Your car could be ratting you out to your insurance company

[SunSeeker]

The day before Philip Siefke went shopping for a new car insurance policy, he happened to hit his brakes hard while driving. Not 24 hours later, when he priced a policy with Progressive, he was shocked to find the insurer already knew about that mundane experience.

“I’m like, how the eff did they have my information?” Siefke said. “I was pissed.”

He called Progressive and demanded to know how the insurer had such detailed information about his driving habits. The information came from Toyota, a rep explained to the incredulous Siefke.
...
Most people have no idea they’re agreeing to the sale of their data, said John Yanchunis, an attorney at Morgan and Morgan whom Siefke hired to sue Toyota, Progressive and a third party-data provider in April 2025.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/19/business/automakers-selling-driving-data-to-insurance



After reading this I went on my Ford App and my son's Toyota app and after finding the privacy tab, deleted third party data sharing permission we had inadvertently given when buying the cars. So annoying that corporations get away with this shit! 😡

[PJMcK]

1. I had a similar story

When I got a new car, the insurance company offered a discount if I agreed to their monitoring system. Problems arose immediately. We live in a rural area with lots of wildlife that can jump out into the roads quickly. On my way home, I had to brake suddenly twice to avoid deer that sprinted into the road.

When I got home, I looked at my insurance report to discover that they had recorded two sudden braking indicating sloppy driving. When I spoke to the insurance company, they told me that the reasons for my sudden braking were irrelevant and they would both go on my record for the company’s evaluation of my driving.

I cancelled the monitoring system immediately. It was better to pay a little more now than a lot more later. Fuck off, big brother.

[SunSeeker]

2. Good for you! I'm glad you shut them off.

We had no idea we were being tracked. Fucking insurance companies!

[mucifer]

3. I have a friend who told me about a very violent crime against her family member

Some of the evidence used in the court case to convict was from VERY specific information gathered from the car monitoring system including which doors were opened at exactly what time. Things like that.

[gay texan]

4. This is why i drive 1960's through 1990's vehicles

Cheap and private

[mtngirl47]

5. Yep me too.

Old like me 😎

[Cheezoholic]

9. And their mostly easy to work on yourself

90% of issues in new cars are electronic parts, mostly sensors. Sure YOU can replace them but the car won't work unless you take it to a dealer and get the computer reprogrammed for an outrageous hit. Replaced an oxygen sensor on a 2022 Ford. 60 bucks for the part, an hour for me. 250 for the dealer to reprogram because the car ran like shit. Took them 5 minutes. Insane.

[mitch96]

6. In a previous post I mentioned I found a tracker in my new"ish" car..The dealer said it was for inventory tracking..

I call bullßhit.. I have progressive also and use their monitoring system. I don't drive much and with the geezers in my area panic stops are a way of life. I get 4 stars out of 5 b/c of panic stops.. I recently got a $300 reduction in my premium for "good driving" uff what bullßhit.. For panic stops I have a dash cam that records panic stops with time/date.
I would love to find an insurance company that gives a discount but does not use a tracker. If I have to stop quickly b/c of a biker, geezer, animal I want a commendation for avoiding an accident, not dinged for a panic stop..
HEY PROGRESSIVE, I SAVED YOU MONEY!!!!!!!

[Tree Lady]

7. My insurance guy keeps pushing the monitoring

System says I get discount but I know they use it as excuse to raise rates big time every tiny thing you do so I always say no.

[hunter]

8. In general we are signing our right to privacy away for trinkets.

It's bad enough that I'm forced to own a car in this society to be considered a fully functional adult. I drive a vehicle that isn't equipped to call its maker and it doesn't have any distracting computer screens; just gauges and idiot lights. The computer it has is just smart enough to run the engine and no more.

I hate cell phones too. I have the most primitive 4GLTE compatible flip phone I could find. I use it mostly as a phone. Sometimes I send and receive texts. It doesn't have any "apps." I turn it off or leave it at home when I don't want to be bothered.

[Danmel]

10. I got a report of rapid acceleration

It said I should leave more time to get to my destination. I'm guessing none of them had ever tried to merge onto the Northern State Parkway with its notoriously short entrance ramps.