We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.
A new tool has made its way to Canada to thwart porch pirates in their tracks!
Amazon announced the expansion of their Amazon Key In-Garage Delivery service to about 1,700 cities and neighbourhoods across Canada!
Canadians can now get Amazon products safely delivered right into their garage!
This allows Amazon delivery drivers to securely access a customer's garage door (if they choose to opt in) and leave their packages inside.
Can Amazon really deliver stuff inside your garage?
Yes they can, if you set a few things up!
There's been a service available for a while called Amazon Key, which allowed people to choose a particular level of access that would be available to their delivery drivers (example, a smart lock on a front gate, or being able to unlock the front door of a condo remotely to accept a delivery).
Amazon Key In-Garage Delivery will now be an option for people in Canada with a Prime Membership who live in cities where the service is available.
Where in Canada is Amazon Key In-Garage Delivery available?
When it launched on September 23, 2024, Amazon listed these as the first cities where the service would be available throughout 1,700 neighbourhoods:
- Toronto
- Vancouver
- Montreal
- Calgary
- Winnipeg
- Halifax
- Ottawa
Does Amazon Key In-Garage Delivery work with every garage door?
This service, while super cool, isn't compatible with every garage door.
You need a "smart" garage door that is myQ enabled. The myQ technology is offered through Chamberlain (a popular garage door manufacturer) but not every Chamberlain garage door is equipped with myQ.
You CAN buy a special adapter to add smart controls to your existing Garage Door opener. This may not work with every garage door opener model, so make sure to check right here if your garage door opener model is compatible.
Smart Garage Control
If you don't have a smart garage door opener, but want to use Amazon's in-garage delivery service in Canada, you'll need this. The Smart Garage Control converts regular garage doors into app-connected ones. See the paragraph above for the compatability checker tool.
Once you have the adapter or a compatible garage door opener, you can setup your garage door in the myQ Connected app and then connect it to your Amazon Key account.
Once you've done this, you'll see an option on future Amazon orders for in-Garage delivery!
Is Amazon Key In-Garage Delivery Free?
Until March 31, 2025, Prime Members in Canada who live in areas that provide the service will be able to choose free in-garage delivery.
After that it will cost $1.99 per order. But the fee gets waived if you use the Pick Your Day delivery option where you choose a specific date you want your order to be delivered in your garage.
Is Amazon Key In-Garage Delivery worth it?
I have never had a problem with porch pirates, though it IS something I'm concerned about (I've had things go missing from my front or backyard in the past). This would definitely be a service I would think about ordering for any big ticket items for that extra peace of knowing it's inside of my locked garage, rather than on my front porch.
Since delivery drivers would have a temporary access code to your garage door, that mitigates privacy concerns for me. However, I know not everyone is as comfortable with giving a stranger that kind of access, so it's going to be a personal choice.
I like that this service is available in Canada (and in my own hometown of Winnipeg, too) so I'm happy to see we have a new delivery option in our country. Particularly as we get closer to the Christmas shopping season.
Having said that, I've never used this service before, it's brand new! So I'll be picking up one of those Chamberlain adapters and testing it out firsthand. Give me a follow on Instagram to keep tabs on this and my other tech testing!
Read more
Sleek and Smart: Nest Learning Thermostat Review
A smart thermostat is a device you’re not planning on upgrading year-to-year like some other tech. So when the time comes to pick one, you really want to choose right since you’ll be living with this decision for years!
The best remote ever made: Google TV Streamer review
The Google TV Streamer adds some AI touches to the familiar Google TV interface. But it redesigns the remote control in a very appealing way. For monitoring your smart home or binge watching series, the Google TV streamer will be right at home under your television.
It's getting old, but the EpiqVision Mini EF12 is still great!
For home movie nights, wall-filling gaming sessions, or even a family slideshow, there's one portable projector that I recommend above all others. While it's getting old, Epson's Mini EF12 is great value for your money.