GM Vehicle Owners Can Access OnStar Driving Data Reports That May Have Impacted Insurance Rates

Following the discovery that General Motors has been secretly selling driving data obtained from its OnStar Smart Driver service to third-party data analytics firms and insurance companies, a growing number of lawsuits have been filed by vehicle owners, who are now able to request free copies of the driving metrics that were recorded and sold without their permission.

Since 2016, the OnStar Smart Driver service has been aggressively promoted by General Motors, offering to provide automatic crash response, roadside assistance, stolen vehicle tracking, navigation and other services that are accessible via a vehicle-mounted button, voice commands or a mobile app.

To provide these services, the OnStar Smart Driver systems were equipped with an array of sensors that track the vehicle’s movements and gather data pertinent to a driver’s behaviors, such as speed, braking patterns and location. However, lawsuits allege that General Motors was not adequately disclosing that it was compiling comprehensive profiles on its customers driving habits.

In March 2024, The New York Times reported that GM and OnStar have been selling customers’ driving data to LexisNexis and Verisk, which reportedly passed that private data on to insurance providers, which may have used the information to raise car insurance rates for millions of GM vehicle owners.

As a result, a series of GM OnStar class action lawsuits are now being pursued by customers seeking damages against General Motors and OnStar for the unauthorized collection, use, and sale of their driving data, which they claim has been used to increase their insurance premiums.

In this featured post, AboutLawsuits.com will detail the information General Motors collected and explain how owners of GMC, Chevrolet, Buick and Cadillac vehicles can request a free copy of any driving data that may have been collected by the OnStar Smart Driver service.

This post will also provide details on the status of GM OnStar lawsuits currently being pursued, as well as how individuals can join the class action lawsuit or pursue an individual arbitration claim with no upfront expense.

What Information Was Collected by GM’s OnStar Smart Driver Service?

The OnStar Smart Driver’s service utilizes a sophisticated telematics system consisting of various sensors and modules within the vehicle, which continuously monitor and record driving behavior, as well as the vehicle status.

As the vehicle is operated, these sensors collect vast amounts of data, which are processed and transmitted back to GM’s data centers. This data transmission allows GM to collect, analyze and model data on its customers driving behaviors, including:

• Acceleration Events: Instances where the vehicle’s speed significantly increases in a short time, suggesting aggressive driving habits.
• Hard Brake Events: Moments when the vehicle undergoes sudden and intense braking, potentially indicating emergency reactions or inattentive driving.
• High Speed Events: Occurrences where the vehicle exceeds speeds of 80 miles per hour, often reflecting risky driving behavior in high-speed zones.
• Distance Traveled: The total mileage covered by the vehicle, indicating the extent of use and potential exposure to accidents.
• Time of Day Traveled: Specific times when the vehicle is operated, used to analyze driving patterns such as rush hour navigation or late-night travel.
• Vehicle Information: Collection of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which helps link driving data to specific vehicles and their specifications.
• Location and GPS Data: Geographic positioning details of the vehicle, tracking driving routes, frequented locations and overall movement patterns.
• Late-Night Driving: Documentation of driving during late-night hours, assessing risks associated with nighttime driving conditions.

OnStar Driver Data Shared With Insurance Companies Lacks Context

Lawsuits against General Motors and OnStar have raised concerns about how the driving data collected could paint an unfairly negative portrait of drivers without providing necessary context for their actions. Here’s a deeper look into these concerns.

Plaintiffs claim that the data recorded, such as hard braking or rapid acceleration events can be interpreted as markers of risky or aggressive driving behavior. However, these metrics do not account for the circumstances under which such driving patterns occur.

For example, a hard braking event might be necessary to avoid a sudden obstacle like a deer or a pedestrian in the road, rather than indicative of reckless behavior. Similarly, a driver might accelerate quickly to avoid a potential collision or to safely merge onto a highway, rather than as an act of aggression.

Lawsuits argue that the lack of context behind the driver data that was passed on to insurance carriers can lead to misconceptions about a particular driver’s habits and abilities.

Insurance companies who received this data from LexisNexis Risk Solutions and Verisk may have used the information to set premiums based on perceived risks that do not accurately reflect the driver’s actual behavior or the situational necessity of these actions.

