# Is it possible to buy a new car that doesn't track you? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 10, 2025, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-buy-a-new-car-that-doesnt-track-you/1023843 "2025-10-10T07:29:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2025, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-buy-a-new-car-that-doesnt-track-you/1023843/21 "2025-10-10T22:49:38Z")
My car is 18 years old and has no tracking. I can still get GPS on my phone, although as indicated your phone can be tracked. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2025, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-buy-a-new-car-that-doesnt-track-you/1023843/22 "2025-10-10T23:14:29Z")
If you put your phone in airplane mode, GPS will still work, but the phone won’t be trackable since it’s not sending anything (I’m pretty sure). If you do that, you’ll want to download the map for the area first. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2025, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-buy-a-new-car-that-doesnt-track-you/1023843/23 "2025-10-10T23:39:09Z")
Just to clarify, not only is is possible, but afaik, you can not buy a new car that will track you, at least not how OnStar did. ---
**Author:** ![Clearbluesky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Clearbluesky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clearbluesky)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2025, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-buy-a-new-car-that-doesnt-track-you/1023843/24 "2025-10-10T23:39:51Z")
When you download the map of the area, google knows you downloaded the map of the area. ---
**Author:** ![Clearbluesky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Clearbluesky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clearbluesky)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2025, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-buy-a-new-car-that-doesnt-track-you/1023843/25 "2025-10-10T23:42:30Z")
If there is any internet connectivity…. It can be tracked. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2025, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-buy-a-new-car-that-doesnt-track-you/1023843/26 "2025-10-10T23:45:51Z")
True, but I think there’s a big difference between knowing that you were at a specific location at a specific time on a specific date, compared to knowing that you might be within a 50 mile radius at some indeterminate date in the future. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2025, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-buy-a-new-car-that-doesnt-track-you/1023843/27 "2025-10-11T19:32:47Z")
And how fast you were going etc. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2025, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-buy-a-new-car-that-doesnt-track-you/1023843/28 "2025-10-12T11:25:23Z")
The OP seems to be asking about tracking by insurance companies. According to everything I can find, the low-end trim levels of Ram trucks (Tradesman level) still do not have the Uconnect, or installed GPS systems unless the buyer orders specific options. Dealer said that these trucks cannot be tracked or contacted unless a customer buys a subscription to their Ram Connect and Uconnect Care systems. With this, the company can access the telematics control unit. As an owner of one, I can testify that the company seems unable to reach my vehicle for software updates. They must badger me to bring it to a dealership for this. I’m assuming this prevents my insurance company from obtaining data about my driving habits. And I’m very keen to avoid this. Accelerometer data would definitely work in my favor, as I’m a smooth and relatively slow driver. But the monthly mileage would toss me in a higher risk group and I prefer they remain ignorant as long as possible. The company already offers a discount if I’ll let them install some dongle to tattle on me, but I’ve refused so far. ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2025, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-buy-a-new-car-that-doesnt-track-you/1023843/29 "2025-10-12T19:52:52Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > And how fast you were going etc. IIRC every car now has the computer that logs this information for the last few minutes, for accident analysis. Of course, this needs physical access to the vehicle, and without GPS won’t know your location, but it’s still logging your driving behaviour. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-buy-a-new-car-that-doesnt-track-you/1023843/30 "2025-10-13T00:18:29Z")
> [@md-2000](#): > > IIRC every car now has the computer that logs this information for the last few minutes, for accident analysis. Of course, this needs physical access to the vehicle, and without GPS won’t know your location, but it’s still logging your driving behaviour. And, that would be okay. But that OnStar thing selling driving habits to Insurance companies was a Bad Thing. However, it was banned. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-buy-a-new-car-that-doesnt-track-you/1023843/31 "2025-10-13T00:50:05Z")
