11:41 09-02-2026

Car subscription fees for digital features: ADAC analysis

Modern cars are increasingly sold not as finished products, but as platforms with paid "add-ons." The German automobile club ADAC, together with the technical magazine c't, has analyzed subscription models from car manufacturers and reached an alarming conclusion: digital features are becoming a tool for continuously extracting money from owners.

This refers to services like remote vehicle control via an app, online navigation, enhanced multimedia functions, and additional assistant capabilities. In many cases, buyers are initially given free access, creating the impression that the feature is "included with the car," but after a few years, they have to pay for it.

The free-use periods vary widely. For instance, Skoda offers remote functions for three years, Audi and Opel for ten years, while Nio promises to keep them free for the vehicle's entire lifespan. However, navigation and advanced multimedia features for nearly all brands eventually switch to a paid model over time.

Subscription prices also differ. At BMW, after three months of free access, the cost is €9.98 per month. Mercedes can charge up to €329 per year after the three-year free period ends. Renault has not yet disclosed rates beyond 2027, and Volvo notifies customers about future payments only shortly before the four-year free period concludes.

According to ADAC, the key issue is a lack of transparency. Buyers cannot calculate in advance how much a car will truly cost over 7–10 years of ownership. Used-car owners are particularly vulnerable: they often purchase vehicles where free digital services have already partially or fully expired, forcing them to immediately pay for features that previously seemed "basic."

The automobile club recommends that buyers clarify the status of all digital services upfront, document subscription terms in the contract, and critically assess whether they are genuinely needed. ADAC specifically emphasizes that safety-related features should not be converted to a paid basis and must remain free throughout the vehicle's entire lifecycle.

Overall, the subscription model turns a car into a "perpetual payment." Formally, you buy the vehicle, but in practice, you only purchase the right to use it under the manufacturer's terms. As long as the market tolerates this, brands will push further, and the line between an option and a mandatory fee will continue to blur.