How do you request and clean personal data from a Smart Car?

There’s something oddly unsettling about requesting your driving data from your car manufacturer and discovering they know exactly when you took that sharp turn too fast, what time you left for work every single day, and even which grocery store is your favorite—all without you ever telling them.

Table of Contents

TL;DR

Your Smart car collects extensive data about your driving habits, location history, and personal preferences. This data is often shared with data brokers and insurance companies. You have the legal right to request a copy of your privacy report—the complete record of what Smart knows about you. This step-by-step guide walks you through submitting your request, reviewing the data for accuracy, correcting errors, and deleting information you don’t want shared. We cover the specific process for Smart vehicles, legal timelines, what to look for in your report, and how to clean your data thoroughly.

Key Takeaways

You have the legal right to request your complete privacy report from Smart
Privacy reports contain location history, driving patterns, charging data (EVs), and shared partner information
Data brokers like LexisNexis and Verisk also hold your driving data and must provide reports
Reviewing your report helps you identify inaccuracies and unnecessary data collection
You can request corrections and deletions of incorrect or unneeded data
Regular privacy audits help maintain control over your personal information
European owners have stronger data rights under GDPR; U.S. owners have varying protections

Understanding What’s in Your Smart Privacy Report

Types of Data Collected

Your Smart vehicle collects numerous categories of personal information. Understanding what’s included helps you review your report thoroughly.

Vehicle Operation Data:

Location history – GPS coordinates of every trip
Trip logs – Start and end times, duration, distance
Speed patterns – Average speed, maximum speed, speeding events
Acceleration and braking – Hard braking events, rapid acceleration
Cornering data – How you take turns
Mileage – Total miles driven, trip-by-trip breakdown

Personal Identification Data:

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Owner name and contact information
Driver profiles – Personalized settings
Phone numbers – Connected to vehicle systems
Email addresses – Associated with Smart accounts

Electric Vehicle-Specific Data (Smart #1, #3, #5):

Charging history – Where, when, how long
Battery health – Degradation patterns
Efficiency data – kWh per mile, regenerative braking usage
Range predictions – Historical range calculations
HVAC usage – Climate control patterns

Connected Services Data:

App usage – Smart Connect app activity
OTA update history – Over-the-air update records
Voice command history – Recordings and commands
Music and media preferences
Navigation history – Destinations searched and navigated

Many Smart owners are surprised to discover the depth of data collected. Even basic driving generates dozens of data points per trip.

How Long Data Is Retained

Data Type	Retention Period	Can You Delete?
Location History	6-24 months	Yes (request deletion)
Driving Patterns	Up to 3 years	Yes
Diagnostic Data	Vehicle lifespan	Partial deletion possible
Charging History (EVs)	Up to 3 years	Yes
Connected App Data	Account lifetime	Yes (close account)
Voice Recordings	6-12 months	Yes

Step 1: Determine Which Reports You Need

Smart’s Official Privacy Report

This report comes directly from Smart/Mercedes-Benz and includes all data collected through your vehicle’s connected systems.

How to Get It:

Submit a formal Subject Access Request (SAR) to Smart
Complete through Smart’s privacy portal
Email or written request acceptable

Data Broker Reports

These reports come from third-party companies that purchase and aggregate driving data from manufacturers.

Key Brokers to Contact:

LexisNexis Risk Solutions

Largest auto insurance data broker
Collects data from multiple manufacturers
Provides “CLUE” and “Auto Insurance Score” reports

Verisk Analytics

Specializes in insurance data
Provides “Insurance Score” and “Driving Record” reports

ISO (Insurance Services Office)

Aggregates claims data
May hold driving history information

Credit Bureau Reports

Credit bureaus also collect vehicle-related information:

Experian Auto – Vehicle ownership history
Equifax – May have vehicle data
TransUnion – Insurance-related records

Step 2: Request Your Smart Privacy Report

Method 1: Online Request Portal

Smart/Mercedes-Benz Privacy Portal:

Visit Smart’s official privacy website
Navigate to “Privacy” or “Data Protection”
Look for “Request My Data” or “Subject Access Request”
Complete the online form with:

Your full name
Email address linked to your Smart account
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Date of birth
Address on record

Submit the request
Note: You’ll receive a confirmation email immediately

Data Broker Online Portals:

LexisNexis:

Visit consumer.lexisnexis.com
Click “Request Your Report”
Complete identity verification
Submit request
Reports processed within 15 days

Verisk:

Visit Verisk consumer website
Complete “Insurance Score” request form
Provide identification documents
Submit request
Processed within 30 days

Method 2: Written Request

Sample Written Request Letter:

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, Zip]
[Your Email]
[Your Phone]
[Date]

Subject: Subject Access Request – Request for Personal Data

Dear Smart/Mercedes-Benz Privacy Team,

I am submitting a formal request under applicable data protection laws to receive all personal data collected about me through my Smart vehicle.

