I read this disturbing article:
I know at least one of the members reading this does not have a subscription and cannot read the article, however, if you sign up with the newspaper, giving them your email address, you can read up to 10 articles per month free - no subscription*. I have no doubt this story will have been shared with other news outlets by now so you can probably find it via a google search if you don't want to read the original article.
The gist of the article is new cars, especially those made by Honda, GM, Kia, Hyundai are internet enabled and they are collecting data about how you accelerate, brake, and travel at speeds over 80 mph. The automakers then sell this data to LexisNexis and Verisk (a data collector who sells it to the insurance industry). Some of this data is sold with your agreement to the privacy policy you agreed to when you bought the car. Other people will inadvertently give insurance companies permission when you allow them to investigate your accident history upon shopping for insurance. Some people have had the data collected because GM salesmen get commissions if they sell the OnStar and other programs and simply turn them on. The article describes a number of people who had massive increases in the cost of their insurance, including one Corvette owner who took his new car to a racetrack for a 'track day'.
One industry expert who studied the privacy policies to which we agree for 25 auto manufacturers said that it is impossible for lay people to understand what is in these agreements.
This is a very simplified description of the article. If your car is newer than a 2019, you might want to check into some of the things mentioned in the article. Links are also given so that owners can access their LexisNexis report (much like a credit report).
*This was the policy a couple of years ago.
I know at least one of the members reading this does not have a subscription and cannot read the article, however, if you sign up with the newspaper, giving them your email address, you can read up to 10 articles per month free - no subscription*. I have no doubt this story will have been shared with other news outlets by now so you can probably find it via a google search if you don't want to read the original article.
The gist of the article is new cars, especially those made by Honda, GM, Kia, Hyundai are internet enabled and they are collecting data about how you accelerate, brake, and travel at speeds over 80 mph. The automakers then sell this data to LexisNexis and Verisk (a data collector who sells it to the insurance industry). Some of this data is sold with your agreement to the privacy policy you agreed to when you bought the car. Other people will inadvertently give insurance companies permission when you allow them to investigate your accident history upon shopping for insurance. Some people have had the data collected because GM salesmen get commissions if they sell the OnStar and other programs and simply turn them on. The article describes a number of people who had massive increases in the cost of their insurance, including one Corvette owner who took his new car to a racetrack for a 'track day'.
One industry expert who studied the privacy policies to which we agree for 25 auto manufacturers said that it is impossible for lay people to understand what is in these agreements.
This is a very simplified description of the article. If your car is newer than a 2019, you might want to check into some of the things mentioned in the article. Links are also given so that owners can access their LexisNexis report (much like a credit report).
*This was the policy a couple of years ago.