You know it’s smart to have OnStar in an emergency, or when you need directions, or when you want to make a hands-free call. But take a look at the ways that OnStar can help you save money, just by having it:

• Improve your mileage: Your monthly OnStar Vehicle Diagnostic email can tell you if a tire has low pressure. With properly inflated tires, you could improve your fuel economy by up to 3.3%.(1)

• Fewer oil changes: By following the oil life alerts in your monthly Vehicle Diagnostic email report, you could save by cutting your oil changes by 50% and save more than $30 per year.(2)

• Lower your insurance costs: Select auto insurance companies offer exclusive discounts to OnStar subscribers. Check out www.onstar.com/savings to see if your insurance company participates — or how much you can save if you switch to one of these providers. Join the more than 100,000 subscribers already saving on their auto insurance.(3)

• No locksmith charges: Remote Door Unlock makes a very inconvenient situation easy to deal with.(4)

• Car trouble? No problem: OnStar offers unlimited roadside assistance.(5) Whenever you need it, OnStar is there for you.

How have you saved money with OnStar? Tell us in the comments below.

1 Source: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/maintain.shtml#inflate-tires. Vehicle must be factory equipped with tire pressure monitoring system.
2 Vehicles must be equipped with the GM Oil Life System. Visit onstar.com for details and system limitations. Assume price of $3.00/quart (5 quarts per change).
3 Not available in all states.
4 Service varies by model and conditions.
5 Roadside service provided by Cross Country.

Watch the video to see how OnStar has helped so many through the years.

Click here to view the embedded video.

1 Interactions through Dec. 2011.

The trouble began as John Hall, his wife AJ, and their cat, Bunny, were headed back to their home in Penticton, British Columbia, about 150 miles east of Vancouver, after a vacation trip to California.

“We were near Ashland, Oregon, when we noticed the first signs of a serious electrical problem with our vehicle,” says Hall. Even though Hall — who worked in the automotive industry for many years — could recognize the problem, it didn’t mean he was prepared to fix it himself, especially out on the road.

“We were traveling north on Interstate 5 and had just entered Oregon,” Hall says. “After navigating to the side of the road, we pushed the OnStar button and asked to run an On-Demand Diagnostics(1) check, which was quickly provided.”

Instant diagnosis when you need it

If the “Check Engine” light comes on, or there are concerns about the vehicle while you are driving, an Advisor can run an On-Demand Diagnostics check to see if there is a maintenance issue that requires attention. OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics is a powerfully simple way to know what your vehicle’s key operating systems need by checking the transmission, engine, emissions, brakes, air bag, stability and much more.

“The OnStar operator ordered a tow truck and supplied the name and telephone number of the nearest dealership that could provide assistance for this type of problem,” Hall says. “It was all arranged within about five minutes, and the tow truck arrived in under an hour.”

It was a long tow of at least 50 miles to Springfield Buick in Springfield, Oregon, but the couple were greeted by friendly folks who were prepared to make their ordeal a bit easier. “We arrived in Springfield at about 5:45 p.m. The dealership’s service manager and several employees had waited for us to arrive,” says Hall. “They gave us a car to use overnight and made sure we had a place to spend the night.”

The repairs were made and Team Hall was ready to roll by noon the next day.

“We became big fans of the OnStar service, which we had never needed before that day. We’re grateful now that we had the Safe & Sound® OnStar plan,” says Hall. “Both the OnStar operators and Springfield Buick were so helpful and courteous that it turned a difficult situation into one in which we have fond memories of human kindness.”

In addition to having On-Demand Diagnostics available in case of a problem on the road, subscribers can also sign up for a monthly email report which offers peace of mind by sending you a summary of checks on your engine, transmission, antilock brakes and more to make sure your vehicle is ready for the road.

1 Capabilities vary by model. Visit onstar.com for details and system limitations.

Have you ever had to use On-Demand Diagnostics — or wished you had it? Tell us about it in the comments below.