GM's OnStar will track your annual mileage... but only for your benefit
We've heard it before: "We're going to collect the information, but it won't go beyond..." The latest take on "Let us help you with technology" comes courtesy of GM's OnStar, which is offering you the opportunity to have your annual mileage tracked. The info will be given to their GMAC arm, which will then see if you qualify for insurance discounts. That sounds good, right?Of course, no one mentions the other side -- that they can also see if you need a higher premium. "You told us this car was just for weekend recreation, Mr. Smith..." Signing up for the OnStar service is voluntary, so it's not going to start watching you until you say so... yet. But if you really do think you're paying too much, then why not. They probably already know everything about you, anyway... Thanks for the tip, Myles!
[Source: Top Speed]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
geo.stewart 3:36PM (7/24/2008)
so, you are telling me that GM cars now no longer come with an odometer?
yikes
no thank you
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Alex 3:49PM (7/24/2008)
+1
tankd0g 5:58PM (7/24/2008)
They do, but I wouldn't trust it.
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/05/gm-sued-over-inaccurate-speedometers/
inteller 3:36PM (7/24/2008)
""You told us this car was just for weekend recreation, Mr. Anderson..."
The matrix sees YOU!
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Purifoy 3:39PM (7/24/2008)
And this really comes as a surprise to who?
It's what they're monitoring and not telling us is the real concern.
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mk 3:46PM (7/24/2008)
One more reason not to like an unaccountable system like OnStar.
You THINK that they are tracking all sorts of your data for your benefit, but do you really know?
OnStar does not display any accountability information. No display at all. Just data to someone somewhere for some reason via cell phone, and GPS connected to every other system in the car.
NO THANK YOU!
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_Jon 3:47PM (7/24/2008)
The other "benefit" will be that GMAC will be able to know the true mileage of a vehicle coming off lease. If "something" were to happen to the odometer and the display mileage was questioned, this would show if the od had been tampered with.
Another "benefit" would be for GM Service to send reminders that at x-thousand of miles, you need GM Service Oil Change / Tire Rotation / Brake Check / Fluid Fill / etc. 'cause ya know, it's all about the customer's needs....
... I must have misplaced my tinfoil hat this afternoon - I'm in a 'conspiracy' mood.... :)
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Matt 4:12PM (7/24/2008)
_Jon:
GM already sends me service reminders all the time for my 2007 G6, which doesn't have OnStar. They also send me these same reminders for my 2006 Cobalt that I got rid of... two years ago?
Also, while GMAC Insurance's whole "we replace parts that were damaged in an accident with NEW parts" idea is pretty cool, GMAC is so ridiculously over-priced, I would never consider keeping them as an insurance carrier. So you're not doing that well by having the mileage tracking combined with GMAC Insurance to BEGIN with.
_Jon 4:23PM (7/24/2008)
I wasn't thinking from a GMAC 'Insurance' perspective, I was thinking of a person on lease who has a contract for 12,000 miles goes over, and has his brother-in-law roll the odometer back.
azzo45 5:22PM (7/24/2008)
Other companies already have electronic odometer back ups NOT connected to a system like OnStar. I read numerous stories about people being seriously over mileage on lease cars & rolling back the number.
Ever wonder why you sign two or three form related to mileage & the odometer? The leasing companies want it well documented. I asked engineer friends & they ALL warned me about playing games with the odometer.
obie 6:59PM (7/24/2008)
OnStar sends out a diagnostics report every month, which includes oil life, etc... I suppose it's handy if you're not really on top of things :)
I honestly don't understand why people flip out over OnStar so much. I guess it's that "big brother's watching" mentality, but in my opinion I don't mind having big brother there if I ever get into a serious accident in the middle of nowhere and OnStar saves my life.
I had to use the OnStar emergency button once when another car was forced off the road into a concrete barrier, and it's an amazing system. Within five minutes the there was a fire engine, 3 police cars, and an ambulance on scene. Thankfully the girl driving the car wasn't hurt, but OnStar definitely proved its worth to me.
G-Meister 3:59PM (7/24/2008)
While on the On-Star conversation, On-star will call you if your airbags deploy, even if you're not paying for the safe&sound coverage (or any other on-star feature). Makes good sense from a liability stand-point..."They could have called EMS but didn't"
Depending on the airbag suppression system used, OnStar could tell your wife where you took your date, too.
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boneheadotto 4:09PM (7/24/2008)
we should have systems that track the real MPG that cars are getting. No more EPA guess work, lets have the cars report how efficient they are.
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2007RC46SP2 4:09PM (7/24/2008)
there will be a day when law enforcement just pulls you over and says that your OBD3,4 said you were speeding a few miles back, here's your ticket.
don't wanna pull over... they'll just shut your car off.
Smoking a joint while driving will set off the OCDD onboard cannabis detection device. causing the vehicle to pull off the side of the road, locking you inside till johnny law comes to take you away.
big brother is watching you....
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mk 4:54PM (7/24/2008)
They won't even bother with the officer.
An automated OnStar voice will come on and tell you:
"Dear ________,
You have been tracked to be speeding on this section of road by GPS and your speedometer reading. Law enforcement has been contacted and have issued a speeding citation. Your Insurance company has also been notified, and they have raised your premium. OnStar also has a $15 surcharge for providing this service to our customers.
We have issued an EFT debit charge to your bank account to withdraw funds for your citation and your insurance premium increase, and our surcharge. The total charge is $_______. A receipt is being dispatched to you via e-mail, for your records.
Please drive safely and legally, and have a nice day. Thank you for using OnStar."
And there you'll be. Cut and dried by a computer, with a minimum of human resource labor costs.
And if you want to challenge the issue, you'll have to jump through all sorts of hoops that make it not worthwhile to fight. After all, OnStar, the insurance companies, and the municipalities all want trouble free revenue. And GM wants to sell OnStar in their new cars, for all their safety benefits.
It may not happen today, but it could happen VERY easily tomorrow. With your tacit permission when you activate OnStar in a new GM vehicle... Be sure to read the fine print.
azzo45 5:40PM (7/24/2008)
Mot too far fetched mk... I mean there is Photo Radar in many states right now. Cameras in intersections, etc.
Just a money grab by states IMO. Go 120MPH if you want... just don't have your speed cause grief for another group of drivers.
Tyler 11:46PM (7/24/2008)
Eventually, we won't be allowed to drive, a computer will and there won't be an Autoblog. Life will become boring for us who liked to drive and the world will become a police state run by guidelines...
Boy, I hope that never happens and if it does, I hope I'm dead before that.
Jackattak 4:12PM (7/24/2008)
So as I'm actually shopping the Saab Turbo-X at the moment, is there anyway to disable OnStar in full? I noticed on the website it comes standard...
I WILL NOT buy a car with OnStar enabled. Are there ways to either opt-out of it entirely or simply rip the transponder out of the car? :D
Thanks in advance!
Jackattak
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Brian 4:22PM (7/24/2008)
on most GM cars the Onstar box is located in the truck under the carpet. You can always unplug it. People do it all the time
G-Meister 4:30PM (7/24/2008)
yes, you can track down the module and unplug it. It takes a little know-how, but even a competent after market installation shop should be able to get this done for you. Now, if you're going for a factory nav system, things get more complicated. things may well be intertwined, but it should still be possible to disconnect the uplink antenna, while leaving the GPS receiver intact. Much more difficult though, and might involve some component surgery.