Honestly, it doesn’t matter which Toyota vehicle you own. It might have a secret hack to help save time and money. With the amount of Toyota trucks and SUVs that I’ve reviewed, I’m embarrassed that I didn’t know about this helpful trick. 

The Toyota key fob hack every owner needs to know about 

Shout out to TikTok user @Keith_mcgee, for taking the time out of his exciting night in Las Vegas to share this Toyota hack with the world. 

If you have a Toyota vehicle and there isn’t a remote start button on your key fob, you aren’t out of luck. There is a 95% chance that your vehicle still has this hidden feature. 

In the demonstration video, Keith has a rental Toyota RAV4. Rental models are usually lower trim levels that are missing some cool bells and whistles, like remote start. 

But you can press the lock button twice, then hold it down the third time for a few seconds. The lights will flash and the engine will start. 

I really wish I tested this feature with the Toyota Tundra TRD Pro last week. I’m 5’1” and had to climb up into the seat to start the engine every time, making things like turning the AC on for my dog a hassle. 

Also, allegedly, if you hit the unlock button, the engine will shut off. I’ve reached out to keith_mcgee to see if he has any other cool hacks to share. 

Does the Toyota key fob hack really work? 

According to various other TikTok videos, this hack does work for the Toyota Tacoma, Sienna, Camry, 4Runner, and older RAV4 generation. 

Some sources claim that this only works with vehicles that are equipped with the push-button start. Also, it may have a trial for a subscription feature like Sirius XM radio that allows the feature to work. 

You don’t need the Toyota app for this trick to work. However, the remote start feature can be disabled if the “Connected Services Master Data Consent” is declined. 

How much does Toyota remote start cost? 

Most new Toyota vehicles will come with a standard one-year trial of the Remote Connect feature. The Remote Connect function is what allows people to use remote start, and it can be bundled into various subscription packages like Music Lover or Go Anywhere. 

Without the free trial, Remote Connect costs $8 a month or $80 per year. Also, it might not be available with every model. 

According to Kelley Blue Book, Toyota implemented subscription-based remote start back in 2018. So don’t be surprised if your used model doesn’t include the service for free. 

What do the comments say? 

Many comments shared that this hack works with their 2019 RAV4, 2023 Tacoma, Highlander, 2023 4Runner, and 2020 Camry. A few people commented that they were close to buying the subscription before they knew about the hack. 

Others shared that the hack doesn’t work with their 2022 Tacoma, 2021 Camry, 2023 4Runner, or 2022 Toyota RAV4. 

But there are helpful tips for troubleshooting the issue. For example, make sure your doors are locked for the key fob hack to work. 

Also, someone shared that you have to stand 10 to 20 feet away from the vehicle. But Keith was standing very close to his rental RAV4 in the video. 

Now get outside with your key fob to see if it works with your Toyota vehicle!!!