A driver pulls into their garage after a long motorway journey, and within seconds their smartphone buzzes with a notification: "Trip completed: 247 miles, average speed 67mph, fuel efficiency down 12% from last month." They never manually entered this information—their car app somehow knew exactly where they'd been, how they'd driven, and what their vehicle was doing the entire time. This scenario plays out millions of times every day as car apps quietly collect vast amounts of data about our vehicles and driving habits.
Most people don't realise just how much information their automotive apps can access. We download these apps thinking they'll help us find our parked car or remind us when our MOT is due, but behind the scenes they're often gathering far more data than we expect. Some apps can see your location every few seconds, monitor your engine performance, track your driving style, and even know when you're braking hard or taking corners too quickly.
The modern car produces roughly 25 gigabytes of data every hour, and automotive apps are designed to tap into this goldmine of information
Now, this isn't necessarily a bad thing—many of these data points help make the apps genuinely useful. Your navigation app needs to know where you are to give you directions, and maintenance apps need access to your engine data to warn you about potential problems. But understanding exactly what information car apps can access, how they get it, and what they do with it has become increasingly important as these applications become more sophisticated and widespread. That's what we'll be exploring in this guide.
Understanding Basic Car App Data Types
When you download a car app on your phone, you're giving it access to different types of information about your vehicle. Think of your car as a massive computer on wheels—because that's exactly what modern vehicles are! Every time you start the engine, adjust the temperature, or even open a door, your car creates data.
The most common type of data that automotive apps collect is what we call "vehicle status information." This includes things like whether your doors are locked, if your windows are up or down, and your fuel level. Pretty basic stuff, really. Your car is constantly monitoring these things anyway, so the app is just tapping into information that already exists.
Location and Movement Data
Your car knows where it is at all times thanks to GPS technology; this means apps can track your location, how fast you're driving, and which routes you take. Some apps use this information to help you find your parked car or suggest better routes to avoid traffic jams.
Engine and System Information
Modern cars have sensors everywhere—monitoring everything from tyre pressure to engine temperature. Car diagnostic apps can access this technical data to tell you when your car needs maintenance or if something isn't working properly. It's like having a mechanic constantly checking under the bonnet, except it's all done digitally.
The amount of data your car generates might surprise you. We're talking about thousands of data points every single minute you're driving. Most of this stays in your car's computer system, but the bits that apps can access depend on what permissions you give them and what your car manufacturer allows.
How Apps Connect to Your Vehicle
Most people don't realise just how many different ways car apps can actually connect to their vehicle. It's not just one simple connection—there are several methods that apps use to get vehicle information, and each one gives them access to different types of data.
The most common way is through your car's built-in systems. Modern vehicles come with something called an OBD-II port (that's On-Board Diagnostics, second generation if you're curious). This little port, usually found under your dashboard, lets apps read all sorts of information directly from your car's computer. Think of it as your car's main data outlet.
Direct Connection Methods
Apps can also connect through your car's infotainment system—that's the screen in your dashboard that controls music, navigation, and other features. When you plug in your phone or connect via Bluetooth, you're creating a pathway for data to flow both ways, but it's crucial to understand how to integrate apps with car systems safely.
Many car manufacturers now offer their own mobile apps that connect directly to your vehicle through built-in cellular connections, giving them access to real-time data even when you're not in the car.
Third-Party Device Connections
Some apps work through third-party devices that you plug into your car. These small gadgets connect to your OBD-II port and then communicate with your phone via Bluetooth or WiFi. They act as a bridge between your car's systems and the app.
Here are the main connection types you'll encounter:
- Direct OBD-II port connection
- Manufacturer's built-in cellular system
- Bluetooth pairing with infotainment
- Third-party diagnostic devices
- USB cable connections
Each connection method determines what vehicle information the app can access, which we'll explore in the following chapters.
Location and Movement Information
Your car's location data is probably the most obvious information that automotive apps collect—and honestly, it's often the most useful too. Every time you start your engine or connect your phone to your car's system, apps can track exactly where you are, where you're going, and how you got there.
Most apps collect your GPS coordinates continuously whilst you're driving. This means they know your exact position down to a few metres, sometimes even closer than that. They can see when you leave your house, which route you take to work, where you stop for petrol, and what time you arrive at your destination. Some apps also track your speed, how quickly you accelerate, and how hard you brake.
What Apps Do With Your Movement Data
Navigation apps use this information to give you directions and suggest faster routes—that bit makes sense. But other apps might use your location data differently. Insurance apps often monitor your driving to calculate premiums based on where and how you drive. Some apps track your favourite locations to suggest nearby restaurants or petrol stations.
The thing is, this location data builds up a really detailed picture of your daily life over time. Apps can work out where you live, where you work, and the places you visit regularly. They might even be able to guess your income level based on the areas you frequent or the types of shops you visit.
When Location Tracking Happens
Most automotive apps collect location data whenever your car is running and connected to your phone. Some continue tracking even when you've switched off the engine—especially if you've given them permission to run in the background on your mobile device.
Engine and Performance Data
When car apps connect to your vehicle, they can access quite a lot of information about how your engine is performing. This includes basic things like your current speed, fuel level, and engine temperature—the same stuff you see on your dashboard. But modern vehicles share much more detailed information than that.
Your car's computer systems track things like how hard you're accelerating, how often you brake, and even how efficiently your engine is running. Some apps can see your RPM (how fast your engine is spinning), oil pressure, and battery voltage. If your car has any warning lights or error codes, many apps can read those too.
What This Means for Different Types of Apps
Insurance apps use this performance data to work out if you're a safe driver; they look at sudden braking, rapid acceleration, and whether you're exceeding speed limits. The most successful automotive apps use engine data to tell you when something might need fixing before it breaks down completely.
