VERIZON HUM $10 a month
An OnStar alternative for non-GM vehicles

You have no doubt heard of OnStar, the feature in many General Motors cars that can offer emergency assistance, human-assisted navigation, vehicle diagnostics and other features. The service, depending on the features you enable, costs between $20 and $35 a month with a 20 percent discount if you pay by the year.

OnStar works only on GM vehicles. The company experimented for a while with an aftermarket system for non-GM cars, but discontinued that product.

The good news is that Verizon has a somewhat similar product for the rest of us, which is less expensive than OnStar. Hum by Verizon works on most vehicles built in the past 20 years.

Hum is not identical to OnStar. You don't get navigation assistance, but if you have a smartphone or a built-in GPS, you probably don't need it. Because it's not fully integrated into the vehicle, it can't be used to let you in if you forget your keys, but it can be used to dispatch a locksmith.

But Hum does come with a speaker phone to reach a person who can assist you in an emergency or answer any technical questions about the service. Live agents can also dispatch roadside assistance. For no extra charge you get four service visits a year to deal with situations like a flat tire, an empty gas tank, a dead battery or to let you in if you are locked out of your car. They will tow up to 10 miles at no extra charge.

Collision detectors will notify the service center in the event of an impact, and if they can't reach you through the speaker or your cellphone, they will use your GPS location to send help.

Hum also has a vehicle locator feature should you have trouble figuring out where you parked. It uses GPS and, while it's not necessarily the precise location, it will get you pretty close. You can also use the app or website to track your car while it's on the road. Hum's emergency dispatch center can also locate the car if it's stolen and send the information directly to the police, who can see where it's parked or track it if it's on the move.

One of the most useful features of Hum is vehicle diagnostics. You can use the app or website to check on the battery, coolant, alternator or if there is a mechanical problem or an issue with the electrical system, powertrain, wiring or emission system. It also gives you a daily breakdown of your miles per gallon.

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