls in ways that WiFi and Bluetooth generally struggle with.
julienjj@reddit
Some have tried, but the issue is that sometimes their product are to be used in a commercial setting where multiple fobs are needed or need to be integrated with other control systems, so they still have to offer a wired on/off relay system. That allow you to run any fob system you want. So they rather have that integrated so you at least buy their own remoted.
byteminer@reddit
We need a new tax law for income derived from putting virtual toll booths in front of things which incur next to no cost to the provider or for which the situation to cause it to cost the provider some token amount was invented solely by the provider. “Unearned income” or something. Tax it 100% so there is no benefit.
Yes I know this will never happen because congress and corruption and American life is geared around maximum misery for regular people.
KUweatherman@reddit
No. They. Do. Not. This story has exploded beyond idiotic reasoning.
Jlx_27@reddit
This is why you install a third party garage door opener that comes with its own remote.
Intelligent_Type6336@reddit
If only there was an appliance or app that did the same thing without a subscription…
IvoShandor@reddit
But you also get all of these 1,000 interactive features that you'll never use. Why does my dishwasher need wi-fi??
virak_john@reddit
My wife’s 2026 Civic allows her to remote start for free using her fob. But she can’t do anything cool — like change heat settings — without paying through an app.
milyuno2@reddit
The full circle is that this article is about someone here on reddit complaining, and probably the OP work promoting their webpage here in reddit whit an article about someting on reddit...
Mother____Clucker@reddit
There is one simple solution to this, but everyone has to do it. STOP PAYING THE KIDNAPPER THE RANSOM.
Companies understand one thing, and one thing only. If it affects their bottom line, they'll adapt to what people DO want.
kobbled@reddit
this is genuinely a dealbreaker for me buying a honda
ARJeepGuy123@reddit
You can get a used/aftermarket homelike rearview mirror on ebay for less than than $60 and wire it up to any vehicle
Neat_Imagination2503@reddit
I would never buy a car with subscription shit.
RoastedTomatillo@reddit
Imagine already having a free button that opens your garage but paying money every month for a different button that does the same thing
Handyandy58@reddit
FTC needs a wet works team
GTB_Fioranno@reddit
Hence why I got rid of my 26 Civic Sport Touring Hybrid... /s
cubs223425@reddit
The author can eat a boot for writing such a dismissive statement.
laughingdoormouse@reddit
Purchase a lovely old crank start British Land Rover 😁
HokiePokey77@reddit
That is only partially true. That pertains to the built-in app that Honda has in their audio system. I bought a new accord and they showed me that feature, but I opted for the Home link option and there is no subscription for that. You only pay for the install.
sc0lm00@reddit
Is MyQ in general a subscription service now or just through Hondalink? I thought you could just us it via your phone for free if you set it up with your garage door? I'm glad both our cars have Homelink bult in.
PopPopUpHeadlights@reddit
MyQ is free to use on your phone. It's only a subscription to integrate with HondaLink. I did the free trial and it's buggy as hell. My Type R doesn't have the option to order a HomeLink so I brought a basic opener from Amazon. But I already got a HomeLink mirror from a Accord and I plan to install it soon since the system is plug and play basically.
This article is very poorly written because the guy forgot to buy the HomeLink mirror on his new Passport.
sc0lm00@reddit
Homelink does seem to be gated behind certain packages for some manufacturers. It's cool you can just swap mirrors to add it in a type r. I feel like if someone really wants it automated they'd have a better setup integrated into their smart home than using Honda Link.
PopPopUpHeadlights@reddit
As someone who is really into Smart Home and automation, MyQ is the worst smart home ecosystem. They are a closed garden. They won't even integrate with Google Home. You can buy third party garage openers that mimic your garage opener signal and those can integrate Home Assistant and then you can do a bunch of fancy things using your phone's GPS and such.
sc0lm00@reddit
Yeah that's what I meant. Anyone who knew enough to do that wouldn't go with MyQ.
