Your Car's Data is Your Data—Why Automakers Are Still Locking It Away

While you drive, your car is spying on you—data from your every turn, brake, and mile is locked away by manufacturers, leaving owners and repair shops in the dark.

Automakers gate vehicle telemetry data behind secure restrictions, limiting access to owners and third-party repair shops. The Repair Act, introduced in 2025, would mandate data sharing for vehicle repairs but includes a preemption clause blocking stronger state laws.

CAR Coalition’s Justin Rzepka emphasized the bill’s focus: 'The Repair Act is specifically about repair, maintenance, calibration, and diagnostic information.'

Bill Hanvey of the Auto Care Association argued that automakers 'unilaterally control the data, not the owner of the vehicle.' Advocates claim current data access for repairs is inconsistent and monetized, despite automaker assertions of sufficient transparency.

Kyle Wiens of iFixit called the preemption clause a 'poison pill,' warning it stifles future repair legislation.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing addressed data access, safety, and automotive innovation. Proponents stress that vehicle data ownership should align with consumer rights, while automakers defend their control as necessary for security and innovation.