Cancel Motortrend: The Right Way

How to cancel MotorTrend in australia and reclaim control of your subscription

Why you might want to cancel MotorTrend

MotorTrend delivers automotive reviews, features and video content to motoring enthusiasts across Australia through multiple channels: its standalone mobile app, digital magazines and partnerships with streaming platforms like discovery+ and Max. If your subscription has migrated between platforms without your explicit consent, or you've simply stopped watching the content, you have every right to cancel.

Many Australians hold subscriptions they've forgotten about. Your payment method continues to renew automatically on the billing date unless you take action to stop it. This is exactly where Tocancel steps in: to help you identify where your money goes and cancel before the next charge arrives.

Understanding subscription migration

MotorTrend+ was discontinued, and much of its video library moved to discovery+ and Max. If you subscribed to the original MotorTrend+ service, the company may have transferred your account automatically to one of these platforms. This transition creates real confusion: you believe you cancelled MotorTrend, yet you continue to receive charges from discovery+ or Max instead. Identifying which service is actually billing you matters enormously for refunds and your rights under Australian Consumer Law.

Subscription creep costs real money

Auto-renewal clauses are standard across streaming services. MotorTrend subscriptions renew on your billing date every month or year unless you cancel beforehand. Missing that window means you pay for content you do not watch. Your legal right to cancel exists from the moment you subscribe, and Tocancel empowers you to exercise that right on your own terms, not the company's renewal schedule.

MotorTrend subscription plans and pricing in australia

Your subscription plan and billing channel determine which cancellation method you must use.

Identify your billing party before you act

Log into your bank statement or credit card account online and search for charges from the past three months. Look for entries labelled "MotorTrend," "DISCOVERY+," "MAX," "APPLE.COM," "GOOGLE.COM" or the name of any digital magazine distributor. Write down the exact company name and the amount charged each time. This company is your cancellation target. Your bank statement is your proof, and Tocancel recommends you keep a screenshot before you proceed.

Your legal rights under australian consumer law

Australian Consumer Law protects you when you cancel a subscription and grants you specific remedies if the company refuses to honour your request.

The australian consumer law and your cancellation rights

The Australian Consumer Law, enforced by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), states that traders must not engage in misleading or deceptive conduct. This means MotorTrend and any platform that bills you must:

• Provide a clear, straightforward cancellation method
• Honour your cancellation request without delay
• Stop charging your payment method on or before your next renewal date
• Refund charges incurred after you cancelled, if you request them within a reasonable timeframe
• Not make it deliberately harder to cancel than it is to subscribe

If the company makes cancellation difficult, charges you after you cancelled, or ignores your request, you have grounds to lodge a complaint with the ACCC. Your legal position is strong: you own the decision to pay or to stop paying.

Consumer guarantees and cooling-off periods

For digital services, Australian Consumer Law provides a basic consumer guarantee that services must be rendered with due care and skill. If MotorTrend content is unavailable, the app crashes repeatedly or the service does not match what was promised, you may be entitled to a refund. Additionally, if you subscribed online, you have a right to cancel within 14 days without needing to provide a reason (the "cooling-off period"), provided MotorTrend did not make clear at the point of purchase that this right does not apply. If you are within 14 days of your subscription start date, Tocancel recommends you invoke this right immediately.

How to cancel MotorTrend: step-by-step for each platform

Your cancellation method depends on where you subscribed and who bills you. Follow the steps for your specific platform below.

Cancel MotorTrend via the mobile app (iOS and android)

If you subscribed directly through the MotorTrend app on your phone, your subscription is billed by Apple App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android), not by MotorTrend itself. You must cancel through the app store that charged you.

For iPhone and iPad (Apple App Store):

1. Open the Settings app on your device
2. Tap your name at the top of the screen
3. Tap "Subscriptions"
4. Locate and tap "MotorTrend"
5. Tap "Cancel subscription"
6. Follow the prompts to confirm cancellation
7. Check your email for a confirmation receipt from Apple within 24 hours

For Android (Google Play Store):

1. Open the Google Play app on your device
2. Tap your profile icon in the top-right corner
3. Tap "Manage subscriptions"
4. Select "MotorTrend"
5. Tap "Cancel subscription"
6. Choose your cancellation reason and tap "Continue"
7. Confirm by tapping "Yes, cancel"
8. Expect a confirmation email within 24 hours

Cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing cycle. You will retain access until that date, after which your app access stops and charges cease. Keep your confirmation email as proof; Tocancel advises you screenshot it immediately.

Cancel MotorTrend via discovery+ or max

If your MotorTrend content migrated to discovery+ or Max, you will be billed by Warner Bros. Discovery, not by MotorTrend directly. Log into the service where you see the charge and follow these steps.

