How to Use the Ford Remote Start App
Once you’ve paired your vehicle with your FordPass app, you can start your car by pressing and holding the Engine Start button.
Written by Liz Jenson
Reviewed by Brenna Swanston
You can start your Ford remotely using the FordPass app by selecting your paired vehicle of choice, then pressing and holding the Engine Start button.
But just how do you pair your phone to your car? Is your car even compatible with remote start? Are there any other features available in the FordPass app? And, perhaps most importantly—are all of these features free?
Here to answer all of these questions and more is the trusted
car insurance
broker app, Jerry
. Together, we’ll explore how to pair your phone to your car, how to start and stop your vehicle via the FordPass app, and other potential uses for the FordPass app. We’ll also discuss which Ford models offer remote start, and how to save on Ford car insurance costs
, too!RECOMMENDED
Compare auto insurance policies
No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms
How to start your Ford remotely through the FordPass app
To use the FordPass app to start your vehicle remotely, you’ll need to register your vehicle with the app. Fortunately, this process is pretty easy!
Start by downloading the app on your smartphone or tablet, or another compatible device. If you don’t already have a Ford owner account, you’ll need to register as a new user. Otherwise, feel free to log into your existing account.
If you’re not already in your car, you’ll need to take a seat inside your vehicle for this next part. When you do so, you should get a pop-up inviting you to add your car to your FordPass app. If you get this pop-up, you can simply press “Add” to add your vehicle to your app.
If you don’t get the pop-up, though, don’t worry! You can also add your vehicle manually by selecting “Add Vehicle” from the home screen. Then, use your phone camera to scan your
Ford VIN
. From there, you can name your vehicle and add any additional vehicles to your app.Once you’ve added your vehicle to your FordPass app, it’s time to finish pairing your car! First, press the Activate Vehicle icon on your app. Wait for a few minutes, then start your car. Your FordPass app should request for you to allow activation and, when you click Allow, you’ll finish pairing your phone to your vehicle.
Once your vehicle is paired with your phone, you can start your car by opening the app, selecting the vehicle you’d like to start, then pressing and holding the Engine Start button. Your vehicle will start and run for five, 10, or a maximum of 15 minutes before shutting down automatically.
To make your vehicle run even longer, you can extend your remote start to a total run time of up to 35 minutes. To do this, simply navigate to your running vehicle and select Extend.
How to turn off your Ford remotely
Say you start your car remotely, then decide that the winter weather warrants a snow day. Can you stop your Ford remotely, or will you need to brave the cold?
Fortunately, turning off your vehicle via the FordPass app is just as simple as starting it. Simply select your car on the app, then press and hold the Stop Engine button until your vehicle turns off!
Other FordPass app features
Remote starting your car isn’t all the FordPass app can do—far from it! Here's what else you can do with your FordPass connection to your vehicle:
- Locate your vehicle if you lose it in a parking lot, or if it suddenly goes missing.
- Check your fuel level and oil life from your phone, so you’ll always know when you’re due for an oil change or a trip to the gas station.
- Schedule a vehicle start time in advance so you can be certain that your engine will be warm by the time you’re ready to leave the house.
- Lock or unlock your car without your physical key. This can come in handy if youlock your keys in the carby mistake!
- If you have an electric vehicle, you can check your car’s charge level, find the nearest charging station, or even use your phone as a car key.
Is Ford’s remote start app free?
Yes! FordPass is a free app, and all remote features are free for the duration of your Ford ownership. Certain other features on the FordPass app will require additional payment if you’d like them to continue past the two-year trial period, but the remote features will never expire.
Which Ford vehicles have remote start?
Ford vehicles that are compatible with FordPass can be found in two ways:
- These vehicles will have window stickers with FordPass Connect/SYNC Connect displayed on them, indicating that they can be used with the FordPass app.
- You can use your SYNC screen to determine your car’s eligibility by selecting Settings, then Vehicle. If your Ford is pairable, you will see the FordPass Connect title displayed on your Settings menu. If not, you’ll see Onboard Modem Serial Number (ESN) instead.
FordPass Connect is an available feature for vehicles from 2017 onward and became standard in 2020. However, your vehicle’s trim level may affect eligibility. Be sure to check your car in one of the two ways listed above to ensure that it is properly equipped to pair with the FordPass app.
How to save on Ford car insurance costs
Did you know that there’s also an app to help you save on your
Ford car insurance costs
? Nope, it’s not FordPass—it’s Jerry
!Using this
trustworthy insurance comparison app
is super simple. Just download the app on your phone and answer some quick questions about your car insurance needs. Then, Jerry will use those details to perform a comprehensive cross-analysis of over 50 insurance providers to find the policies that best match your answers.From there, you’ll review your choices and choose the one that you like the best. Jerry will even help you cancel your old policy and sign up!
“When usingJerry, I just put in a bit of information, and they found lots of different quotes for me. I was paying $305 a month for 2 brand-new cars, but now I’m paying $150 a month for both with full coverage!” —Robin U.
RECOMMENDED
Thousands of customers saved on average $887/year on their car insurance with Jerry
This app is great, but the customer service is even better! Not to mention convenient! My husband and I got the lowest rate (much lower than the rates I was finding online through my own searches), quickly, and pretty much all through text message! Thank you so much for a hassle free experience👍
Gabriella R.
Find insurance savings
4.7/5 Rating on App Store
Are you overpaying for car insurance?
Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.
4.7You might also be interested
