A little more than five years, we bought a brand new car (GASP! I know — how not frugal!).
We wanted a Toyota Venza and it was the first model year so no used cars were available. (see???)
If you've ever bought a new car within the last few years, you probably have a trial subscription to Sirius XM radio. I think our trial subscription was for six months.
SiriusXM is pretty great. You get high-quality audio, a bazillion different channels so you'll always be entertained, and it's available practically everywhere except if you're surrounded by mountains or in a tunnel. It's a solid service.
I just didn't want yet another subscription and even at $10.99 for their lowest “Mostly Music” package. It was too much. Their $15.99 and $19.99 All Access are all reasonable prices (when our trial ended, it cost closer to $30 a month, and now the plan names have changed) given what you get but let me explain how easy it is to save 75%.
But… you should never pay full price for Sirius XM. Never. Ever.
SiriusXM is a prime case where negotiating your subscription rate will always save you money.
All you have to do is call in, threaten to cancel, and wait until they offer you their comeback offer.
Sirius Standard Pricing: $5 / Month
SiriusXM has a few plans but the basic one for your car is $5 per month for 12 months (new subscriptions only).
The three tiers are:
- SiriusXM Select: $5 / month for 12 months for 140+ channels, then goes to $15.99 / month
- Premier Streaming: This one isn't for your car, it's streaming to your computer or phone. It's $5 / month for 12 months for 200+ channels, then goes to $15.99 / month
- SiriusXM All Access: $8.25 / month for 12 months for both streaming and in the car, then goes to $20.99 / month. It also comes with a free 3rd Gen Echo Dot.
After the 12 month promotion period, you're automatically renewed at the regular, much higher, price.
But you can do better than this offer.
The Best Deal: 6 Months for $25
You can always get 5 months of Sirius XM Radio for just $25. Sometimes people have gotten 6 months for $25.
All you need to say is “I love Sirius XM, I just can't afford that price. Is there any way you can help me?” — and they will help you. If they don't, hang up and call again.
It's very important that you take note of when your promotional period ends because they will start charging you full price immediately. There will be no warning, it's automatic renewal at the full price, so mark it on a calendar somewhere and set up notifications.
When the time nears, call them up again. Sometimes they'll cut right to the chase and offer to extend the deal. If you don't, cancel it and you'll get a “winback” offer in a month or two.
Don't take anything worse than that deal.
SiriusXM Promotions
If you only care about getting the very cheapest, then $4.17 per month is the cheapest.
If price is less important (say, if you're being reimbursed or it is a tax-deductible expense) and you want to take advantage of promotions, SiriusXM runs promotions periodically.
Here are some of the best right now:
Ha, we just did this. (or rather, we actually cancelled and they kept sending this deal with free installation, so the hubby paid for it as an anniversary present.) We don’t have quite the same collection of channels, but I’m really enjoying having my satellite radio back.
When we had it, we only ever listened to 5-6 channels. Since we both work primarily from home nowadays, it doesn’t make much sense to pay for it… even at such low prices. (tbh, I just don’t want to call back and play this game every 5-6 months!)
Wow, thanks so much for this advice! I have a free trial for Sirius XM in my car and had no idea you could get a comeback offer! I will definitely look into this soon!
Yes, they will very aggressively try to win you back when you leave. 🙂
I tried to do this and straight-up canceled for a month. They really didn’t try to win me back with any kind of deal. Well, they gave us a worse package at around a 40% discount.
It’s my wife’s car and now she just listens to the free, ad-sponsored Google Play through Bluetooth. She’s happy with the selection and quality.
Just wait… the comeback offer will come. 🙂
Don’t ever use a credit card. Buy a gift card from Best Buy and pay using that. Then negotiate for the best price. Currently, here is what I’ve gotten for the last 5 years:
For Select: 6 months for $25.00
For Full Access: 1 year for $119.00
You have to pay tax and royalty fees on top of this. Just remember to call about a month before it expires, or they’ll charge you full price.
Brilliant!
is it possible to get out of their ridiculous “connection fee”?
Thanks for the tip, just tried it and worked perfectly – $25 per radio ($32.31 with taxes and junk) for 5 months. They even gave me a credit for the previous month since I pay quarterly.
Set a reminder for yourself in five months to call them back, they won’t remind you that your contract is up.
They will also give you a 6 months for $30 deal which is the same as the 5 months for $25 but it extends the subscription out one more month. I just did this.
I got this offer as well. I haven’t started the subscription yet, but just FYI, you can get this same offer through Ebates and they (Ebates) will credit your account $5.00. (Ebates pays you a check once a year anytime you shop through their website). Which would be a great deal !!! Six months for $25.00 🙂 That’s the route I’m going to use . Hope this info. is worthwhile and beneficial. 🙂
I just saved $100 on my Select subscription. $99/year
What does Select include?
