GM $220M driver data settlement: what changes for car owners
GM will pay $220M to 36 states over Smart Driver data sold to brokers and insurers. What GM did, what the settlement requires and how drivers can respond.
General Motors agreed to pay $220 million to settle claims by a coalition of 36 state attorneys general that it sold drivers' location and driving-behavior data to third parties, including data brokers that passed it to insurers. The deal was announced on October 29, 2026, according to The Record; Washington Attorney General Nick Brown co-led the coalition.
What did GM do?
From 2016 through 2024, GM allegedly enrolled millions of people in its Smart Driver program, mostly at dealerships alongside OnStar sign-up. Staff earned bonuses for enrollments. Data on precise location, driving behavior and seat-belt use went to brokers — LexisNexis and Verisk, per the original New York Times report cited by TechCrunch — and on to insurers, potentially affecting premiums. States also say GM told more than 370,000 customers they weren't being monitored when they were enrolled. GM ended Smart Driver in 2024.
What does the settlement require?
- Affirmative express consent before collecting or sharing driving and location data.
- Data minimization and a comprehensive privacy program with internal and third-party assessments.
- Better dealership oversight and training.
GM said the deal “addresses Smart Driver, a product we ended in 2024” and that it no longer sells individual-linked vehicle data.
Earlier actions
The FTC finalized an order in January 2026 barring GM and OnStar from sharing certain consumer data. In May 2026, California AG Rob Bonta announced a $12.75 million settlement banning sales of driving data to consumer reporting agencies for five years and requiring deletion requests to Verisk and LexisNexis, per Spectrum News. A separate Texas lawsuit is ongoing.
What drivers can do
- Ask the dealer exactly what the car and app collect and who receives it.
- Review privacy settings in the automaker's app and opt out of driving-score programs.
- Ask your insurer what data sources it used if your premium rose unexpectedly.
- Ignore unsolicited “settlement payout” calls or links — scammers exploit headline settlements.
See our US state privacy law map, US regulation and the radar.
Source
- The Record — GM settles with 36 states for selling driver data, agrees to $220 million fine (29/10/2026)
- TechCrunch — GM reaches $220M settlement over selling drivers' private data (29/10/2026)
- Spectrum News — GM driver data California lawsuit settlement (08/05/2026)