A BMW owner says he discovered that employees at a body shop he trusted with his vehicle took it for an unauthorized joyride while it was in their care for repairs, an incident documented by the car’s own onboard systems and tracking technology.
Modern vehicles collect significant data about their operation, including GPS coordinates, speed history, and in some cases video from cameras. The owner was able to review this data after picking up the vehicle and identified suspicious activity that occurred during the time it was at the shop.
The data showed the vehicle had been driven to locations unrelated to the repair facility at times outside of normal operating hours. Speed and acceleration data indicated the car had been operated aggressively rather than moved for legitimate shop purposes.
Unauthorized use of a customer’s vehicle is a criminal offense in most jurisdictions and potentially grounds for significant civil liability if the vehicle was damaged during the unauthorized operation or if the shop’s insurance does not cover off-premises use without owner consent.
The owner filed a complaint with local law enforcement and with the state licensing authority that oversees auto repair businesses. He also shared the documentation publicly, contributing to a discussion about how vehicle data empowers consumers to hold service providers accountable.