A mid-priced product for remote starting and protection.
A premium remote starter with an LED screen.
An affordable starter with a remote that has unique features.
A 4-command starter from a reputable company.
A remote starter for diesel and unleaded automatic cars.
The best car starter can allow you to turn on your car up to several thousand feet away. This means you can regulate your car’s temperature during the hot summer months and cold winter months before even stepping foot inside. If this sounds like a device that could make your life easier, consider our research into the five best remote car starters on the market today.
In selecting the best remote starters, we looked at various options in different price ranges. Since there’s probably no option that’s best for everyone, it’s worth doing research tailored to your preferences. This guide should help you get started, as you learn more about the five remote car starters listed above.
This remote car starter from Compustar has remote starting and car alarm systems. You get two remotes that allow you to unlock, turn on, and warm up your car from up to a 3,000.0-foot range. It also includes sensors for your doors, hood, and trunk that will emit a sound if someone attempts a burglary. These features make it our top pick among the best remote car starters.
This remote starter works for cars of all makes and models. It is self-installable if you have general electrical knowledge, but otherwise, it’s best to send it to a professional.
Compustar has an average Amazon review rating of 4.5 stars based on nearly 1,000 customer reviews. Eighty-seven percent of Amazon reviews give the product 4 or more stars.
Customers with all types of vehicles could install this device in their cars. Some customers installed it on their own, and others went to an automotive shop for help, but regardless, it worked close to the advertised range.
“I work in a prison, and this thing actually remote started my vehicle from behind thousands of feet of concrete walls, metal doors, and razor wire fence. I couldn’t believe it.”
There were some complaints from customers who said their starter only worked for a few months, which was an issue because this starter doesn’t include a warranty. Others said they wish there were instructions for easier self-installation.
“The only bad thing is that if you don’t have any wiring diagrams for your vehicle, it’s not to easy to install.”
While this long-range remote costs more than the other remote starters in this review, you get what you pay for. The remote is colored and offers unique features such as the ability to see the interior temperature of your car.
While other remote starters have a range of 1,500.0 or 3,000.0 feet, this remote starter has a 1.0-mile range, allowing you to regulate temperature long before you get into the car.
More than 270 Amazon customers give this product an average score of 4.5 out of 5. Eighty-eight percent of reviews give the product 4 or more stars.
Customers have complimented the system’s large range, responsive buttons, and color display. Users can install this starter or take it to a shop for professional installation.
“I found out that you can arm, disarm, or remote start the vehicle up to one mile away. … It has the greatest motion detector, and if anyone gets close to it, it gives them a warning, AND you don’t need batteries to charge it.”
Some reviewers complain the buttons are too sensitive, making it difficult to put in a bag or pocket. Others say the two-way remote is bulky to carry and that they prefer the size of the one-way remote.
“The remote is big and clunky, and the buttons are definitely sensitive, so you MUST do the key lock option if you’re wearing anything tight or bending over a lot.”
This remote start kit performs functions similar to our other recommendations but at a lower cost. You can unlock or start your car from up to 1,500.0 feet away, and this remote starting device comes with a lifetime warranty you can use for any malfunctions.
The LCD screen and remote also offer some unique features. When you send a signal, your remote will beep or vibrate and flash a notification across the screen.
Over 350 customers have reviewed this product, giving it an average score of 4.6 out of 5 stars. Ninety percent of reviews give the product at least 4 stars.
Overall, customers like this product and say it’s an improvement from Avital’s past products due to the increased number of features.
“The remote start is so simple to use anyone could do it with little to no instruction. I am a professional installer, so the installation is simple for me, but I do have to say you might be hard-pressed to install this yourself if you have never installed a remote start before.”
Most customers have this starter professionally installed because the instructions for self-installation are confusing. Some reviewers claim the range is a few hundred feet instead of over 1,000.0 feet as advertised.
“The range is horrible. Nowhere near 1,500 feet. I have to be about 200 feet in wide open parking lot for it to work.”
This remote car starter is another model from the reputable car electronics company Viper. The system includes two remotes: the main two-way remote and the one-way remote meant for emergencies when your main remote stops working.
Like the Avital starter, this comes with a lifetime warranty. You also receive a user manual with self-install information and explaining how to use the system.
More than 750 Amazon customers have reviewed this product, giving it an average score of 4.5 out of 5 stars. Eighty-eight percent of reviews give the product 4 or more stars.
Customers appreciate this remote car starter’s variety of functions, especially the loudness of the burglar alarm. One user said they could hear it going off inside of a store, and even if they hadn’t, the remote also beeps.
