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To reduce a car’s location tracking, review privacy and data-sharing settings in the vehicle, the manufacturer’s app and account, and the owner’s manual. There is no universal switch: controls depend on the make, model year, equipment, connected-service enrollment, and country. A phone app’s location permission is separate from data the car’s own modem may send to the manufacturer.
What to check before changing settings
Identify the vehicle’s make, model year, trim and country, then consult its owner’s manual. Automakers use different controls, and some features are available only on certain vehicles or with particular service plans. The U.S. manufacturer examples below are not instructions for every model or market.
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Connected-car location data can come from the vehicle’s modem and manufacturer services, not just a phone app. Toyota, for example, describes vehicle location, health and driving data as supporting services such as navigation, emergency response, remote start, maintenance alerts and infotainment apps in its U.S. Connected Services Privacy Notice, updated July 1, 2026.
How to reduce data collection
- Check the vehicle screen. Open Settings and look for Privacy, Data Sharing, Location Services, Connectivity or Connected Services. Turn off the relevant location or personalization categories if offered, and note the screen’s description of what will stop working.
- Review the manufacturer app and account. Look for privacy or data preferences, connected-service enrollment, driver-behavior programs, and separate marketing or personalization choices. Disabling the app’s access to your phone’s location controls the app’s use of the phone’s location; it does not necessarily stop transmissions from the car’s modem.
- Use the official service opt-out if you want a broader change. Follow the manufacturer’s stated unenrollment or deactivation process. A single in-car toggle may affect only one data category or service, while a full connectivity shutdown can affect considerably more.
- Confirm exceptions and consequences. Check the manual or ask manufacturer support what happens to emergency calling, safety features, updates, retained data and the ability to reverse the choice.
- Remove old users when ownership changes. If selling, returning or buying a used connected car, follow the manufacturer’s account-unlinking and reset steps rather than relying on removing an app.
What the controls can mean by automaker
These examples describe manufacturer guidance, not interchangeable steps. Use the manual and current settings for the specific vehicle.
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GM and OnStar
GM says some model year 2019 and newer vehicles may offer an OnStar Location Services control under infotainment Privacy Settings. Turning it off does not necessarily prevent emergency location collection: GM describes exceptions including a crash, pressing the emergency call button, and certain high-voltage battery overheating events. GM also describes unenrollment through an OnStar Advisor or the in-vehicle blue button, subject to caveats in its U.S. Consumer Privacy Statement.
Ford and Lincoln
Available in-vehicle controls depend on equipment; Ford directs owners to the applicable manual. Restricting data transmission can affect connected services. Ford says a master or factory reset removes imported data and disconnects modem-equipped vehicles from Ford or Lincoln accounts, but deleting the app without that reset does not disable vehicle data sharing. Some connectivity devices also require removing the vehicle identification number (VIN) from the associated account. See Ford’s U.S. Privacy Policy for its guidance.
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Toyota
Toyota’s U.S. App Data Privacy Portal lets users review what the vehicle transmits and change preferences. Toyota also says users can opt out or request data-transmission deactivation through the app or the in-vehicle SOS button. Its notice describes stopping collection of certain location, driving, vehicle-health and account data; it does not promise that every data flow ends. See the Toyota U.S. Connected Services Privacy Notice.
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Tesla says Data Sharing can be controlled through the touchscreen. A broader vehicle-data opt-out requires contacting Tesla to deactivate connectivity. Tesla lists possible losses including over-the-air updates, remote services, mobile-app interaction, location search, internet radio, voice commands and browser functionality. It also says it may then be unable to notify the owner of real-time vehicle issues. See Tesla’s Privacy Notice.
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Porsche
Depending on model and equipment, Porsche says PCM Privacy Mode, wireless-module controls or individual Porsche Connect service settings may restrict data exchange. Some services are marked non-deactivatable, and disabling controls can limit or remove functionality such as real-time traffic and hazard warnings. See Porsche USA’s Privacy Policy.
Mazda
Mazda’s infotainment Data Communications toggle temporarily disables transmission for listed Connected Services and turns off associated app features. Mazda’s policy lists exceptions such as over-the-air updates and emergency-related services. Cancelling a Connected Services subscription is broader; fully deactivating the telematics control unit is broader still and can prevent connected services, emergency services that rely on vehicle connectivity, updates and recall notices. See Mazda USA’s Connected Services privacy information.
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Choose the narrowest control that meets your goal
Before opting out, compare what each choice actually changes. An in-car location setting, an app preference, a connected-service cancellation and a modem deactivation can have different scopes and exceptions.
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- Data category: Does the option affect precise location, driving behavior, vehicle health or diagnostics, personalization, or all connected data?
- Scope: Is it an in-car setting, app preference, service opt-out, account disconnection or full telematics deactivation?
- Exceptions and retention: Does the maker retain emergency or other data collection, and what data remains after opting out?
- Features lost: Could the change affect remote access, connected navigation, traffic or hazard warnings, software updates, or emergency services?
- Availability and reversal: Does it apply to this model, equipment and market, and how can you restore the service?
Do not pull fuses, unplug antennas or modems, or use a generic blocker as a substitute for the manufacturer’s controls. The cited manufacturer guidance does not establish those methods as safe, universal privacy controls, and connected systems may support emergency, update or vehicle-service functions.
What the FTC order means for GM and OnStar
On January 14, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission announced a final order resolving allegations against General Motors and OnStar. The order is specific to GM and OnStar; it is not a universal guarantee of privacy controls across automakers. It imposes a five-year ban on specified disclosures of geolocation and driver-behavior data to consumer reporting agencies. For the order’s 20-year life, GM and OnStar must obtain affirmative express consent before covered collection, use or sharing; give U.S. consumers a way to request and seek deletion of data; provide a way to disable precise geolocation collection where the vehicle has the necessary technology; and offer opt-outs for geolocation and driver-behavior data, subject to exceptions. Read the FTC’s final-order announcement for the terms.
The FTC has described persistent, precise vehicle location as sensitive because it can reveal routines and visits to sensitive places. Its broader discussion notes that connected vehicles may collect location, biometrics, telematics, video and other information: Cars & Consumer Data: On Unlawful Collection & Use.
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