Skip to main content
Sirius Radio receiver for your car
Trends

How to Add SiriusXM Satellite Radio to Any Car

I can’t live without my Carolina Shag Radio. But, I can only get that vintage R&B channel with SiriusXM satellite radio, and my truck didn’t come with the Sirius satellite radio system. So, what to do? Luckily I have a few options so I won’t have to live without my sweet R&B tunes, or the …
by Dan Mayfield
Published on
3 min read

I can’t live without my Carolina Shag Radio. But, I can only get that vintage R&B channel with SiriusXM satellite radio, and my truck didn’t come with the Sirius satellite radio system. So, what to do? Luckily I have a few options so I won’t have to live without my sweet R&B tunes, or the Elvis Radio station or even Howard Stern (if you like that sort of thing).  These options even work on leased or older cars.

For those of us that like listening options, especailly with AM radios going away, Sirius could be a good alternative.

Could you already have Sirius and not know it?

The Sirius Radio screen in my Ram truck
The SiriusXM radio screen in a 2016 Ram truck | Dan Mayfield, Motorbiscuit

Are you sure you don’t already have SiriusXM installed? It’s easy to check on most in-car radios to see if you have a Sirius-equipped car. Scroll through the options on your radio until you find “source” button that switches between AM and FM radio. In the list of sources, you may see “Aux” for “auxiliary” and SiriusXM. If you do, you can flip it to the Sirius channel and then call the 1-800 number to sign up for the satellite radio service.

Do you want it wired in like a factory system?

An in-car unit from Sirius.
An in-car unit from Sirius.

If your car doesn’t have it, and you want to install it, there are a few options, but unfortunately they’re not cheap. When your car was built, if Sirius was an option it would come with a special antenna. Those satellite antennas usually look like shark fins on the roof.

There are several options to add Sirius, and the SiriusXM300V1 and SiriusXM SXWB1V1 are options. These two devices look like navigation screens and attach to your car’s dash. According to aftermarket stereo dealer Crutchfield, the SXV300V1 connects to a factory radio that has the SiriusXM-Ready logo.

Other units have a built-in FM transmitter, so you just need to tune your radio to a specific frequency to hear it. Or, you can plug one into the auxiliary input on the radio. These are great options for cars that have integrated radios that are nearly impossible to replace with a non-factory unit. These units may need a professional to install them, but generally, most folks can install them on their own.

The head units are about $80, while the antenna is an additional $70. As a bonus, the company also makes a marine unit for bumping tunes anywhere on the water or even tabletop stereos that can access your account.

But there’s a trick for getting it easier than that

wood detail on the dash of a 2009 Toyota Sienna minivan with a factory radio you can't easily replace.
Dash view of the third generation Toyota Sienna XLE with a built-in radio that’s harder to replace | Toyota Newsroom

Sirius has an app. Lok for the SiriusXM app for Android or Apple. It’s similar to Spotify, and we all know how easy that is to hookup to a car stereo. With the Sirius app, you have two choices: you can get it for streaming only, or you can buy both streaming and satellite services. The plans vary in price.

Having the app on your phone lets you find 80s on 8 or 90s on 9 and stream it from your phone. Most modern cars have a Bluetooth option for connecting a phone, and the app will play music through that. Or, if you have an older car with a cassette deck, your local auto parts store will still sell you a cassette deck adapter. Barring that, a simple Bluetooth transmitter is less than $20.

How do I remove Sirius radio?

If you’re in the other camp, and you don’t really need to hear Billboard’s Top 500 Summer Hits on repeat, it’s easy to cancel. You can flip to the Sirius source and your radio should display the 1-800 number (1-866-635-5027). Simply ring the company up and cancel your subscription.

If you want full internet service, and not just satellite radio, look for a StarLink setup.

Related

What’s the Difference Between HD Radio and Satellite Radio?

Best in Tips, Tricks & Trends
Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.