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Instructor
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 972
Likes: 636
From: California
In January, I received a Lexus e-mail offering me a trial period extension to 10 years on Remote Connect. After a few unsuccessful attempts, one of the Lexus team members sent me clearer instructions to navigate the menus. Eventually, I received the confirmation of extension e-mail.
Before I hit the 3-year mark, my Lexus App updated Remote Connect to 2032. However, Lexus did not extend my Drive Connect. From the notices I received in the app, it seemed I could pay for Drive Connect ($15/month) and get Remote Connect at no extra charge. The free deal didn't work in reverse, i.e., I didn't get any extension on Drive Connect when Lexus extended my Remote Connect trial. So I wanted to see what life would be like without Drive Connect.
Predictably, my Lexus Nav stopped functioning at the 3-year mark (last week), reverting back to the intro screen. Since then, the speed limit display doesn't seem to be as accurate.
The good news is that "Hey Lexus" voice commands still work. And in my experience, Android Auto / Google Maps is at least as reliable and readable as Lexus Nav. So all in all, I'm good.
Before I hit the 3-year mark, my Lexus App updated Remote Connect to 2032. However, Lexus did not extend my Drive Connect. From the notices I received in the app, it seemed I could pay for Drive Connect ($15/month) and get Remote Connect at no extra charge. The free deal didn't work in reverse, i.e., I didn't get any extension on Drive Connect when Lexus extended my Remote Connect trial. So I wanted to see what life would be like without Drive Connect.
Predictably, my Lexus Nav stopped functioning at the 3-year mark (last week), reverting back to the intro screen. Since then, the speed limit display doesn't seem to be as accurate.
The good news is that "Hey Lexus" voice commands still work. And in my experience, Android Auto / Google Maps is at least as reliable and readable as Lexus Nav. So all in all, I'm good.
10th Gear
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 11
Likes: 5
From: Maryland
@NX350Turbo - Just so I did not make a mistaken assumption - did Traffic Jam Assist really stop working for you when you did not pay for Drive Connect (and the Navigation stopped working) ? Since you didn't explicitly state so, wanted to check - thanks!
I do have an update, though. I've confirmed that without Drive Connect, the speed limit sensor is delayed in providing the correct speed limit # for that stretch of roadway. For example, I'll get on I-695 from a 40-mile an hour feeder road, and it'll take several miles before the display changes to the 695 speed limit (55 mph). I could understand a few hundred feet, but ... miles? I'm driving on 695 and the speed limit display is red - because the car thinks I'm doing 60 in a 40, not 60 in a 55. I'm concerned that the speed limit error is being recorded in my driving history ... or no?
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 972
Likes: 636
From: California
Would be great if someone else can answer this "burning" question in mind, although my default assumption is that TJA will go offline without Drive Connect.
So my thinking is that the speed limit sensor is actually an Image Recognition camera that reads the road signs of speed limits, together with the Cloud-based mapping data that has its embedded speed data. These two sources of information together provide the most accurate reading on the dash. Without Drive Connect, the second source of information is gone, and only the car's own camera is active, which is less accurate (the signs may be missed, not posted, vandalized - recognizable by human eye, but not by Mobile Eye 
).
I wouldn't be worried about that counting as recorded in driving history, especially if you turn off the driving history in the App (which I have done within a few weeks of ownership, as its a privacy-violating and battery killing feature that provides no value to me).
I do have an update, though. I've confirmed that without Drive Connect, the speed limit sensor is delayed in providing the correct speed limit # for that stretch of roadway. For example, I'll get on I-695 from a 40-mile an hour feeder road, and it'll take several miles before the display changes to the 695 speed limit (55 mph). I could understand a few hundred feet, but ... miles? I'm driving on 695 and the speed limit display is red - because the car thinks I'm doing 60 in a 40, not 60 in a 55. I'm concerned that the speed limit error is being recorded in my driving history ... or no?
).I wouldn't be worried about that counting as recorded in driving history, especially if you turn off the driving history in the App (which I have done within a few weeks of ownership, as its a privacy-violating and battery killing feature that provides no value to me).
