Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Company and Product (FAQs)
What is CarMD Connect?
CarMD® Connect helps drivers keep their families safe and their car healthy. It provides convenience, transparent information, safety features, money savings, and connectivity solutions with an all-in-one device and app that plugs into your car.
Who can benefit from CarMD Connect?
Anyone who owns or is responsible for the upkeep of a car, light truck, SUV or minivan can benefit from CarMD Connect. It’s great to monitor vehicle health and location for your own car. And it also enables you to co-manage a vehicle, which is ideal for households with more than one vehicle and teen drivers.
Where is CarMD located?
CarMD is headquartered in Irvine, California.
How long has the CarMD company been in business
In 2006, CarMD.com Corporation launched to empower consumers by providing them with tools and information to make better-educated decisions about their vehicle’s health. Our sister company, Innova Electronics, has been an industry leader of diagnostic tools and reporting for the automotive aftermarket since 1982.
Will it work on my car?
CarMD Connect is designed to work on any 1996 and newer car, light truck, SUV and minivan, which are equipped with OBD2 technology.
How do I find where to plug in the CarMD Connect on my car?
CarMD connects into a universal 16-pin Data Link Connector (or DLC) found inside your vehicle. It is usually located under the dashboard on the driver’s side. This connector is standard on all 1996 and newer vehicles in North America. To find where your vehicle’s OBD port is, visit our homepage.
Is CarMD Connect the same as the CarMD device I had / heard about a few years ago?
From 2006 to 2013, CarMD sold its handheld device (#2100/#2150) and software kit. Drivers could plug the device into an OBD2 port under their vehicle’s dashboard and get a green, yellow or red LED to see if their car was ready for a road trip or emissions test.
The device also connected to a computer to generate a vehicle health report, empowering them with upcoming maintenance and estimated repair costs – saving consumers thousands in automotive repairs.
The original CarMD product earned many prestigious awards, including a 2007 CES Innovation Award and 2010 Edison Award. Today, the company sells CarMD Connect, an all-in-one device and intelligent app that was launched in 2025.
How do I install CarMD Connect?
It's easy. Simply follow our step-by-step tutorial by clicking on this link.
Can I use CarMD Connect if I already have a similar product from my insurance company?
You can only have one device plugged into your vehicle’s OBD2 port, so if you already use a tracker for good driving discounts, you won’t be able to use CarMD Connect.
Can I use CarMD Connect with a hybrid or electric vehicle? CarMD
CarMD Connect works with newer model (2010 and newer) hybrids as well as most EVs, as long as the vehicle is equipped with an OBD2 port – where the CarMD Connect device is plugged in to gather vehicle data.
However, EVs don’t have emissions-related components; their OBD2 systems primarily monitor the electric powertrain and battery health, so there may be limited functionality on EVs.
Can I use one for my entire family or do I need one for every car in my household?
We recommend one CarMD Connect device per each household vehicle. However, the app can be shared and used by parents and their teens to help monitor their safety.
What is the CarMD Connect warranty?
We offer a limited one-year (1-year) warranty.
App (FAQs)
Does it require a subscription?
There are no hidden fees or subscriptions required to use CarMD Connect.
Do I have to install the CarMD Connect app?
Yes. In order to use CarMD Connect and access its features, functions and benefits, you need to install the companion app, which is available in the Apple App and Google Play stores.
Where is my VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)?
You can usually find your car's VIN in a few different places, including stamped on the dashboard near the driver’s side windshield, on a sticker inside the driver's side door, on your insurance policy, or on your vehicle’s title and registration.
Why does it ask for my VIN and mileage?
The CarMD database has tons of millions of vehicle-specific maintenance and repair insights. We need your VIN and mileage to provide you with the most accurate information for your specific vehicle and to ensure AskCarl, our AI chatbot, gives you personalized answers.
Do you have to own a CarMD Connect device to Join a Group?
No. Anyone in the family can download the app and Join a (family) Group. But you will need to give permission for someone to join the group. This makes it ideal for parents to help monitor their teen or elderly parent.
Where do you get the information for the AskCarl chatbot?
CarMD has developed a proprietary knowledgebase, developed over decades, with real world vehicle service and repair data that includes maintenance and technician-verified, vehicle-specific fixes, plus licensed information from vehicle manufacturers. When you AskCarl a question, you get personalized answers customized to your vehicle, which is more accurate than if you were to ask a generic chatbot or AI engine like ChatGPT or Gemini.