Modern vehicles aren’t just machines anymore, they’re equipped with sensors, cameras, and connectivity that rival a smartphone in how much personal data they collect. That data collection has become a growing privacy concern for drivers who may not realize how much information their car is gathering.
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How Much Data Cars Actually Collect
Every driving habit, from steering inputs to braking patterns to trip destinations, can be logged by a modern vehicle’s onboard systems. According to a widely cited privacy study from Mozilla, automobiles have been ranked among the worst offenders for consumer data privacy, collecting information through onboard diagnostics, dash cameras, and connected mobile apps.
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Who Else Gets Access to This Data
It’s not just automakers collecting this information. Insurance companies, advertisers, and third-party data brokers have also gained access to driver behavior data in various cases. Earlier this year, General Motors received a five-year restriction from the Federal Trade Commission after regulators found the company had shared detailed driving behavior data, including speeding patterns and late-night trips, without adequate consumer consent.
Checking What Your Car Is Sharing
Drivers looking to understand what their own vehicle may be collecting can use services like Privacy4Cars, which allow owners to enter their VIN to check what kind of data, including location and driving behavior, their vehicle might be sharing with outside parties.
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Adjusting Your Privacy Settings
Some automakers, including Toyota, Ford, and BMW, offer privacy settings that let owners limit certain types of data sharing through in-vehicle menus or companion apps. It’s worth noting that disabling data sharing can sometimes come with tradeoffs, potentially limiting features like navigation assistance or remote start functionality.
Before You Sell or Trade In Your Car
Drivers preparing to sell or trade in a vehicle should take extra precautions beyond simply removing personal belongings. Performing a factory reset, disconnecting any paired phones, and notifying the manufacturer of the change in ownership can help ensure a previous owner’s data and driving history don’t carry over to the next driver.