Title: Drivers Shocked to Discover Automakers Sharing Driving Data with Insurance Companies
Kenn Dahl, a careful driver and owner of a software company near Seattle, was surprised when his car insurance cost jumped by 21 percent in 2022. Despite never being responsible for an accident, he found out that his driving data was being shared with insurance companies without his knowledge.
Upon requesting a consumer disclosure report from LexisNexis, Mr. Dahl discovered over 130 pages detailing his driving habits, including the dates, times, distances, and driving behaviors of each trip taken in his Chevy Bolt. The data was provided by General Motors, the manufacturer of the vehicle, and analyzed by LexisNexis to create a risk score for insurers.
Many drivers, including Mr. Dahl, were enrolled in OnStar Smart Driver, a feature within G.M.’s connected car apps that tracks and rates driving habits. Despite claims that the program helps drivers become safer, many were unaware of their enrollment or the sharing of their data with data brokers like LexisNexis and Verisk.
The practice of sharing driving data with insurance companies has raised concerns among policymakers and privacy advocates. Senator Edward Markey has urged the Federal Trade Commission to investigate, citing potential violations of consumer protection laws.
Automakers like General Motors, Kia, Subaru, and Mitsubishi have been contributing to data exchanges like LexisNexis’ “Telematics Exchange,” which collects real-world driving behavior from millions of vehicles. While some automakers claim to share limited data, others have been criticized for their lack of transparency and unclear consent processes.
Drivers who have discovered their data being shared without their knowledge have expressed frustration and concern. Some have vowed to sell their vehicles and never purchase from the automaker again.
To find out if your car is sharing your driving data, you can use tools like the Vehicle Privacy Report, check your connected car app settings, and request reports from data brokers like LexisNexis and Verisk. If you have experienced similar issues or have more information on this topic, you can contact the reporter at kashmir.hill@nytimes.com.
In a world where data privacy is increasingly important, the revelation of automakers sharing driving data with insurance companies without clear consent has sparked a debate on consumer rights and transparency in the automotive industry.