Vehicle Information:

VIN: [Insert VIN]

Model: [Smart Fortwo/Forfour/#1/#3/#5]

Year: [Insert Year]

My Details:

Full Name: [Insert Full Name]

Date of Birth: [Insert DOB]

Email Address: [Insert Email]

Phone Number: [Insert Phone]

Current Address: [Insert Address]

Requested Information:

All location and GPS data collected

All driving behavior and telemetry data

All connected services data

All app usage data

Data shared with third parties

Voice command recordings

Charging history (if applicable)

Please provide this information in a machine-readable format (CSV or JSON) as well as a human-readable summary.

Please confirm receipt of this request and provide the data within the legally required timeframe.

Sincerely,

[Your Signature]
[Printed Name]

Email Request:

Send to: privacy@smart.com (or your region’s specific privacy email)

What to Include in Email:

“Subject Access Request” in subject line
Same information as written letter
Attach proof of identity
Request confirmation of receipt

Method 3: Phone Request (Not Recommended)

While possible, phone requests offer minimal documentation. Always use written methods for legal protection.

When to Consider Phone:

If digital portals aren’t working
Following up on delayed written requests
Clarifying what information you need

Phone Number:

U.S.: 1-800-SMART-USA (1-800-762-7882)
Europe: Contact your local Smart dealer

Important: Record the date, time, and name of the representative you speak with. Follow up with written confirmation.

Step 3: Verify Your Identity and Wait for Processing

What Happens Next

Acknowledgment:
Within 1-3 days, you should receive a confirmation that your request has been received. This is legally required and provides a timeline for completion.

Identity Verification:
To prevent fraud, Smart will need to verify your identity:

Provide government-issued ID (driver’s license, passport)
Confirm VIN and vehicle details
Verify address on file
Sometimes require notarized request

Typical Processing Times:

Request Type	Legal Timeframe	Typical Time
EU/UK (GDPR)	30 days	2-4 weeks
US (CCPA)	45 days	3-6 weeks
Other US States	30-60 days	4-8 weeks
Data Brokers	15-30 days	2-4 weeks

Smart owners in Europe and California have stronger legal protections with shorter required response times. Follow up if you haven’t received your report within the legal timeframe.

If Your Request Is Denied

Possible Reasons for Denial:

Incomplete identification
Incorrect VIN or vehicle details
Previous request not fully processed
Legal exceptions (safety, investigation)

How to Appeal:

Request written explanation for denial
Provide additional documentation
Contact privacy officer directly
File complaint with relevant authority:

EU: National Data Protection Authority
US: FTC (Federal Trade Commission)
UK: Information Commissioner’s Office

Step 4: Review Your Privacy Report Thoroughly

What to Look For

Location Data:

Review all trip logs
Check for unknown locations (potential sharing)
Verify trip dates and times
Note excessive data retention

Driving Patterns:

Identify hard braking events
Review acceleration patterns
Check speeding occurrences
Compare with your driving memory
Smart owners often find that their driving data is more detailed than expected, sometimes tracking behavior they didn’t realize was being recorded.

Personal Information:

Verify your name and contact details
Check for misspellings
Review any stored contacts
Identify any incorrect personal details

Third-Party Sharing Records:

List of partners receiving your data
Types of data shared
Frequency of sharing
Retention period with partners

EV-Specific Data Review:

Charging station locations
Electricity consumption patterns
Battery health metrics
Range prediction history

Common Inaccuracies to Spot

Location Errors:

GPS drift causing incorrect locations
Trips attributed to wrong driver
Vehicle parked in wrong location

Driving Pattern Errors:

Hard braking attributed to you (could be adaptive cruise control)
Speeding events incorrectly dated
Mixed-up vehicle data

Identity Errors:

Incorrect name spelling
Wrong address associated
Multiple VINs incorrectly linked

Data Sharing Errors:

Partners you never authorized
Data sharing you opted out of
Excessive retention periods

What to Document

Create a spreadsheet or document with:

Issue Found	Location in Report	Action Needed
Incorrect address	Section 2, page 4	Request correction
Unknown trip	Section 5, page 12	Question accuracy
Unauthorized sharing	Section 7, page 18	Request deletion
Incorrect VIN linkage	Section 1, page 2	Request correction

Step 5: Clean Your Report and Request Corrections

Correcting Inaccurate Data

Identification and Documentation:

Note the specific error
Gather supporting documentation
Prepare clear explanation of correction needed

Request for Correction:

Subject: Correction Request – Privacy Report

Dear Smart Privacy Team,

I received my privacy report (Request #: [Insert]) on [Date]. I’ve identified the following inaccuracies that require correction:

Error 1:

