GM to pay $220 million to resolve claims it sold driving habits data

General Motors has agreed to pay $220 million to settle claims that it illegally sold driver and location information to data brokers, as reported earlier by Reuters. The agreement, which resolves a complaint from a coalition of 36 US attorneys general, requires GM to limit the driving data it collects and obtain “express consent” from drivers before collecting their information.

The allegations surround GM’s now-discontinued Smart Driver program, which collected data about driving habits, including acceleration, braking, and trip length. GM allegedly passed this information to data brokers, enabling insurance companies to purchase the data and raise premiums. The states also accused GM of failing to notify drivers that they were enrolled in its Smart Driver program, and that the carmaker was collecting their data.

“This agreement addresses Smart Driver, a product we ended in 2024, and reinforces steps we’ve taken to strengthen our privacy practices,” GM spokesperson Charlotte McCoy said in an emailed statement to The Verge. “Safer, more helpful and personalized experiences are enabled by connected vehicle data, and GM is committed to being clear about what information is used, how it’s protected, and the choices customers have about what they share.”

This settlement comes just months after GM agreed to pay $12.75 million to settle similar claims in California. Oregon AG Dan Rayfield and Washington AG Nick Brown co-led the states’ case against GM, which also included New York, Florida, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and many others.

“People bought a car, not a tracking device,” Rayfield says in a press release. “GM told drivers this program would help them drive more safely and promised it wouldn’t share their data with insurers without permission. Our investigation found GM sold that data anyway, and some drivers paid for it with higher premiums.”

Update, October 29th: Added a statement from GM.