So Is It Illegal to Remote Start Your Vehicle in the State of Texas?

If you are like me and have a car that you can remote start from an app or your key fob, is it legal in Texas to remote start your vehicle due to an anti-idling law?

Texas is one of the states that has an anti-idling law on the books but it only is in effect from April through October, so during the winter months, it is OK to remote start your car to warm it up before you get in it.

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Naturally, you will not need the remote start during the time that it is illegal unless you want to cool off your car before you get in it which is stupid. Just roll a window down or wait till the air conditioner gets cooled off which only takes a matter of seconds in today's vehicles.

Now during the time it is illegal your car cannot idle for more than 5 minutes, so if you absolutely HAVE to cool off your car before you get in, you have 5 minutes to do so.

But if you do drive a truck with a weight of more than 14,000 lbs. you have an exemption to the law.

So if you work in construction, maintenance, or diagnostics your truck can idle for up to 30 minutes so you can do your job. Also if you are a bus driver, the vehicle can idle for up to 30 minutes for comfort or transit operations.

So feel free to remote start that vehicle tomorrow morning if it's cold so you can enjoy a nice warm ride to work, but don't expect to cool off your car the same way in the warmer months.