“Very loud. And the remote goes off and shows you what’s happening in case you are in the store and can’t hear the car. You will hear your key going off.”
Most customers have had the starter installed by a professional because the DIY instructions are complicated. Some customers say it starts losing effectiveness after a few months as if the wiring were failing. A few users haven’t gotten this starter to work properly.
“Alarm works OK but sometimes acts funny. I wired everything as it should be on my easy 1992 Bronco. Remote start doesn’t work. It seems like I got a defective unit.”
This Compustar model is another affordable remote starter option. It comes with two four-button remotes, making it the only starter we reviewed without a remote that has an LED or LCD display.
While this model only works on automatic cars, the car can have an unleaded or diesel engine.
This remote starter received an average score of 4.2 stars from more than 780 Amazon customers. Seventy-nine percent of reviews rate this starter at no fewer than 4 stars.
Most customers believe the starter’s four functions work well. Although this remote starter doesn’t have a screen, some of the customers actually preferred this because it makes the remote less bulky to carry.
“Works as described, and my girl loves it. I also like it for the fact it doesn’t have that big LCD remote. Those just chew up batteries and don’t fit in your pocket.”
Like with the Compustar remote starter, customers complain about the lack of help for starter installation due to the poor instructions. Some customers have even tried to contact the company for help but didn’t receive a response.
“Excellent product, however this is not a DIY project. The manual is written for experienced installers. You will need the blade bypass module as well. I have some installs under my belt, but this one was a 12-hour deal.”
Buying a remote starter isn’t as simple as picking the first one you see. When looking for the best car starter, you’ll want to consider some of the following features:
The range of your remote car starter is the distance of how far away you can start or unlock your car. You’ll want to think about how far your car is from your house or apartment along with the other places you frequent, like the grocery store and office, to determine how much range you need.
There are three types of key fobs or remotes.
A cutoff switch allows you to manually shut off the starter. This function is useful when you or a mechanic is performing maintenance on your car. You don’t want someone to get injured if the engine starts while they’re under the hood, so look for a cutoff switch in the starter you buy.
Most remote car starters are designed for automatic transmission cars that use unleaded gas. If you drive a diesel or manual car, you’ll either want to buy an aftermarket starter specifically designed for your vehicle or contact the company to see if its remote starter will work for you. During our research, we found reviews for the Viper products that mentioned them working for manual transmissions, and the Compustar CS4900 advertises use with diesel engines.
We selected the five best remote car starters based on customer feedback on websites such as Amazon, Walmart, and Target. We found the top-rated products on these sites and poured through customer reviews to determine which starters seemed the most reliable and effective. We paid special attention to mentions of features such as range, battery life, and longevity.
Each year, we test over 350 auto products on vehicles and in our testing lab. A team of product testers thoroughly researches top products, unboxes and puts our hands on each component, and tests the items on real vehicles before making recommendations to readers.
We publish hundreds of product and service reviews to bring car enthusiasts detailed guides on automotive tools, detailing kits, car seats, pet products, and much more.
Depending on the compatibility and complexity of the remote starter kit, installation costs can range from over $100 to nearly $500 if you’re paying a professional to handle the work.
Most modern car engines work seamlessly with remote starter installations, although you should read the fine print of whichever system you choose.
Whether it is a 2-way remote start system or you’re using your smartphone to replace the factory remote, the price of convenience varies from customer to customer.
The difficulty of a car starter installation depends on the remote transmitter model and the vehicle you own, but customers say brands such as Compustar and Avital are simple to install.
Your remote starter system will come with a small box that acts as a receiver. This box has to be placed in your car and wired to your ignition switch, power wire, starter wire, and any other wires necessary for the starter to perform all its functions. Once that happens, you can use your remote to send a signal to the box so the car unlocks or starts from a distance.
Yes. Here are a few of those situations:
Yes. However, the process can be complicated even with an instruction manual, especially for newer cars with more complex electrical systems. If you don’t have any electrical knowledge, we recommend paying a professional to install it for you.
Here are some of the biggest advantages of installing a remote starter system:
No. As long as the remote starter is properly installed and doesn’t damage any parts, your OEM warranty will still be applicable.
Those looking to incorporate remote engine start as an add-on feature to their vehicle can choose between several hundred feet to miles, depending on the manufacturer. The greatest functional range we saw among our picks is the Viper 5906V at 1 mile, although some models may offer longer distances.
*Data accurate at time of publication.
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