Instructor
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 836
Likes: 80
From: ca
I also got an email a while back that I acted on that gave me 10 years on remote connect and digital key.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,721
Likes: 807
From: Ontario
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 972
Likes: 636
From: California
According to a review of the Genesis GV70 yesterday on Youtube, Genesis gives the first owner of the vehicle lifetime free subscription of the services. In fact, they make it a point to not have everything attached to the Cloud - and have as much of the features working in the car itself. Hope that puts pressure on the industry.
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 302
Likes: 154
From: BC
According to a review of the Genesis GV70 yesterday on Youtube, Genesis gives the first owner of the vehicle lifetime free subscription of the services. In fact, they make it a point to not have everything attached to the Cloud - and have as much of the features working in the car itself. Hope that puts pressure on the industry.
Instructor
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 836
Likes: 80
From: ca
And then to get into the car, which you own and turn on the screen and services that you own, even if some of the subscriptions are provided at no cost by Lexus, and then forced to look at an advertisement from them every time, doesn’t sound right to me. If I open up an app on my phone, I expect to be bombarded with an advertisement, but not when I go into something I own and control.
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 302
Likes: 154
From: BC
And then to get into the car, which you own and turn on the screen and services that you own, even if some of the subscriptions are provided at no cost by Lexus, and then forced to look at an advertisement from them every time, doesn’t sound right to me. If I open up an app on my phone, I expect to be bombarded with an advertisement, but not when I go into something I own and control.
Instructor
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 836
Likes: 80
From: ca
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 302
Likes: 154
From: BC
9th Gear
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 9
Likes: 7
From: NY
Digital Key Extension Offer
Thank you to all (and especially @jatwell @lsft @Pharbor) ... Club Lexus comes through where Google and Reddit fail!
So, I just went through the process to extend. This link [[url]https://support.lexus.com/s/questions-comments?topic=Multimedia%20Technology&subtopic=Offer%20Redemption] should (I think/hope) be usable by anyone. They say the offer is only good for 90 days from the date of the email, but I'm not sure they have a way to track this if you use the below rather than clicking on the link in the email. You'll need the email you've registered the app to (in my case, it was my wife's, which is why I couldn't find the email in my own inbox) and your VIN.
ps The email confirmation says it will take 5-7 business days to process your request.
I think this is a universal offer for all owners (at least all US and maybe Canadian). I think Lexus realized they messed up and this was a way to fix it "on the cheap" by only giving it to persistent PITAs like Club Lexus users.
I do think it is available for Canada because when you go through the process you are asked for country, and Canada was one of the options.
My email came 40 days before my cancellation date (today - happy Lexusversary to me!) from Lexus-Interface@reply.lexuscommunications.net with the subject line noted below ("[NAME], Complimentary Digital Key Extension").
Hope this helps anyone else ... happy to help pay it forward!
Matthew
So, I just went through the process to extend. This link [[url]https://support.lexus.com/s/questions-comments?topic=Multimedia%20Technology&subtopic=Offer%20Redemption] should (I think/hope) be usable by anyone. They say the offer is only good for 90 days from the date of the email, but I'm not sure they have a way to track this if you use the below rather than clicking on the link in the email. You'll need the email you've registered the app to (in my case, it was my wife's, which is why I couldn't find the email in my own inbox) and your VIN.
ps The email confirmation says it will take 5-7 business days to process your request.
1. I got an email a few weeks ago to extend my remote connect and digital key for a total of 10 years for free. Signed up and shows correctly in app as expiring January 2032. No idea if that’s a universal offer or I won the lottery. Safety Connect and Service Connect were universally extended to 10 years a while ago.
@jatwell Thanks so much for the heads up. I searched my email and found it. I am really glad you posted about it. For others the email subject line is "Complimentary Digital Key Extension".
Hope this helps anyone else ... happy to help pay it forward!
Matthew
Last edited by mggabin; Jul 22, 2025 at 01:01 PM.
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 302
Likes: 154
From: BC
Pit Crew
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 120
Likes: 6
From: ON
It does not look like there is any way to get it to extend for free. Are you planning to pay for it next month? I’m wondering once it expires and you want to get it back, would the process be tedious or a hassle?