For many drivers, cutting-edge technology sits at the forefront of the in-car experience. Whether that’s a touchscreen sat nav or a voice-controlled virtual assistant, the technology inside our vehicles has the potential to make driving not just more enjoyable but also safer and more efficient.   

But as cars become increasingly sophisticated and inter-connected, the more data they need to collect. Our vehicles now hold the digital footprint of our lives, from contact information and navigation routes to stored footage. There are huge benefits to this, of course – not least in its ability to allow companies to create even greater and more personalised solutions. However, it’s important that drivers understand the potential hazards associated with data collection and know how to proactively protect their privacy.  

In this article, I’ll explore the different ways drivers can protect their personal data when leasing a vehicle, including what types of data might be stored and how to mitigate against potential privacy breaches. 

Why is it important to erase in-vehicle data at the end of a contract? 

Personal information stored by your vehicle, like navigation history, contacts, and logins, can reveal sensitive information about your preferences and habits, which may compromise your privacy. It could even open the door to potential misuse and exploitation like cyberstalking, identity theft, or other invasive activities.  

Protecting personal data is just one of the many steps to ensure driver safety. At Leaseplan, our consultative approach can help businesses understand how to do this best and improve overall performance. 

Understanding what data might be stored

A wide range of new models can store a variety of data, including:

1. Satellite Navigation

Satellite navigation systems not only track routes and predict upcoming traffic but also store information on favourite or frequently visited destinations. These places are a true roadmap to your daily life, including your home, workplace, family and friends, and private appointment locations. 

2. Phone Book

When you connect your smartphone via Bluetooth, your car can download a copy of your phonebook so you can easily access and call contacts through the in-car system. This means your vehicle will have access to all your contact numbers, call logs, and even text messages on the device. 

3. Cameras

Equipped with dashcams and parking sensors, newer car models capture footage of your surroundings to ensure safe and easy parking. Certain models, like BMW and Tesla, even allow drivers to save and store that footage for potential future use. 

4. Smartphone Apps

Some new vehicles have dedicated smartphone apps, enabling drivers to download previous journey details, unlock doors, check the charging status of an electric vehicle and even pre-warm the cabin. These are linked to an account that may contain a log of recent journeys, including departure times and other sensitive information.

5. Passwords

To enable features like email access, music streaming services (such as Spotify), or downloading updates via your home WiFi, your usernames and passwords will be stored in the car’s system. This avoids having to re-enter those pesky details every time you use a feature, but it may be retained if you forget to erase it when returning a vehicle.  

So how can you protect your data? 

To safeguard your privacy, there are several steps you should always perform before handing over a vehicle:

1. Unpair Devices 

Be sure to unpair any Bluetooth-connected devices, including phones or other gadgets.

2. Clear Navigation History

Deleting any saved or favourite destinations, including home or workplace, is essential.

3. Delete App Logins

If you’ve previously used any dedicated in-car apps, like Spotify, log out and delete any stored details.

Finally, you should perform a full factory reset to ensure all private data has been cleared. This should guarantee that navigation history, contact information, usernames, passwords, and other miscellaneous data are erased. Details on how to do this can be found in the vehicle’s user manual. 

As the automotive industry continues to embrace and develop technology, it’s crucial that we’re all vigilant in protecting our data. 

By 2030, it’s thought that 95% of new vehicles sold globally will be equipped with in-car technology – more than half that it is today. As a result, this will change the driving experience, with data protection coming to the forefront of the driving experience. This could also open up the discussion around who is responsible for protecting data, and whether this lies with the manufacturers or drivers themselves. 

Alfonso Martinez is UK country manager for ALD Automotive | Leaseplan UK