I think the thread question answer, in the United States, is yes. Buy the base trim line of a cheaper car. We have a 2024 Kia Niro base model. There were no significant changes for 2025. It requires an old-fashioned physical key to start. I do not understand how it would track me unless I brought a cell phone into the car. Wouldn’t this tracking boy be associated with higher trim lines and more expensive cars? Or am I missing something? ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-buy-a-new-car-that-doesnt-track-you/1023843/32 "2025-10-13T01:59:54Z")
Some quick Googling tells me that the Kia Niro has a service called Kia Connect that uses a cellular connection to provide in-car wifi (basically a hotspot). So the car does have the hardware to communicate via a cellular connection. Whether it uses this connection if you don’t subscribe to Kia Connect I don’t know, but theoretically it could. I don’t see how the physical key is related to this question. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-buy-a-new-car-that-doesnt-track-you/1023843/33 "2025-10-13T06:32:13Z")
Don’t worry about hidden trackers. People will pay good money to buy their own trackers, charge them every day, pay for the data connection. Why would anyone hide a tracker on their own dime? ---
**Author:** ![sta3535](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@sta3535](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sta3535)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-buy-a-new-car-that-doesnt-track-you/1023843/34 "2025-10-13T06:56:29Z")
I’ve heard of this happening with newer cars, along with a “kill switch” that can be activated as well (the first website that came up when I searched this topic): [https://www.newsmax.com/Finance/laurenfix/infrastructure-bill-kill-switch-cars/2023/10/24/id/1139478/](https://www.newsmax.com/Finance/laurenfix/infrastructure-bill-kill-switch-cars/2023/10/24/id/1139478/) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-buy-a-new-car-that-doesnt-track-you/1023843/36 "2025-10-13T12:20:57Z")
A year or two ago there was a story (NPR?) about newer cars listening to conversations and relaying info to the mothership. I recall Nissan as being one violator. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-buy-a-new-car-that-doesnt-track-you/1023843/37 "2025-10-13T12:29:25Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > Whether it uses this connection if you don’t subscribe to Kia Connect I don’t On my Niro LX base model, it does not have the connection unless you, or the dealer, install an app on your phone. Those who do not want to be tracked will obviously be phoneless, so no issue. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-buy-a-new-car-that-doesnt-track-you/1023843/38 "2025-10-13T15:24:37Z")
How do you know that that is true? This thread is largely about nefarious car manufacturers or other agents tracking you without your knowledge. If Kia or the dealer were using the car’s cellular connection to track you without telling you, how would you know? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-buy-a-new-car-that-doesnt-track-you/1023843/39 "2025-10-13T15:42:39Z")
Interestingly, after I got rid of my Kia Niro EV, I was able to keep tracking\* it for a few months. I saw it go from the dealership I sold it to, to an auto auction place, then another dealer and finally, from what I could tell, it was bought since it appeared to be back and forth between a residential area and a business park. \*To be clear, I wasn’t “tracking” it, I just checked every few days to see if I still had access. I assumed, apparently incorrectly, that somewhere along the way, one of the Kia dealerships would’ve done a factory reset to break all those connections. When I got rid of it, I thought I deleted anything that connected it to me (bluetooth to my phone, GPS addresses for home/work, my contact list etc) but for whatever reason, the app remained paired with the car. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-buy-a-new-car-that-doesnt-track-you/1023843/40 "2025-10-13T15:49:49Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > How do you know that that is true? This thread is largely about nefarious car manufacturers or other agents . . . [Kia says](https://www.kia.com/us/en/niro/specs-compare) the U.S. base model Niro does not have Kia Connect. I think checking product documentation is a valid method for making a statement in a SDMB Factual Questions thread. Another method would be to go to the web forum specific to the car and ask experts there. In my case that would be [www.kianiroforum.com](https://www.kianiroforum.com/). That would give a higher level of certainty, but I did not think it was necessary. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2025, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-buy-a-new-car-that-doesnt-track-you/1023843/41 "2025-10-13T18:37:56Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > Kia says Hm, maybe. Just because they don’t offer Kia Connect to the customer doesn’t mean the cellular hardware is not present. It’s often easier for a manufacturer to put similar electronic hardware in all models even if it’s not exposed to the customer in all of them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-buy-a-new-car-that-doesnt-track-you/1023843.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-buy-a-new-car-that-doesnt-track-you/1023843.md?page=3)