Drivers who are sticking with their used vehicles rather than upgrading to one of the many new cars for sale might feel left out of the latest technological upgrades, like OnStar. The popular safety product has proven to be a major selling point for General Motors vehicles, but drivers who had outdated or non-GM cars have been unable to utilize the service.

That's about to change, as GM has announced plans to offer a standalone retail OnStar product in 2011 – for a price. Through an exclusive partnership with Best Buy, the company will offer a $299 OnStar mirror, designed to replace driver's current rear-view mirror and allow the driver to control the system.

In addition to the money for the mirror, drivers will also have to pay an installation fee ($75 to $100), although there may be a self-install option. Finally, activating the service requires a subscription, with plans starting at $18.95 per month.

"For years, thousands of drivers have asked us to get OnStar in vehicles that didn't feature it as standard," said OnStar President Chris Preuss. "It represents a quantum leap forward in our plans to grow our business and provide a strong new revenue base for GM and OnStar from which we can further develop our core offerings in the factory-equipped market."