Bladex20@reddit
Just what we need, Micro transactions taking over the automotive industry
DistinctSmelling@reddit
I don't know what the subscription is but a remote is like $25. Totally not worth a subscription.
jcforbes@reddit
What's worse is that it's MyQ which is fucking garbage. No Alexa nor Google Home or even Home link support, they force you to use their own app. Then the stupid device will factory reset itself once every month or two and you have to reconfigure it from scratch. Absolutely garbage. I switched to a ratGDO32.
randomcanyon@reddit
I just put my Garage Door opener remote on the visor like always works great. No cost at all
testthrowawayzz@reddit
an article based on a Reddit post
PJKenobi@reddit
I have new Honda. Just buy a ten dollar garage opener. Don't reward this bullshit.
prdoprdo@reddit
And the Mazda cut it down to one year!
Same_Lack_1775@reddit
It’s just outright theft at this point. Here’s a feature that was previously included in the cost of the car. Now you have to pay monthly to use it. At this rate, it’s not too long until the pitchforks come out
PopPopUpHeadlights@reddit
Or you could just read the article fully and understand the article writer and OP are idiots blowing things out of proportion. The idiot didn't buy HomeLink mirror for his car. He got the basic mirror. MyQ in HondaLink has never been free. It's always been a subscription. Plus MyQ in HondaLink is a gimmick to start with. It's buggy as hell plus you can still control your MyQ garage opener using the MyQ app on your phone for free... This is why Reddit gets a bad rep all the time. Refusing to read and getting upset without understanding the issue.
Same_Lack_1775@reddit
Oh I understand the issue - businesses which have historically sold a product for one price are doing everything they can to turn their customers into recurring revenue streams. That means subscriptions or adds for things that used to be included in the price. The scientific name for it is enshitification and the only people who defend it are paid shills.
jameson71@reddit
Sorry, pitchforks have been banned.
carsNshoes@reddit
My 2010 civic has zero subscriptions available. It’s a beautiful thing. They’re actively adding to my book of reasons to never buy a newer car 🤣
Gorgenapper@reddit
Autoblog needs to join the list of websites banned by this sub.
ethereal3xp@reddit
Thanks. I will never buy a Honda again.
durrtyurr@reddit
They do know that garage door openers exist? Right? Why pay to have it integrated when you can just use an opener that comes with your garage door?
mcbeardsauce@reddit
I hate the future we’ve developed for ourselves
thetimechaser@reddit
Do people not have garage fobs anymore?
I've never set up any of these in car garage door buttons. They solve a problem that doesn't exist lol
Leek5@reddit
I would just get a regular remote at that point. But you can get the MyQ smart garage by itself and its free to use. I don't see a point in getting through Honda when it seems to work the same
escapethewormhole@reddit
Fuck MyQ.
RATGDO if you have one.
IMI4tth3w@reddit
Yeah sadly I bent over for MyQ for our teslas. It is pretty slick that for the garage to open and close automatically. It was like $150 for 10 years or something stupid. Should be a perpetual license but whatever.
rosen380@reddit
That is what I tried after realizing that Homelink was gone (in my 2026) -- but it is managed through HondaLink, so you have to pay for that if you want to use it on the car's touchscreen.
Since we weren't going to pay monthly for HondaLink just for that, it is using a regular remote or just using the MyQ app directly on our phones.
Which is fine, but having HomeLink was just so much easier/better.
psimwork@reddit
I used Hondalink (or rather "Acuralink") very briefly for this, but it's aggravating to me since I had to either exit out of Android Auto on my car, and then go into Hondalink, and press a button to open the garage door.
Or when using Android auto, I had to go to my home screen, into the Honda Link App, into the Chamberlain integration, and then hit the button.
Screw all of that. I now have a Home Assistant integration controlling my garage door, and I'm working on creating a button that just goes Android auto -> home screen -> "garage door" button.
I'd prefer to just have a damned homelink button built into my car, but last I looked into it, there was none available directly from my integra (supposedly you could use an accord mirror, but that required some alteration).
RollTh3Maps@reddit
A regular remote isn't disabled when the key isn't present, so you have to remember to get it out of the car if you don't park in the garage some nights. A regular remote isn't the same as HomeLink.
psimwork@reddit
I'd be genuinely curious to see how many folks actually remove their remotes from the car when they park outside. Granted, it absolutely SHOULD be done, but I'd bet that the amount of people that do it is somewhere between 1 and 10%.
PopPopUpHeadlights@reddit
As someone that has a MyQ garage opener and a FL5 Civic Type R that supports MyQ. This has always been the case. MyQ in HondaLink has never been free. Plus honestly the MyQ app in HondaLink is buggy as hell.
