A method of selecting a wireless carrier system using a vehicle telematics unit includes identifying the system identity of a first base station with which a vehicle telematics unit is presently registered; detecting the presence of a second base station having a different system identity using the vehicle telematics unit; determining that the system identity of the first base station is preferred by the vehicle telematics unit with respect to the system identity of the second base station; and registering the vehicle telematics unit with the second base station when the signal strength of the second base station is greater than the signal strength of the first base station.