The amount of performance data your car generates every second would surprise most drivers—we're talking hundreds of different measurements that paint a detailed picture of both your driving style and your vehicle's health
Real-Time vs Historical Data
Some apps only see what's happening right now whilst you're driving, but others can store weeks or months of performance information. This historical data helps apps spot patterns—like if your fuel efficiency is getting worse over time, or if certain driving conditions cause problems with your engine. The level of detail available depends on your car's age and the type of connection the app uses to communicate with your vehicle's systems.
Personal Driving Habits and Patterns
Right, here's where things get properly personal. Automotive apps don't just collect where you drive—they build detailed profiles of how you drive. We're talking about data that reveals whether you're a speed demon or someone who crawls along at 20mph in a 30 zone.
Your car's app can track acceleration patterns, braking habits, and cornering behaviour. It knows if you're the type who floors it at traffic lights or takes off gently. Sharp braking gets logged; smooth cornering gets noted. Some apps even measure how often you use your indicators—yes, really!
The really clever bit is how this data gets processed. Apps can work out your risk profile as a driver, which explains why insurance companies are so keen on this information. They can tell if you're driving during risky hours, taking dangerous routes, or exhibiting behaviours that statistically lead to accidents.
What Gets Tracked Daily
- Average speed compared to speed limits
- Hard acceleration and braking events
- Phone usage whilst driving
- Time of day driving patterns
- Journey types (motorway vs city driving)
- Fuel efficiency based on driving style
Apps also learn your routines. They know you stop at the same coffee shop every Tuesday morning or that you always take the scenic route home on Fridays. This behavioural data is incredibly valuable for targeted advertising and can reveal more about your lifestyle than you might expect.
The concerning part? Much of this happens automatically once you've given initial permissions. Your driving personality gets captured and stored, creating a digital fingerprint that's uniquely yours.
Privacy Controls and User Permissions
Right, let's talk about the bit that really matters—how you actually control what your car apps can access. After years of working with app developers, I can tell you that most people skip straight past those permission screens without reading them. Big mistake! Those little pop-ups are your first line of defence against oversharing.
When you install any car app, it will ask for specific permissions. Location access is the big one—nearly every automotive app wants this. Then there's access to your vehicle's systems, your contacts, and sometimes even your camera or microphone. The good news? You don't have to say yes to everything.
Managing Your App Permissions
Most car apps will work with limited permissions, though they might complain about it. You can usually find permission settings in your phone's main settings menu, not within the app itself. Here's where you can revoke access anytime you want.
- Location services can be set to "only while using app" instead of "always"
- Vehicle data access can often be turned off for non-essential features
- Contact sharing is rarely needed for basic functionality
- Microphone access should only be granted for voice-activated features
Reading the Fine Print
Privacy policies aren't exactly bedtime reading, but they're worth a quick scan. Look for sections about data sharing with third parties—this tells you if your driving data might end up with insurance companies or advertisers. Some apps are surprisingly transparent about this; others bury it deep in legal jargon.
Check your app permissions every few months. Apps update regularly and sometimes request new permissions that you might not notice.
The key is being selective. Grant permissions that make sense for what you want the app to do, and don't be afraid to say no to the rest.
Common Data Sharing Practices
Right, let's talk about what actually happens to your car data once these apps get their hands on it. This is where things get a bit murky—and frankly, where most people would benefit from paying closer attention.
Most automotive apps don't just collect your data for their own use. They share it, sell it, or trade it with other companies. Your location history might end up with advertising networks who want to show you petrol station ads. Your driving patterns could be sold to insurance companies building risk profiles. Engine performance data often gets shared with manufacturers for "product improvement"—though that's a pretty broad term, isn't it?
Who Gets Your Data
The list of potential data recipients is longer than you might expect:
- Insurance companies for risk assessment and pricing
- Advertising networks for targeted marketing campaigns
- Data brokers who compile and resell consumer information
- Government agencies for traffic planning and law enforcement
- Third-party analytics companies for market research
- Partner businesses like fuel stations and service centres
The Business of Car Data
Here's what many people don't realise: your car data is valuable. Really valuable. Some estimates suggest that data from a single vehicle can be worth hundreds of pounds per year to companies. That's why so many apps are "free"—you're not the customer, you're the product.
The sharing often happens through something called "anonymised" data, but recent studies show this anonymisation isn't as protective as companies claim. Your unique driving patterns can often identify you even without your name attached. It's worth reading those privacy policies properly—I know they're boring, but they tell you exactly who's getting your information and what they're doing with it, especially when it comes to security concerns with automotive apps.
Conclusion
After working with automotive apps for years, I can tell you that the amount of data these car apps can collect is quite extensive—but it's not as scary as some people think. Most vehicle information falls into clear categories: basic car details like make and model, location tracking, engine performance metrics, and your personal driving patterns. The key thing to understand is that data access isn't a free-for-all; there are rules and permissions governing what apps can actually see.
What matters most is knowing what you're agreeing to when you install these apps. Every automotive app should clearly explain what data it wants and why it needs it. Some apps need your location to provide turn-by-turn directions, whilst others might want engine data to help diagnose problems. The good news is that you typically have control over these permissions—you can say yes to location sharing but no to performance monitoring, for instance.
The automotive industry is still working out the best practices for data collection and privacy. New regulations are being introduced regularly, and car manufacturers are becoming more transparent about their data policies. My advice? Read the privacy settings carefully, only share what feels comfortable to you, and remember that you can usually change your mind later.
Car apps genuinely can make your driving experience better—from finding cheaper petrol stations to predicting when your car needs maintenance. The technology is impressive, and when used responsibly, it benefits everyone. Just stay informed about what data you're sharing and make choices that feel right for you.
