There’s a new way to stop package thieves in their tracks. Forget having a package delivered to your doorstep, leaving it unsecured and visible to passers-by. Instead, have it delivered to your car trunk, keeping it locked up and out of sight.
Amazon now offers this in-car delivery option — for free — the company announced today. It’s called Amazon Key In-Car, and it’s offered through Amazon Key, a service that already enables in-home deliveries.
In-Car is a delivery option for tens of millions of items that are sold by Amazon — although there are a few catches.
The catches
Amazon Key In-Car is currently available only to folks who:
- Are Amazon Prime members
- Own certain cars
- Live in certain cities
Compatible vehicles include the following makes from model year 2015 or later:
- Chevrolet — with an active OnStar account
- Buick — with OnStar
- GMC — with OnStar
- Cadillac — with OnStar
- Volvo — with Volvo On Call
Amazon says more makes and models will become compatible “over time.”
Amazon Key In-Car is available in about three dozen U.S. cities and their surrounding areas, with Amazon planning to add more cities “over time.”
To look up your car or ZIP code to determine whether you’re eligible for in-car delivery, visit the Amazon Key webpage.
How Amazon Key In-Car works
To use Amazon Key In-Car, you must download the Amazon Key app and link it to your compatible car. After it’s set up, you can select the “In-Car” delivery option at checkout when shopping on Amazon.
Because compatible cars have active connected services like those offered by OnStar, they have keyless remote entry. Linking such a car to the Amazon Key App enables in-car deliveries when your vehicle is parked in a publicly accessible area, typically at your home or work.
From there, Amazon explains:
“On delivery day, the Amazon Key App lets customers check if they’ve parked within range of the delivery location, and provides notifications with the expected 4-hour delivery time window. The App also notifies customers when the delivery is on its way, and the package has been delivered. Customers can track when their car was unlocked and relocked in the App’s activity feed, and rate their in-car delivery.”
Amazon's FAQs about in-car delivery don’t explain all the technical details of how delivery works, but CNN tech reporter Matt McFarland says Amazon Key In-Car uses a car’s internet access to remotely open a customer’s trunk. The delivery person receives one-time access to open the trunk to deliver the package there.
McFarland, who lives in a city plagued by package thieves, tried out in-car delivery. He concluded:
“For city residents like myself, the promise of in-car delivery is a game changer. When I returned home to my car parked on a nearby street, the package was safely waiting for me.”
What’s your take on this news? Would you use a service like this? Share your thoughts below or on Facebook.
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