How To Request Your OnStar Driver Data Report

To access and review the driving data collected by General Motors’ OnStar Smart Driver service, you can request a detailed report through LexisNexis and Verisk.

These reports include data such as acceleration events, braking patterns and GPS locations that are crucial for understanding your recorded driving behaviors.

LexisNexis Consumer Disclosure Report

To request a report showing the driving data collected from your vehicle, follow the steps outlined below.

1. Online Request
   • Visit the LexisNexis website and navigate to the Consumer Disclosure section.
   • Complete the Online Request Form to apply for your report.
   • Once verified, you’ll receive a letter via U.S. Mail with instructions to access your report online.
2. Mail Request
   • Download the Printable Request Form from the LexisNexis website.
   • Fill out the form completely.
   • Mail the completed form to:
     LexisNexis Risk Solutions Consumer Center
     Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054
     P.O. Box 105108
     Atlanta, GA 30348-5108
   • Your report will be processed and sent to you.
3. Phone Request
   • Call LexisNexis at 1-866-897-8126 to request the report.
   • Follow the voice prompts to submit your request over the phone.

Each method allows you to request your Consumer Disclosure Report, so you can choose the one that best fits your needs.

Request Your Verisk Driving Behavior Data Report

To request a report showing the driving data collected from your vehicle, follow the steps outlined below.

1. Online Request
   • Visit the Verisk Important Notice to Consumers regarding Driving Behavior Reports web page.
   • Click on the blue box titled “For Owners or leasees of GM, Hyundai or Honda Vehicles” to access the appropriate request form.
2. Email Submission
   • Download and fill out the Driving Behavior Data History Report.
   • Email the completed form to FCRA-NPC@verisk.com.
3. Fax Submission
   • After filling out the form, you can also fax it to 800-955-2422.
4. Mail Submission
   • Alternatively, mail the completed form to:
     Verisk Underwriting Solutions Consumer Inquiry Center
     P.O. BOX 5404
     Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054

GM OnStar Driving Behavior Reports

GM vehicle owners sharing their OnStar driving reports on platforms like Reddit have expressed concerns over the extensive details in these documents, which span hundreds of pages and include precise data on acceleration, braking, and the times and locations of each journey.

Chevrolet Bolt Driving Records Collected Through OnStar Service

Got Back My LexisNexis Disclosure; 176 Driving Records Despite Being Opted-Out Through myChevrolet App
byu/n3rt46 inBoltEV

Over 300 Pages of OnStar Driving Data Collected

Just got my Nexis Lexis report: 300+ pages of OnStar driving data.
byu/brantmacga inSilverado

GM OnStar Class Action Lawsuits

Due to the widescale unauthorized collection of driver data, a growing number of individuals are now pursuing OnStar class action lawsuits and individual arbitration claims against the companies, each raising similar allegations that their private driving data was secretly collected without their consent, which was then used against them by insurance carriers.

As of November 1, the JPML has reported a total of 32 lawsuits have been filed against General Motors, OnStar, LexisNexis Risk Solutions and Verisk for their involvement in the data driving data collection scheme.

Given the growing number of claims each raising similar allegations, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) issued a transfer order on June 7, 2024, consolidating the claims in the Northern District of Georgia before the Honorable Thomas W. Thrash, Jr., as part of a Consumer Vehicle Driving Data Tracking Litigation (MDL No. 3115). 

In one of the most recent case management orders issued in the MDL, Judge Thrash ordered that the parties must submit a Master Consolidated Complaint by December 13, detailing the allegations in the various General Motors OnStar lawsuits. Sixty days later, they are to file a proposed discovery order. Motions to dismiss are due by March 13, 2025.

Replies supporting these motions must be filed by May 23, 2025, after which fact discovery will commence. Judge Thrash expects this phase to last at least until mid to late 2026.

How To Join the OnStar Class Action Lawsuit

To determine whether you or a loved one may be eligible for a GM OnStar class action lawsuit settlement, submit information about your potential claim for review by a lawyer by filling out the form below.

All GM OnStar case evaluations are free, and firms work on a contingency fee basis. This means, there are no fees or expenses unless a recovery is obtained in your case.