Toyota Accused of Secretly Sharing Drivers’ Private Data with Insurers Featured
Lawsuit Alleges Unlawful Sale of Vehicle Data to Progressive Without Consent
A federal class action lawsuit accuses Toyota, its affiliate Connected Analytic Services (CAS), and Progressive Insurance of secretly collecting and sharing drivers’ personal vehicle data without their knowledge or consent. Millions of Americans who purchased or leased Toyota vehicles from model year 2018 onward may be affected.
The lawsuit alleges that Toyota equipped vehicles with tracking technology capable of monitoring highly sensitive driving behavior, including:
- Real-time location data
- Speed and acceleration
- Braking and cornering habits
- Voice and image recordings
- Mobile device usage while driving
According to the complaint, this data was transmitted to third parties—including Progressive, marketing firms, auto finance companies, and even law enforcement agencies—regardless of whether vehicle tracking features were enabled or drivers ever gave permission.
Insurers May Have Received Your Data Without Your Approval
The suit highlights Progressive’s “Snapshot” data sharing program, which evaluates driver behavior to adjust insurance premiums. While Progressive and Toyota claim that participation in Snapshot requires customer consent, the lawsuit says otherwise: in many cases, driving data was sent to Progressive without any affirmative opt-in from the vehicle owner.
The intermediary in this data exchange is Connected Analytic Services (CAS), a data broker affiliated with Toyota. CAS aggregates telematics data from Toyota vehicles and provides it to third parties like insurance companies. Despite public claims that data sharing only occurs with user consent, the lawsuit alleges that drivers were never clearly notified or given a meaningful choice to opt out.
The Broader Privacy Backlash Against Automakers
This lawsuit follows a wave of concern about automakers’ data practices. A New York Times investigation in 2024 uncovered similar behavior by other manufacturers, including GM, Honda, Kia, and Hyundai, in partnership with data brokers like LexisNexis. The Toyota lawsuit suggests the same pattern is playing out: cars are being used not just for transportation, but as tools for data extraction and monetization.
Research by the Mozilla Foundation has also sounded the alarm, calling modern vehicles a “privacy nightmare” and warning that many manufacturers are prioritizing data sales over consumer protection.
You May Be Eligible for Compensation
If you purchased or leased a Toyota vehicle built in 2018 or later, you may be eligible for compensation. The lawsuit seeks damages for:
- Unauthorized collection and sale of driving data
- Violation of privacy rights
- Potential impacts on insurance premiums or coverage
- Diminished value of personal information
- Emotional distress and loss of control over personal data
You don’t need to have enrolled in any data sharing program—if your Toyota had tracking technology, your data may have already been shared without your permission.
Take Action to Protect Your Privacy
Your driving habits are personal. If Toyota, Progressive, or CAS shared your information without your consent, you deserve answers—and compensation.
Join the class action today.
Help hold these companies accountable and protect your privacy rights. Please complete the form shown on this page and a data privacy lawyer will contact you.