GM $220 Million Settlement Over Alleged Sale of OnStar Smart Driver Data to Insurers, Will Drivers Get Money?

General Motors agreed on October 29, 2026 to pay $220 million to resolve allegations from attorneys general in 35 states and the District of Columbia (36 attorneys general in all). The states say GM collected drivers’ location and driving-behavior data through its OnStar Smart Driver program and sold it to data brokers that supplied car insurers, despite telling customers it would not share the data with insurers without express consent.

The short answer for drivers: this $220 million goes to the participating states, not to individual drivers. Drivers seeking money are pursuing a separate private putative class action, the federal multidistrict litigation In re: Consumer Vehicle Driving Data Tracking Litigation, MDL No. 3115, which is still pending.

GM Driver Data Settlement: Quick Facts

Item	Detail
Settlement amount	$220 million
Announced	October 29, 2026
Who sued	Attorneys general of 35 states and the District of Columbia
Co-leads	Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield and Washington Attorney General Nick Brown
Executive committee	Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Utah and Vermont
Defendant	General Motors LLC (and affiliates, including OnStar)
Program at issue	OnStar Smart Driver (2016 to 2024; discontinued April 2024)
Brokers named	LexisNexis Risk Solutions and Verisk Analytics
Reported GM revenue from the data sales	More than $20 million
Admission of wrongdoing	None
Direct payments to drivers	None
Claim form, deadline or official settlement website	None; no claims process exists
Separate private lawsuit	MDL No. 3115, Case No. 1:24-md-03115-TWT, N.D. Georgia, Judge Thomas W. Thrash Jr.
Private class certified?	No certification ruling identified

What Did the 36 Attorneys General Allege Against GM and OnStar?

How Did GM’s Smart Driver Program Work?

Smart Driver was a free feature inside GM’s OnStar and connected-vehicle apps on Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac and Buick vehicles. It scored driving behavior and gave drivers reports meant to help them drive more safely. The states say it tracked hard braking, rapid acceleration, speeding, late-night driving, trip timing, seat-belt use and precise location linked to identifiable information.

The program ran from 2016 until GM discontinued it in 2024, shortly after a New York Times investigation drew public attention to the practice.

How Many Drivers Were Affected?

Law360 reported that nearly 10.3 million drivers were enrolled. That number comes from legal-industry reporting. The state filings describe “millions” of drivers, so treat 10.3 million as a reported figure rather than a court-verified count.

How Did the Data Allegedly Reach Insurance Companies?

According to the states, GM sold identifiable driving data to LexisNexis Risk Solutions and Verisk Analytics. Those companies built driver reports and scores that insurers could use when pricing policies. The complaint in Oregon reportedly alleges the Verisk arrangement began around 2015 and a similar LexisNexis arrangement around 2019, and that location data was collected at short intervals from ignition-on to ignition-off. Those details come from the Oregon complaint as reviewed and should be confirmed against the filing.

Insurers reportedly used such reports to set or raise premiums, in some cases for drivers with no claims history. The attorneys general said the data GM sold was “personal, identifiable, and specific.”

What Other Practices Did the States Challenge?

• Dealership enrollment: States alleged customers were signed up for Smart Driver during OnStar registration at dealerships, with employee bonuses tied to enrollment.
• The app told drivers they were not enrolled: The OnStar app reportedly told more than 370,000 drivers they were not in Smart Driver while GM kept collecting and selling their data. GM later unenrolled them but allegedly left the data with brokers and insurers.
• Missing disclosure: The states say GM did not clearly tell drivers the data was identifiable and could affect insurance rates.

GM did not admit wrongdoing. The company said the agreement addresses Smart Driver, a product it ended in 2024, and reinforces steps it has taken to strengthen privacy practices.

What Are the Terms of the GM $220 Million Multistate Settlement?

How Is the $220 Million Divided Among States?

The money is divided among participating jurisdictions and generally supports state investigation, enforcement and consumer-protection work. Reported state shares include:

State	Reported share
Washington	$12.3 million
New York	about $12.1 million
Illinois	about $10.5 million
Oregon	more than $10.4 million
North Carolina	about $7.7 million
Michigan	about $7.2 million
Arizona	$5.9 million
Wisconsin	$5.12 million

These are reported figures; confirm your state’s share on its attorney general’s page. Payment is due within 30 days after the judgment’s effective date, which the Oregon judgment sets at November 30, 2026.

