Amazon has announced it now lets you have packages you order delivered to your car. The service is part of Amazon Key which previously only allowed packages to be delivered to the inside of your home. Now, delivery people can drop your mail off in your vehicle’s cabin.
According to Amazon, your car will need to have an OnStar system installed with an active subscription for the service to work. This means that 2015 or newer cars from Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac should all work. (Volvo owners with an active Volvo On Call account are also compatible.) If your vehicle has the system and you’re subscribed, you’ll need to download the Key app to your iOS or Android device and link your Amazon account to your OnStar subscription. You’ll then be able to shop on Amazon.com and have deliveries dropped off inside your car by selecting the “In-Car” delivery option at checkout.
The way delivery drivers get into your car is similar to how they would get inside your home. Rather using a special code or key, Amazon uses an encrypted authentication process which determines whether the right driver with the right package is at the right car. If the process succeeds, your car is unlocked and the package is dropped off. Customers are alerted both when their car is unlocked and relocked while also being prompted when the driver is within the location of their vehicle and when the package might be delivered.
“Since launching Amazon Key last November, we’ve safely delivered everything from cameras to collectable coins inside the home. Customers have also told us they love features like keyless guest access and being able to monitor their front door from anywhere with the Amazon Key App,” said Peter Larsen, Vice President of Delivery Technology, Amazon. “In-car delivery gives customers that same peace of mind and allows them to take the Amazon experience with them. And, with no additional hardware or devices required, customers can start ordering in-car delivery today.”
It’s worth noting that you’ll want to be parked in a publicly accessible area such as your home or workplace. In other words, don’t tell Amazon to meet you in an ally.
Of course, having someone drop a package off inside your car feels just as invading as someone dropping something off inside your home. Amazon has repeatedly said the service is secure and you can monitor the whole thing, but at least for some, Amazon Key might seem creepy. Still, this is all in an effort to combat package theft and make sure your deliveries get dropped off safely and securely. If you have something expensive or important being dropped off, Key should probably be used. Otherwise, you’ll probably be okay with the package simply being delivered the old-fashioned way: by being thrown onto your doorstep from ten feet away.
Prime members interested in in-car delivery can start using it in 37 different cities and their surrounding areas starting today. To check your car’s eligibility, visit Amazon’s website.
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