Cars today are full of convenience and new technology, capturing wide-ranging personal information in the process. General Motors Insurance, which first launched in Arizona, uses data collected from vehicles to customize insurance rates. Now, Texas is suing General Motors for allegedly collecting and selling over 1.5 million Texans’ private driving data to insurance companies without their knowledge or consent.

Collecting drivers’ information from their cars isn’t limited to General Motors. Driver rating systems on your car’s app may be sharing your information with data brokers, such as Honda’s “Driver Feedback” or Kia’s “Driving Score.” Make sure to call your insurance company to see how these apps may be impacting your premium.

A recent report by the Mozilla Foundation shines the light on privacy compromises individuals give up just by getting behind the wheel. It asserts that car brands have “quietly entered the data business by turning their vehicles into powerful data-gobbling machines.” The report goes on to state that the car brands they researched use their built-in apps to collect personal information about the connected services one uses in their car including medical information, how fast one drives, where one drives, what songs one plays and genetic information.

Here’s the kicker, according to Mozilla 84% of the 25 brands they researched say they can share a driver’s personal data with service providers like data brokers and 76% say they can sell that data. Moreover, 56% of these brands say they can share information collected by the car with government agencies in response to an informal request. Mozilla says that only two of the brands it researched say that drivers have the right to have their personal data deleted.

In Arizona, over 98% of those who are 16 or older have their driver’s license. With so many drivers, it’s crucial to be responsible and aware of what we can do to manage our data in the cars we drive.

–        Consider someone who rents a car and connects their phone for access to apps, contacts, music, etc. Many of us do this without thinking about it because we like the convenience. But, unless one deletes that data before you return the car, the FTC says future renters or rental car employees may be able to see it. The FTC recommends that if a phone is connected to a rented vehicle, that the driver pay attention to screens that allow the driver to specify which types of information the system can access.

–        For those renting or borrowing another car where they have connected their phone, the FTC suggests deleting the device from the vehicle’s system settings.

–        For those who own a car and decide to sell it privately or trade it in, reset the system to factory settings, remove Bluetooth pairings, delete contacts, and clear GPS data and login information.

–        Check the privacy options in your car’s apps and infotainment system. Under settings labeled “Data Privacy” or “Data Usage,” opt out of sharing data with third parties.

The FTC Safeguards Rule requires automobile dealers to undertake a series of procedural, technical, and contractual steps to protect consumer and other personal data. Be mindful of how much your car might already know about you and do thorough research before selling or renting a car. As we embrace the convenience of connected cars, it is essential to implement safeguards that prioritize privacy.

Marc Lamber is a public safety advocate and an attorney in Arizona with 30 years of experience.