Car Data Privacy: Is Your Car Spying On You?

Modern car technology presents data privacy issues.

We all know cars are getting smarter—but are they getting a little too smart for our own good? In this blog, we’re taking a deep dive into the world of modern car technology and asking a question most people haven’t even thought to ask: Is your car spying on you?

If you drive something made in the last ten years, chances are your vehicle is doing more than just taking you from point A to point B. It's tracking, storing, and possibly sharing a lot of personal information. As a lifelong car expert and someone with a background in IT, I absolutely geek out over cutting-edge technology. But I also know just enough about software and data privacy to be thoroughly creeped out by what’s happening behind the wheel.

Why I Still Drive My 2004 Mini Cooper

I drive a 2004 Mini Cooper S named Maggie. She’s got 140,000 miles, her original clutch (barely), and absolutely zero "smart" features. No Bluetooth. No touchscreens. Just me, a stick shift, and three pedals. And I like it that way.

Modern cars might be more convenient and safer, thanks to advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), built-in apps, and Wi-Fi hotspots. But all that tech comes at a price—and I’m not just talking about the sticker. The real cost could be your privacy.

From Convenience to Surveillance

Today’s vehicles collect two types of data:

• Technical data (battery levels, tire pressure, engine diagnostics)

• Personal data (location, contacts, voice recordings, driving habits)

That personal data? It often gets scooped up the moment you sync your phone to your car or use the vehicle’s infotainment system.

Manufacturers use vague language in their privacy notices, which most of us breeze through and accept without reading. And that single tap of the "I agree" button often gives carmakers the green light to share or sell your data to third parties—including insurance companies, advertisers, and even law enforcement.

What the Mozilla Foundation Found

The Mozilla Foundation (the folks behind Firefox) reviewed 25 popular car brands in 2023 and gave every single one a failing grade for privacy. In fact, they called modern cars a "privacy nightmare."

Some lowlights:

• 84% share your data with third parties

• 76% sell your data to data brokers

• 56% will hand it over to authorities without a warrant

And Tesla? Unsurprisingly, it ranked among the worst.

What Kind of Data Are We Talking About?

Let’s get specific. Your car could be collecting:

• Location and travel history

• Driving behavior (speeding, braking, cornering - this is where I would be in trouble)

• Voice commands

• Phone contacts and call history

• Navigation history (hello, home address)

• Biometric data (facial recognition, fingerprint scans)

• Video and audio from in-cabin cameras and mics

Some vehicles even monitor your heart rate through sensors in the steering wheel. That’s not a car, that’s a cardiologist on wheels.

Who Has Access?

You might assume this data stays between you and the car manufacturer. But thanks to bundled consent policies, third-party vendors (like SiriusXM, OnStar, Alexa), dealerships, and even your insurance provider can access your data.

There’s even a term for it now: data monetization. It’s a multi-billion-dollar business.

Real-World Consequences

It’s not just about creepy ads following you around. Your driving data could:

• Increase your insurance premiums

• Affect your eligibility for a loan

• Be used against you in legal proceedings

• Be accessed by an abusive partner or stalker

In one high-profile lawsuit, a Florida man sued GM and OnStar after they shared his driving data without consent, resulting in astronomical insurance rates—despite his clean driving record.

What Are the Laws Doing?

Not much. The U.S. lags far behind the EU when it comes to data privacy regulations. California has some of the strictest state-level protections, but enforcement is difficult against global auto manufacturers.

The Federal Trade Commission opened investigations in 2024, but many have since been rolled back. Bottom line: you’re on your own when it comes to protecting your privacy.

What You Can Do

• Drive an older car (like my trusty Mini Maggie)

• Avoid syncing your phone unless absolutely necessary

• Don’t use voice assistants or car-connected apps

• Factory reset your infotainment system before selling or trading in your car

• Read the car brand’s privacy policy before buying

• Delete user profiles and personal data from rentals

And please, never store passwords, home addresses, or garage codes in your vehicle’s system.

Final Thoughts

The convenience of today’s car tech is undeniable. But the tradeoff is real. If you wouldn’t want your boss, your ex, or an advertiser riding in the back seat while you drive, maybe think twice about how much data your car collects.

It’s time to stop treating cars like simple machines and start thinking of them as mobile data hubs. Because that’s exactly what they’ve become.

🎧 Want to hear the full conversation on this topic? Listen to the original podcast episode, “Is Your Car Spying on You?” over on The Straight Shift Podcast. Buckle up—this one’s a wild ride.