First-Person Account
My Car Was Selling My Driving Data. I Had No Idea.
I was the original consumer plaintiff in a class action against Toyota and Progressive Insurance. CNN covered it nationally. Here's exactly what happened — and what it means for every driver in America.
As seen in
Ididn't go looking for a fight with two of the largest corporations in America. I noticed something strange on my insurance statement, pulled a thread, and ended up in federal court with coverage on CNN.
My Toyota RAV4 had been enrolled in a data-sharing program. Every time I hit the brakes hard, accelerated fast, or took a sharp corner — my car logged it. That data was packaged and sent to insurance companies. My rates reflected driving behavior I was never told was being tracked. The enrollment was disclosed in the setup terms.
"The system wasn't broken. It was working exactly as designed — just not for me."
What I Know Now That Most Drivers Don't
Your car likely has a data-sharing program active right now. Toyota, GM, Ford, Honda and most major manufacturers have connected vehicle programs. Many are opted-in by default at dealership setup.
Insurance companies buy this data. Progressive, LexisNexis, Verisk and others purchase driving behavior data. It affects your rate whether you know it or not.
You can opt out — but you have to know where to look. The opt-out is buried in apps, dealer portals, and account settings most owners never visit.
Data deletion is your legal right in many states. CCPA and similar laws give you the right to request deletion of your driving data. Most people never exercise it.
The 5-minute check reveals what's being shared. There's a manufacturer-specific process to find exactly what your vehicle is reporting and to whom.
Update — February 2026
The FTC finalized its first-ever connected vehicle data enforcement order in January 2026, targeting GM's OnStar for similar practices. Regulatory pressure is building — but enforcement lags years behind the data collection.
The Resource I Wish Existed When This Started
The Car Data Privacy Guide: Stop Your Vehicle From Raising Your Insurance Rates
Everything I learned through the legal process — manufacturer opt-out instructions, data deletion templates, and exactly how to find out what your car has already shared.
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