My Type R doesn't have the Home link auto dimming mirror but I already brought it and I will install it soon. HomeLink doesn't require anything. And you can still control your MyQ garage using the app on your phone which is a 1,000x better than HondaLink MyQ integration. Or you know the $25 three button basic opener from Amazon lol
popsicle_of_meat@reddit
Cool. The garage door opener on the mirror of my 2008 Legacy is free to use.
ShortWoman@reddit
Ok, I guess my next car won’t be a Honda. Thanks for narrowing it down.
CarpeNivem@reddit
Don't garage doors themselves come with openers?
How is Honda restricting those from work? That feels like it should be illegal.
Or is this headline bullshit rage bait, and Honda owners actually can still open their garages?
trailblazer35@reddit
What am I missing? Garage Door Opener! No Homelink required.
Successful_Ad_9707@reddit
Talk about nickel and diming people to death... I went and bought the homelink mirror for my GR Corolla. Toyota better not pull this shit.
Autobotnate@reddit
Modding cars needs to get popular like modding Nokia bricks used to be.
Cptn_Flint0@reddit
Can someone explain to an old man who has a separate dedicated garage door opener why this would even be needed as an integration into a vehicle?
JoseCansecoMilkshake@reddit
We had a Windstar that had programmable garage buttons built into the visor like 25 years ago, it's been integrated into vehicles for a long time.
The_Bucket_Of_Truth@reddit
It's one less thing to have to open up your center console and fish out. Otherwise you've got it clipped to your sun visor and it will leave impressions on it and weigh it down. Homelink is wonderful when it works properly.
The_real_bandito@reddit
One less device to have on your car and not worry about batteries?
withoutapaddle@reddit
Fair, but also kind of a non-issue. In my experience, the batteries last for years. Most people would only change the batteries in their garage door opener one time during the entire time they own a car.
SlippinYimmyMcGill@reddit
The market is ripe for the taking if a manufacturer wants to not go this route.
briancaos@reddit
And they wonder why they're eaten alive by the Chinese competition?
blipsman@reddit
This is so dumb... my entire garage door motor and drive, etc. cost the same amount and includes the smart tech to open / close remotely, with no subscription. And I have the Homelink to just open/close from a button.
-Imthedude@reddit
Opens Google...
"Jailbreak Year Model Reddit"
Paper-street-garage@reddit
Just use one of the remotes the door came with and tell them to suck it.
Cheehos@reddit
I bought a HomeLink mirror from a Kia parts website for $37 and wired it in my Maverick. It’s also self-dimming!
The real story - how does a $39K MSRP truck NOT have a self dimming homelink mirror in 2023!?
makkenzier222@reddit
Can't wait for the 'Standard Braking' subscription to drop. If you don't pay the monthly fee, your car just slowly rolls into a lake while a polite voice reminds you to check your bank balanccee. Next thing you know, we'll be watching a 30-second ad before the airbags deploy.
iqstick@reddit
At this point just get a $60 adapter to convert your garage door opener to a Homekit capable one if yours isn't already and the prompt to open your garage door will come on your Carplay once you get close to your house
Captain_Pink_Pants@reddit
I was already pissed about this bullshit back when Subaru added a check box for an extra $150 to include an aux port... As time goes on, the cars I buy are only getting older. I will crawl to wherever I'm going before I drive a car that I supposedly own, that's charging me a monthly subscription to use it, while playing advertisements every time I stop the fucking car.
razeus@reddit
Capitalism will ask more and more from participants eventually. This is late stage capitalism.
noSSD4me@reddit
What happened to a garage remote? Mine sits clipped to my sun visor, takes 2 seconds to use, is not tied to any service or giftware, and only requires batteries to operate.
Jimbo415650@reddit
i've got a remote garage opener on my sun visor i can move it or take it with me, someone has access to my car could find my address and access my home through the garage door.
ShortBrownAndUgly@reddit
Don’t garages comes with door openers?
ravenshaddows@reddit
they sure do.
some just have a lever you turn and lift the door up. uses zero electricity and is more reliable...... a futuristic design if ever there was one.
ravenshaddows@reddit
no I don't. i can just open mine. zero issues
injineer@reddit
This is such a consumer-antagonistic move. Not only would you need to subscribe to the service but you may also need to buy a part to make your door MyQ ready? Fuck that. I say that as someone with a nicer MyQ garage door opener (no subscription) that lets me open and close it from the app from anywhere.