What Must GM Change Under the Consent Judgment?

• Express consent: GM must get affirmative, express consent before collecting or sharing driving and location data. Pre-checked boxes, silence and blanket terms-of-service acceptance do not count.
• Data minimization: Collection is limited to what is relevant and necessary for the specific purpose.
• Privacy program: GM must maintain a comprehensive information privacy program, including a Chief Privacy Officer, data protection assessments for new high-risk uses, and internal and independent third-party assessments.
• Dealership oversight: Training and oversight to prevent enrollments without consent.
• Insurance disclosure: Clear disclosure when driving data may affect insurance rates.

Does the GM Settlement Pay Individual Drivers?

No. Michigan’s attorney general has said the agreement provides no direct consumer restitution. There is no settlement website, administrator or claim form. Be cautious of any site that claims you can file a claim for this $220 million.

What Is MDL 3115, the Private GM OnStar Class Action?

What Is In re: Consumer Vehicle Driving Data Tracking Litigation?

Dozens of consumer lawsuits against GM, OnStar, LexisNexis and Verisk were centralized by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation in June 2024 under 28 U.S.C. §1407 and sent to Judge Thomas W. Thrash Jr. in the Northern District of Georgia. The court created two tracks: one for GM and OnStar and one for LexisNexis and Verisk.

What Claims Are Plaintiffs Making in MDL 3115?

The master consolidated complaint reportedly alleges violations of the federal wiretap and Stored Communications Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, invasion of privacy, unjust enrichment and state consumer-protection laws. GM has argued that data collection was disclosed and consented to and that driving on public roads carries no reasonable expectation of privacy.

What Is the Current Status of MDL 3115?

On April 22, 2026, Judge Thrash issued an opinion and order on the LexisNexis and Verisk motions to dismiss. Reporting indicates many claims were allowed to proceed while certain claims were dismissed. No class has been certified, no private settlement has been announced, and no court has found GM liable. The state settlement does not resolve consumers’ private claims.

Could Drivers Eventually Be Paid in the Private Class Action?

Only if the MDL ends in a court-approved settlement or judgment for a certified class. Nothing is guaranteed, and there is no claim form today.

What Laws Apply to GM’s Alleged Driver Data Sales?

Which State Consumer Protection Laws Do Attorneys General Use Against GM?

State attorneys general typically enforce unfair and deceptive practices statutes. Examples include Oregon’s Unlawful Trade Practices Act (ORS 646.605 to 646.656), which allows civil penalties of up to $25,000 per violation under ORS 646.642, and Washington’s Consumer Protection Act (RCW 19.86), with civil penalties under RCW 19.86.140. Which statutes each state invoked should be confirmed in its filed complaint and judgment.

How Does the Fair Credit Reporting Act Apply to LexisNexis, Verisk and Insurers?

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. §1681 et seq.) regulates consumer reporting agencies and the use of consumer reports for insurance underwriting. If an insurer takes adverse action, such as a higher rate, based on a consumer report, 15 U.S.C. §1681m(a) generally requires notice naming the reporting agency and explaining the consumer’s right to a free copy of the report and to dispute errors. Willful violations can carry statutory damages of $100 to $1,000 per consumer under 15 U.S.C. §1681n, and negligent violations actual damages under §1681o. Plaintiffs in MDL 3115 invoke the FCRA, and courts have not resolved whether the brokers’ driving scores qualify as consumer reports in this context.

What Does the FTC Act Say About GM’s Data Practices?

Section 5 of the FTC Act (15 U.S.C. §45) prohibits unfair or deceptive practices. The FTC announced an order against GM and OnStar in January 2025 that was finalized in January 2026, barring them for five years from disclosing certain geolocation and driver-behavior data to consumer reporting agencies.

What Federal Privacy Statutes Appear in the MDL 3115 Complaint?

