Sirius XM satellite radio offers more than 150 channels of music, talk, sports and entertainment. Many brands of vehicles also come equipped with a Sirius-enabled radio, and it's common to receive a few months of free introductory service when you first purchase a car. The Sirius preview can be rolled into an actual subscription with the service provider and then transferred to a new radio or vehicle or altogether cancelled when selling the car.
Sirius was offered as both a dealer and factory-installed feature in vehicles shortly after its introduction in the early 2000s. When you purchase a vehicle with the Sirius system, a free preview subscription is offered for anywhere from three months to a year after purchase, depending on the brand of vehicle. In addition to the installed vehicle sound system device, SiriusXM can also be picked up with Dock & Play radios that can be moved from car to home and docks that make your smartphone a satellite radio.
When the free preview has ended, you will be offered continuation plans that pick up right where the free introduction left off. Subscriptions can be tailored to your listening preference so you can purchase the Sirius plan that fits best with your needs. Two plans are offered that broadcast a variety of Sirius channels: the "Select" plan with over 140 channels or the "Premier" plan with over 150. Alternately, you can purchase Specialty Packages, like the "Family Friendly" or the "Sports and Entertainment" channels, by themselves.
Any unused portion of a paid subscription that remains on a vehicle you're selling or trading can be transferred to a new vehicle in the form of a credit on your Sirius account. You can apply this credit to continuing the subscription in your new car. Note that transfers cannot be processed online and must be done through a Sirius call center representative using the company's toll-free number.
If you decide to purchase a car that is not equipped with a Sirius stereo system and you do not wish to install an aftermarket device, you can also cancel service. Cancelling, like transferring, must also be done with a customer service representative over the phone and cannot be processed with an online request. If you do not call and cancel the service, your subscription will continue playing for the vehicle's new owner until it runs out and the signal is stopped by SiriusXM.
