Cars used to know how to get you home. Now they know everyone in your contacts, every text you got while driving, the code to your garage and the address you typed in last March when you had that thing. Your car is a database. Most drivers have no idea.
I typed my VIN into a free site and got the rundown on mine. So can you. Takes 90 seconds.
Cars sold since 2018 are basically smartphones with seats. They store everything you tap. They share with anyone who asks. And nobody told you when you bought it.
🚗 The site that snitches for you
It’s called Vehicle Privacy Report. Free. No sign-up. Punch in your VIN, the 17-digit number on your dashboard or insurance card.
It tells you three things: what data your car collects, who it shares it with (insurance companies, advertisers, manufacturers, “law enforcement when requested”) and whether your dealer can wipe the info before you trade the vehicle in.
The FTC slapped GM and OnStar in January with a five-year ban on selling driver behavior data to consumer reporting agencies. One small win. The rest of the industry? Still fair game.
My car has Spotify paired and shares location data with my insurer. None of that surprised me. But the report flagged three things I didn’t know: A garage code was still saved from a 2024 rental, my driving routes are sold to data brokers, and the previous owner’s data was still on the system when I bought it.
🚨 5 steps before you get rid of a car
Nine out of 10 dealers promise they’ll wipe customer data from trade-ins. But studies show 8 out of 10 used cars on lots have prior users’ home addresses, garage codes, contacts and text messages stored.
- Run your VIN at vehicleprivacyreport.com.
- Open your car’s infotainment, usually found under Settings > Privacy or Connected Services > Delete All Personal Information.
- Factory reset the system.
- Disconnect the car from the manufacturer’s app (FordPass, myChevrolet, MyHyundai). Resetting the dashboard doesn’t break that tether.
- Unpair your phone from Bluetooth.
If you’re trading in, demand a certificate of deletion from the dealer. Most deletions take 90 seconds. If your dealer says no, walk.
📩 Send this to someone who is trading in or selling their car. The links below make the magic happen.