Plaintiffs reportedly cite the Wiretap Act (18 U.S.C. §2511) and the Stored Communications Act (18 U.S.C. §§2701 to 2712) alongside the FCRA. The court’s rulings on which of these claims proceed against each defendant should be read in the April 22, 2026 order.

What Is the California Consumer Privacy Act Settlement With GM?

In May 2026, California announced a separate $12.75 million settlement with GM over alleged sales of driving and location data under the California Consumer Privacy Act (Cal. Civ. Code §1798.100 et seq.). The money goes to the state as civil penalties. The settlement also requires GM to stop selling driving data to consumer reporting agencies for five years and to delete retained data absent express consent. Texas has a separate case against GM that remains ongoing.

What Should GM Drivers Do Now?

1. Check your OnStar and app privacy settings. Review what data sharing is on and withdraw consent you did not intend to give.
2. Request your consumer reports. Under the FCRA you can ask LexisNexis and Verisk for the file they hold about you, and ask your insurer whether a driving-data report was used in your pricing.
3. Look at adverse action notices. If your insurer raised your rate, the notice should identify any reporting agency used.
4. Keep records. Save vehicle information, OnStar account details, insurance renewal notices and premium changes in case the MDL produces a claims process.
5. Follow court updates. Check the MDL 3115 docket and your state attorney general’s page.

GM Driver Data Settlement: Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the GM data privacy settlement?

$220 million, announced October 29, 2026 by a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general from 35 states and the District of Columbia.

Who led the GM multistate settlement?

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield and Washington Attorney General Nick Brown co-led the coalition.

Do GM drivers get a check from the $220 million settlement?

No. The money goes to the participating states, and the settlement provides no direct consumer payments.

Is there a claim form or deadline?

No. There is no claim form, claim deadline or settlement website.

Is the private class action still going?

Yes. MDL No. 3115 is pending in the Northern District of Georgia before Judge Thomas W. Thrash Jr. No class has been certified and no private settlement has been announced.

Did GM admit wrongdoing?

No. GM did not admit wrongdoing.

What was Smart Driver?

A free OnStar feature that scored driving behavior, offered on Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac and Buick vehicles from 2016 until GM ended it in 2024.

How many drivers were affected?

Law360 reported nearly 10.3 million enrolled drivers. State filings describe millions of drivers.

Did the data raise insurance rates?

The attorneys general allege insurers used the data to set or raise premiums, in some cases for drivers with no claims history. Whether any individual driver’s rate changed depends on that driver’s insurer and records.

Can GM still sell my driving data?

Under the consent judgment, GM must obtain affirmative, express consent before collecting or sharing driving and location data. GM also faces a five-year FTC restriction on disclosures to consumer reporting agencies.

What Happens Next in the GM Driver Data Cases?

The $220 million judgment takes effect November 30, 2026, and payment is due within 30 days after that date. In MDL 3115, the case continues through discovery, class-certification briefing under Rule 23 and possible settlement talks. Texas’s separate case against GM also remains pending. This is a developing story, so check the dockets before relying on any date in this article.

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Sources and Court Records

Settlement reporting

1. National Law Review, General Motors Inks $220M Settlement Over Drivers’ Data
2. TechCrunch, GM reaches $220M settlement over selling drivers’ private data
3. Engadget, General Motors agrees to pay $220 million to settle multi-state data privacy lawsuit
4. The Register, GM multistate driver tracking settlement
5. Just Auto, GM to pay $220m over driver data
6. WNEM, Michigan joins 36-state coalition in $220M GM driver data settlement
7. GM Authority, GM agrees to pay $220M in AG driving data privacy lawsuit settlement

MDL No. 3115 court records

8. JPML Transfer Order, MDL No. 3115 (June 7, 2024)
9. Opinion and Order on Motions to Dismiss, Doc. 203 (April 22, 2026)
10. Master Consolidated Class Action Complaint, MDL No. 3115

This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. AllAboutLawyer.com is a legal information website, not a law firm. GM did not admit wrongdoing, and the allegations in the private lawsuits have not been proven.

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. All facts verified against press reporting on the attorneys general’s announcement, the MDL 3115 transfer order, opinion and master complaint, and the cited federal and state statutes, as of November 7, 2026. Last Updated: November 7, 2026.