Cancelling discovery+ (web):

1. Visit the discovery+ website and log in
2. Click your profile icon in the top-right corner
3. Select "Account settings" or "Manage subscription"
4. Locate "Subscription plan" or "Billing"
5. Click "Cancel subscription" or "Change plan"
6. Select your reason for cancellation
7. Confirm the cancellation
   • Do not click "Resume later" unless you intend to restart the subscription
8. You will receive a confirmation email confirming your end date

Cancelling Max (web):

1. Go to Max.com and sign in
2. Click your profile icon (often in the top-left or top-right)
3. Select "Account"
4. Under "Plan & billing" or "Subscription," click "Manage plan"
5. Select "Cancel plan"
6. Review the final billing date and click "Cancel"
7. Confirm your choice one final time
8. Check your email for a cancellation confirmation

Your access to Max or discovery+ (and all MotorTrend content on that platform) ends on your stated end date. No further charges will appear after that date. Tocancel recommends you set a calendar reminder one week before the end date as a double-check.

Cancel MotorTrend via a third-party digital magazine distributor

If you subscribed to MotorTrend magazine through Magzter, Apple News+ or another distributor, you will cancel through that distributor's account settings.

For Magzter:

1. Log into your Magzter account
2. Click "My Account" or your profile name
3. Select "My Subscriptions"
4. Find "MotorTrend" in your list
5. Click "Cancel subscription"
6. Confirm your reason and your choice
7. You will receive a confirmation email

For Apple News+:

1. On your iPhone, iPad or Mac, open Settings
2. Tap or click your name, then "Subscriptions"
3. Locate "Apple News+"
4. Tap "Cancel subscription"
5. Confirm your cancellation

Cancellation through a third-party distributor ends your access and billing with that distributor only. If you have a separate MotorTrend app subscription or a discovery+ subscription, you must cancel those independently.

Cancel a legacy MotorTrend+ subscription (direct billing)

If you originally subscribed to MotorTrend+ before it was discontinued and your subscription has not migrated to discovery+ or Max, you may need to cancel directly with MotorTrend. Contact MotorTrend's support team via the contact form at motortrend.com/contact-us. Provide your full name, subscription email address and a clear statement: "I request immediate cancellation of my MotorTrend+ subscription, effective today." Tocancel recommends you send this request from the email address attached to your subscription and keep a copy of your request for your records. MotorTrend should respond within 5 to 7 business days with confirmation that your subscription has ended.

Refunds and what to expect after cancellation

Understand your refund rights and what happens to your access and billing once you cancel.

When you are entitled to a refund

You have a right to a refund in the following situations:

• Within 14 days of purchase: You may request a full refund under the cooling-off period, even if you have used the service, provided the cooling-off right was not excluded at the point of sale
• Service not fit for purpose: If MotorTrend content is unavailable, the app is non-functional or the service does not match what was advertised, you may claim a refund for the affected period
• Unauthorised charges: If you were charged after you cancelled or without your consent, you are entitled to a full refund of those charges
• Company error: If the company double-charged you or charged you incorrectly, they must refund the error immediately

To request a refund, contact the company that billed you (Apple, Google, discovery+, Max or the direct MotorTrend support team) with your subscription details and a clear explanation of why you believe you are entitled to a refund. Include your bank statement or transaction receipt as proof. Most companies will respond within 10 to 14 business days. If they refuse, you can lodge a complaint with the ACCC or escalate through your bank's chargeback or dispute process. Tocancel has helped thousands of consumers recover unauthorised charges by following this exact approach.

What happens to your access after cancellation

Your access to MotorTrend ends on your stated cancellation date (usually the end of your current billing cycle). You will no longer be able to log into the app, stream content or access your magazine subscriptions after that date. Any saved content, watch history or preferences may be deleted. If you ever resubscribe, you will need to create a new account or sign back in, and the company may charge you a new subscription fee. Do not assume your old account will be remembered. Tocancel recommends you download or screenshot any content you wish to keep before your final access date.

Stopping your payment method from being charged

Cancelling your subscription stops the company from charging you, but your payment method remains on file with the app store or platform. If you wish to remove your card or payment details completely, you must also update your account settings with the billing party:

• Apple App Store: Go to Settings > Your Name > Payment & Shipping and remove your card or choose "None"
• Google Play Store: Open the Play Store > Profile > Payments and subscriptions > Payment methods, then delete your card
• discovery+ or Max: Log into your account, go to Billing, and update or remove your saved payment method

Removing your payment method offers an extra layer of protection against accidental recharges or phishing attempts. Tocancel advises you treat this step as your final safeguard.

Common mistakes that delay or prevent cancellation

Many people cancel incorrectly and find themselves charged again the next month. Learn how to avoid these traps.

