Senator Earl Carter announced he would form a bipartisan congressional caucus on vehicle data access. The caucus will be formed to address policy issues related to the access, use, and control of data generated by telematics programs and other vehicle monitoring systems. These programs use GPS and other systems to monitor drivers’ mileage and driving habits. Based on Sen. Carter’s press release, the caucus will draft legislation regarding users’ access to collected data and protecting that data from “bad actors.” The sale and exchange of such data, primarily from insurance companies, has increased dramatically in recent years.

While there is no draft legislation at this time, the caucus is gaining supporters such as the American Rental Car Association, National Consumers League, Automotive Recyclers Association, the Automotive Service Association, and the NAFA Fleet Management Association. Dealers should be on the lookout for new legislation and contact their U.S. House of Representatives legislators to weigh in on this topic. Given the importance of vehicle-generated data and its potential uses for dealers and others: everything from monitoring and recommending maintenance/repairs to using data to maintain high-quality used inventory and creating personalized extended warranty packages based on actual driving patterns, dealers should be active participants in this discourse.