A criteria-based messaging method for use with a vehicle email notification system in which triggers are used to initiate the generation and transmission of email messages that provide diverse types of dynamic vehicle information to the owner or other authorized subscriber. The email notifications are triggered by different events, some of which are independent of the vehicle (e.g., a monthly trigger), and others of which occur at the vehicle, such as a mileage or low oil life trigger. The notification system builds and sends to the subscriber an email message that contains the dynamic vehicle information and identifies any detected vehicle condition for which action is needed. The vehicle data is also compared to predefined criteria which, if met, result in an alternative notification message (text message, voice message, etc.) being sent to the recipient by an alternative means such as a phone call to the vehicle.