Mistake 1: cancelling through the wrong platform

The biggest error is cancelling through your app or account without checking where your payment method is charged. If you subscribed via the Apple App Store, cancelling the app itself does nothing; Apple will still charge you on renewal. You must cancel within Apple's Settings, not within the MotorTrend app. Similarly, if your subscription migrated to discovery+, cancelling the MotorTrend app will not stop charges from Warner Bros. Discovery. Always identify your actual billing party first, then cancel there. Tocancel's approach is to check your bank statement, find the exact company name on your charge, and cancel with that company only.

Mistake 2: confusing "pause" or "suspend" with cancellation

Some platforms offer a "pause subscription" or "suspend for later" option. This is not cancellation. Your subscription remains active, and you will be charged again when the pause period ends. If you want to stop all charges permanently, select "Cancel subscription," not "Pause." The wording matters; read every confirmation screen carefully.

Mistake 3: not saving your confirmation email

If the company later claims they never received your cancellation request or charges you again, your confirmation email is your only proof. Take a screenshot of every cancellation confirmation and save it in a folder on your computer or in your email permanently. Tocancel has helped dozens of consumers recover unauthorised post-cancellation charges by presenting this proof to their bank.

Mistake 4: assuming the app auto-closes after cancellation

Your app will still open and may show your remaining access days. This does not mean the cancellation failed. You will retain access until the end of your final billing cycle, and charges will stop after that date. A logged-out app or a "subscription expired" message appears only after your final date has passed.

Timeline: what to expect after you cancel MotorTrend

Here is what you should see in the days and weeks after you submit your cancellation request.

What to do if MotorTrend refuses to cancel or charges you after cancellation

Occasionally, a company ignores your cancellation or continues to charge you. You have legal remedies, and Tocancel strongly encourages you to use them.

Step 1: document everything

Save every email, screenshot and bank statement related to your cancellation attempt and any post-cancellation charges. Write down the dates you attempted to cancel, the method you used and the response (or lack thereof) you received. This documentation is your evidence.

Step 2: contact the company in writing

Email the company (or the platform that bills you) with the subject line "Cancellation Not Processed: Refund Request." Include your subscription details, the date you cancelled, your confirmation email or screenshot and proof of any unauthorised charges. Request a response within 7 business days. Send this email from the address linked to your subscription and keep a copy in your records.

Step 3: involve your bank

If the company does not respond or refuses to refund unauthorised charges, contact your bank and request a chargeback or dispute on the unauthorised transactions. Provide your bank with your cancellation confirmation, the company's refusal to refund and your evidence of the post-cancellation charges. Your bank will investigate and typically side with you if you can show you cancelled in good faith.

Step 4: lodge a complaint with the ACCC

If your bank dispute fails or the company ignores you, lodge a formal complaint with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) at accc.gov.au. The ACCC has the power to investigate misleading billing practices and can force the company to refund you and cease the illegal behaviour. Tocancel advises you include all your documentation: cancellation confirmations, emails, bank statements and the timeline of charges. The ACCC takes subscription auto-renewal complaints seriously and will act on clear evidence.

Your legal position in dispute

Under Australian Consumer Law, the company must honour your cancellation and cease charging you. If they refuse without legal grounds, they are in breach of the law. You are not alone in this, and the ACCC backs consumers in these disputes. Do not give up; escalate until the company complies or a regulator intervenes on your behalf.

Checklist: before, during and after cancellation

Use this checklist to ensure you cancel correctly and protect yourself.

Contact MotorTrend support if you need help cancelling

If you cannot locate the cancellation option on your platform or need additional help, contact MotorTrend directly.

MotorTrend contact options:

• Email support form: motortrend.com/contact-us
• In your request, include your full name, subscription email address and the date you wish to cancel
• State clearly: "I request immediate cancellation of my MotorTrend subscription effective today"
• Keep a copy of your request and await a response within 5 to 7 business days

If you are also dealing with discovery+, Max or an app store, contact those platforms directly using the methods outlined in the cancellation steps above. Tocancel recommends you contact all three if your subscription spans multiple platforms.

Summary: your right to cancel and take action today

Cancelling MotorTrend is straightforward once you identify where your payment comes from. Your rights under Australian Consumer Law are clear: you can cancel any subscription at any time, and the company must honour your request without delay or difficulty. Auto-renewal is legal, but misleading you about cancellation is not.

Follow these steps to cancel correctly:

1. Check your bank statement to find who bills you
2. Cancel through that specific company (Apple, Google, discovery+, Max or MotorTrend direct)
3. Save your confirmation email and screenshot
4. Verify no charges appear after your final date
5. If charged unlawfully, dispute through your bank or lodge a complaint with the ACCC

You own your subscription decision. Do not let a company's renewal schedule control your wallet. Tocancel has helped thousands of consumers cancel subscriptions like MotorTrend and recover unauthorised charges by following this exact process. Your cancellation can be completed today, and your final charge will end on your stated end date. Take control, cancel with confidence, and contact Tocancel if you need further guidance or support navigating this process.