I get that you can always use your regular garage door remote, and if Honda was spinning this as an optional add-on to enable MyQ from your car then maybe it would be interesting. But removing prior functionality and then locking the new option behind a paywall is bullshit.
GodsFavoriteDegen@reddit
That is precisely what they're doing.
You can walk into a Honda dealer right now and option a bog-standard Homelink mirror on a new Passport, just like you could last year and every year before that. The mirror was never free.
injineer@reddit
The Homelink is still an option? This article made it seem like they’re moving away from Homelink completely, but if not that’s at least somewhat better. Homelink isn’t a subscription though right, just a one-time option?
GodsFavoriteDegen@reddit
Yes.
In any case, you can add a Homelink mirror to literally any car, anytime you want, by walking into any dealer/mod shop and asking them to add one. You can do it yourself in your driveway, here are the installation instructions.
This whole hubbub started because one Reddit user spent a pile of money on a product that they did absolutely no research on, then didn't bother to look into it any further before taking to Reddit to bitch about a problem that could have been solved in less than an hour.
injineer@reddit
Well this is Reddit… doing research and not bitching about something are both pretty antithetical to the whole thing haha. Good looks pointing this out though, I’m guessing adding these details into the article would be less “exciting” for views.
Turbulent_Bus9314@reddit
You'll should be glad you can be mad about it, means you have a garage 😁
RareSeaworthiness870@reddit
Maybe if we get another crack at democracy we can ask to legislate some modicum of consumer protections so that if we buy a car, what we thought we paid for won’t get added to the subscription service, even require a subscription service to begin with, or be gone with the next update.
New_Function_6407@reddit
Kia is doing this too.
bullet50000@reddit
This is a really rage-baity way to say "Homelink is now an optional extra, only other way is MyQ App which is subscription"
GodsFavoriteDegen@reddit
Homelink has always been an optional extra with an associated cost.
julienjj@reddit
non of those extra features are actually worth it lol.
Just need a button. Open - close. No app no touch screens no menu. Click = open, click =close
Cranjesmcbasketball1@reddit
This is not new, bought a 2025 crv 1.5 years ago and no home link only subscription. Just used my garage door opener instead. It's shitty.
CobaltFermi@reddit
So basically what happened is that Honda is moving away from the HomeLink ecosystem which is widely used in almost all cars today and replacing that with their own HondaLink ecosystem which apparently charges more. Folks, we don't need to go down this route. Head over to /r/homeassistant, which is completely free to use. Opening garage doors for free can be done by using a cheap Zigbee button in your car. Many garage door openers already work flawlessly with Home Assistant.
vhalember@reddit
Um, but garage doors already come with a remote opener. Everyone is just going to use that, especially since mine can open it from nearly 1,000 feet away.
Anyway, I'd say I'm "old man yelling at cloud," but I feel I have a lot of company for giving new cars and their subscription model the damn finger.
ymjcmfvaeykwxscaai@reddit
MyQ sucks all around. Honestly I tried the free trial and thought that it just wasn’t worth it. Saves you like one button press.
jameson71@reddit
Yeah I do not want an internet connected garage door, thank you. Can't wait for the first 10.0 security vulnerability and some hacker making my garage door dance the macerena.
RoyShavRick@reddit
Man wtf is going on at Honda recently
professorjade@reddit
On god?
Conscious_Candle2598@reddit
car hacking trend is going to be Lit in the next few years!
timelessblur@reddit
As much as I want to bash Honda on this one, this appears it is routing through myQ which is internet based so there is a cost to Honda on it.
That being said why the F would I want to set up myQ on my car which generally have Homelink in them which just copies the remote you use to open your garage any how. No need to go through the internet which just increases the odds of the button NOT WORKING. For example the power or internet goes out at home all of a sudden you can not open your garage door. That or the power is out so now your garage door opener is running on battery with no internet so no way to open it.
This was a stupid add on. The only thing it gives using myQ is no need to program the car homelink to the opener.
j250ex@reddit
I love how an article referencing a Reddit post is then posted to Reddit. It’s like self generating content.
3dmontdant3s@reddit
Ti quoque, Honda?
biggsteve81@reddit
If I had a garage this would make me mad. I don't, but this still makes me mad.