It has 165 channels – includes MLB, NBA, NHL and PGA. Does not include Howard Stern, NFL or NASCAR.
Enjoy several talk stations, especially at home. Would miss Dr. Laura and sports talk shows. Music quality is terrible. My car HD radio stations blow it away. Considering using Google Play or IHeartRadio. Possibly Apple Music. Anyone do a cost analysis of data use when playing these services in the car?
We use this method every six months to keep cost to a minimum on our two vehicles. We bought a 2010 Honda Accord for our soon-to-be teen daughter and college sis to drive. Daughter #1 goes to school in DC, so car at home after purchase. Enjoyed the two months free, then let lapse as car was just sitting in garage. Offers come in for 40-50% off…not interested…no one driving car. Then, low and behold, Dec 10th get an offer for 84% off…yes…$99 for 36 months. That was too good to pass up, go to website to accept, and there is a second offer associated with it…60 months for $149! With tax and royalty, came out to $179. I am VERY tempted to let my work vehicle lapse for a few months then see if they will give me this deal again!
That’s a pretty good offer… I’d probably do that long term one because then you don’t have to call back every 9-12 months.
I asked for that deal, 36 months for $99, and was told that deal was for 2009 and earlier models.
I just got a new car and it has this Sirius radio in it. Free for 3 months. I only like listening to 95.1 FM and KFI on AM. Sure hope they do not charge me a renewal for Sirius. Sounds like a rip off to me. Cheaper putting a CD in to,listen to. Can they automatically renew me without my permission .I never asked for the service in the first place it came with the car.
I’m not sure, I believe you have to opt in and give billing information to continue… but I don’t know for certain. You should call the dealership or Sirius to confirm.
I do not believe in paying to listen to music. I will definitely not renew. Most of it is music I do not like anyway. I will enjoy my free 3 months and then cancel . I only posted because I thought you would know the answer to my question seeing you had bought a new car as well and had Sirius in when you bought the car
I don’t remember how the billing part went but I think I signed up after the trial – I wasn’t 100% sure so I didn’t want to steer you wrong!
I currently have 2 cars each with a Sirius XM radio. Each radio is setup on it’s own account, one under my name and the other under my wifes. Do you think it would help or hurt to have them both on the same account when trying to negotiate these better rates?
I’m afraid I don’t know if that’s better or worse, do they have two device discounts? I don’t think they do but I’m not 100% sure.
Hey Bill, I’m currently trying to decide whether it’s worth merging my two car radio accounts, did you ever find anything out about the perks or disadvantages to it?
I actually do get a notice in the mail when my current renewal period is about to expire.
Got an offer of $99 for 3 years on my 2008 truck that I rarely drive. Called Sirius and asked for the same deal for my 2019 for which the trial period had just ended. No luck, they said that offer was applicable to older vehicles only. I use to get deals for $3 a month on the 2008. Best they would offer for the 2019 is $60 plus fees for a year. Told them no thanks. They’ll have to come off the nut and sweeten the deal for me to bite.
I love how they pretend they won’t deal… the cost to them to add a new subscriber is ZERO! Collecting $99 from you for three years is $99 they wouldn’t otherwise get!
That’s not correct. There’s a cost associated with every activation. Bandwidth, partnership with OEM, marketing cost, operating cost , content, events etc.
But it’s marginal compared to what they earn, which is the point.
Well I tried to take advantage of the 6 month 8.33 current deal when I tried to pay on line with a gift card visa debit it would not take so I called and the rep tried but would not go through I wanted this to be a surprise so I did not use a debit card from my account. ” I said I guess she can live without Sirius”
Well I got a call back from Exec. services who was going to make it go through.
No way 6 attempts and said is your car by you I said yes she said turn it on and go to Sirius and she sent the signal for 6 months free. not 4.50 8.33 10,00 0r even 15.00 free for 6 months. BEST PRICE EVER THEY WERE VERY NICE AND GOOD TO DEAL WITH…..THANKS FOR THE INFO. HARLEY
I had one month left on my recent year of SiriusXM all access… we have been members for 5 years now…. I have always gotten the cheaper deal and this year since we still had a month left they gave me all access for 114. for a year plus an echo dot….. Life is good…… its too bad though that since my wife also has Sirius that we can’t bundle them both and get a REALLY GOOD price….
I listen to WDGY for free! Sorry SiriusXM. “Are you Serious? Sirius as satellite radio!” I don’t pay to watch T.V. either.
Sirius is such a joke. My husband wants the all access package and its. $25 a month. They wouldn’t give me any deal at all via the chat. I’m going to call now and see what they will offer. So disappointing to have to spend so much time on something they over charge for.
So I just called and they are giving me one year $99 and an echo.