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June 12, 2025 — Millions of Americans could be having their driving behavior sold to insurance companies without ever clicking an "I agree" button. After Texas accused Allstate of collecting location data from 45 million trips and regulators charged GM and OnStar with handing driving habits to data brokers, consumer pressure has forced the industry to defend how it handles connected-car data. Here is what you need to know about who has your driving data, why your rate may have changed, and how to fight back.
Data brokers such as LexisNexis Risk Solutions and Verisk have amassed trip-by-trip driving profiles on millions of drivers. The data often flows from automakers and connected-car apps to analytics firms, then to insurers that use it when pricing or renewing policies. Drivers who never signed up for a "telematics" or "usage-based" program have still seen their premiums rise because of these records.
"When drivers learned what GM was doing, the next question was obvious: who else is passing along our data?" says attorney Sean Chalaki. "Insurers can generally use driving data if you agree, but many drivers never realize they agreed to anything."
The information in these files can be strikingly detailed. According to Shammi Thakur, research director at Vyansa Intelligence, shared data can include:
That data can be tied to a specific person through the vehicle identification number (VIN), an insurance policy number, a smartphone, or a connected-car account.
Built-in telematics. More than 93 percent of new cars sold in North America ship with embedded connectivity that can record driving. Most automakers share this data with third parties under lengthy privacy policies.
Infotainment systems. Pairing a phone via Bluetooth or USB can give the car access to contacts, call logs, texts, photos, and location data.
Smartphone apps. Many automaker and insurer apps request location and driving permissions. Android and iOS devices also build movement profiles that apps can tap into.
Event data recorders (EDRs). These devices log crash-related information like speed and airbag deployment. They do not transmit continuously and are not used for ongoing insurance monitoring.
A "driving score" is a grade built from hard braking, rapid acceleration, speeding, mileage, and late-night trips. Even if you have never filed a claim, that score can move your premium at renewal.
According to Chalaki, the chain usually works like this: connected services in the car or an app collect raw driving data; the automaker or app company sends it to an analytics firm; the analytics firm converts it into a score or report; and carriers request that report when you apply or renew.
Verisk and LexisNexis remain the two most influential data brokers in the insurance ecosystem. Verisk has stopped accepting connected-vehicle data directly from automakers and no longer provides driving-data reports to carriers. LexisNexis, however, continues to market telematics products to insurers, combining opt-in mobile tracking with official motor vehicle records.
"We hear it all the time: 'My rate went up and I never filed a claim,'" says Rami Sneineh, co-president of Insurance Navy Brokers in Palos Hills, Illinois. "There are ways to find out why, but it takes legwork."
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you are entitled to a free LexisNexis consumer disclosure report every 12 months. It can include past addresses, property records, judgments, liens, bankruptcies, and professional licenses. A separate FACT Act report — sometimes called the C.L.U.E. report — shows your auto and property claims history.
You can also submit a free FACT Act request to Verisk to obtain your auto and property claims history once a year. If your rate jumped for no apparent reason, requesting these reports is the fastest way to discover whether driving-behavior data was used.
The legal landscape shifted sharply in early 2025. The Texas attorney general sued Allstate and its Arity subsidiary for allegedly collecting and selling location and movement data from more than 45 million trips without proper consent. Around the same time, the Federal Trade Commission targeted General Motors and OnStar over the sale of precise location and driving-behavior data, with the proposed settlement requiring the companies to delete certain data and get clear consent before future collection.
The fallout has been broader. Consumer advocates argue that automakers bury data-sharing consent inside privacy policies no one reads, while insurers treat driving scores as a black box. "If inaccurate data produced a higher premium or a denied policy, an attorney can help you assert your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act," Chalaki says.
You have more control than you think. Try these steps in order:
Check your dashboard. Look for submenus labeled Connectivity, Data Sharing, or Privacy. Many cars let you toggle off driving analytics, location history, and third-party sharing. Understand that some features, like live traffic or navigation updates, may stop working.
Visit your automaker's privacy portal. Most manufacturers have an online page where you can limit data use. Read what each toggle disables before changing it. If you use a brand app for remote start or vehicle status, review the app's privacy settings and turn off features labeled "Smart Driver," "Usage-Based Insurance," or "Driving Insights."
Rethink telematics enrollment. Discounts can be real, but ask one question before signing: "Can this program ever raise my premium?" Some plans only offer discounts; others can bump your rate at renewal based on risk scores.
Dispute bad records. Request your LexisNexis and Verisk disclosure reports. If a record is wrong, send a written dispute to the data company and copy your insurer or agent.
Escalate to your insurer. Once corrections are made, ask your carrier to re-rate your policy with updated information.
File a complaint. If the dispute is not resolved, contact the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or your state's Department of Insurance.
For safe, low-mileage drivers, telematics can deliver genuine savings. For others, the same data can quietly raise costs. Thakur expects drivers to gain stronger controls: "The driver will increasingly be able to see the data, choose the recipient, approve a specific purpose, and stop access."
Until then, the best defense is reading the fine print — in your car, in your apps, and in your connected services. Treating your data like a driving record is no longer paranoid; it is just smart.
Is my car sharing data with my insurance company right now?
If you enrolled in a telematics program, yes. If you did not, it still may be happening indirectly through automakers or data brokers. Check the connected-service and privacy settings on your dashboard, review your automaker's privacy portal, and ask your insurer directly.
How do I get my LexisNexis driving report?
Request the free consumer disclosure report online or by mail. You are entitled to one copy every 12 months under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Ask separately for the FACT Act (C.L.U.E.) report to see your claims history.
Can I stop data collection completely?
You can reduce it: disable dashboard data-sharing toggles, turn off app permissions, and opt out of automaker privacy programs. However, blocking all collection may disable services like remote start, navigation, or emergency assistance.