Location in report: Section [X], page [Y]

Current data: [What it says]

Correction needed: [What it should be]

Supporting documentation: [Attach evidence]

Error 2:

[Repeat for each issue]

Please confirm when these corrections have been made and provide an updated report.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Legal Protections:

GDPR: Right to rectification
CCPA: Right to correct inaccurate information
Most states: Can request correction under fair credit reporting

Deleting Unnecessary Data

What You Can Request for Deletion:

Location history beyond legal retention
Voice recordings you never explicitly consented to
Data from unnecessary third-party sharing
Outdated personal information
Data you no longer need stored

Sample Deletion Request:

Subject: Data Deletion Request – Privacy Report

Dear Smart Privacy Team,

I received my privacy report (Request #: [Insert]) on [Date]. I am requesting deletion of the following data under my rights to data erasure:

Data to Delete:

All location history prior to [Date]

Voice recordings (I did not consent to cloud processing)

Data shared with [Specific Partner] (I did not authorize)

Trip logs for [Specific Period]

Please confirm deletion and provide documentation of compliance.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Opting Out of Future Data Collection

Request to Opt Out:

Subject: Opt-Out Request – Future Data Collection

Dear Smart Privacy Team,

I wish to exercise my right to opt out of future data collection, sharing, and processing beyond what is strictly necessary for vehicle safety and legal compliance.

Opt-Out Requests:

Cease all location data collection (navigation use only)

Disable voice recording and storage

Stop data sharing with third-party partners

Disable driving behavior analysis

Please confirm all future data collection limitations within 15 days.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Important: Opting out may affect some connected services. Safety features like eCall (emergency calling) may still collect limited data.

Step 6: Address Data Broker Reports

LexisNexis Report Review

How to Review:

Once you receive your LexisNexis report, compare it with your Smart report
Look for discrepancies or extra data
Identify any data LexisNexis has that isn’t in Smart’s report

Common Discrepancies:

Claims history (insurance claims)
Driving records (from insurance companies)
Risk scores (calculated from driving data)

Dispute Process:

Identify inaccurate information
Submit dispute online or by mail
Provide supporting documentation
LexisNexis has 30 days to investigate
Receive corrected report or explanation

Verisk Report Review

Review Process:

Receive your Verisk Insurance Score report
Check for all driving data sources
Verify accuracy of each data point
Note any unexplained information

Dispute Process:

Complete Verisk’s online dispute form
Attach evidence of inaccuracies
Verisk investigates within 30 days
Receive resolution and corrected report

Ongoing Monitoring

Set Calendar Reminders:

Request updated reports every 6 months
Review new data collection patterns
Check for changes in sharing partners
Verify privacy settings remain active

Step 7: Maintain Ongoing Privacy Protection

Regular Privacy Audits

Monthly:

Review vehicle privacy settings
Check app permissions
Verify location services status
Clear navigation history

Quarterly:

Request updated data broker reports
Review driving data retention
Check for new connected features
Update privacy preferences

Annual:

Submit new Subject Access Request
Complete full privacy audit
Review manufacturer privacy policy changes
Consider legal updates in your region

Securing Connected Devices

Smartphone Security:

Enable two-factor authentication
Use unique passwords for Smart account
Regularly clear app data and cache
Review connected device list

Vehicle Settings:

Setting	Recommended
Data Sharing	Disabled (or minimal)
Location Services	While Using Only
Voice Commands	Button-activated only
Cloud Processing	Disabled
App Permissions	Minimal necessary

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to receive my Smart privacy report?

Typically 2-4 weeks for EU/UK requests, 3-6 weeks for US requests under CCPA. Data broker reports often take 2-4 weeks.

Can I request my privacy report more than once?

Yes, you can request reports as often as you like. Smart may limit excessive or unreasonable requests.

Does my Smart privacy report include insurance data?

No, your Smart report contains data directly from your vehicle. For insurance data, request reports from LexisNexis and Verisk separately.

What if I find inaccurate data in my report?

Submit a formal correction request with supporting documentation. Companies must investigate and correct verified inaccuracies.

Can I delete all my driving history?

You can request deletion of non-essential data. Some data may be retained for safety, legal, or warranty purposes.

Do I have to pay for my privacy report?

No, you’re legally entitled to one free request per year. Additional requests may carry a small fee.

What happens if Smart ignores my request?

File a complaint with your data protection authority. In the EU, contact the national GDPR enforcement body. In the US, contact the FTC or your state attorney general.

Sample Privacy Clean-Up Timeline

Day 1-7: Initial Requests

Submit Smart Subject Access Request
Request LexisNexis report
Request Verisk report

Day 8-30: Review and Document

Receive and review Smart report
Receive and review data broker reports
Create correction/deletion spreadsheet

Day 31-45: Request Changes

Submit data corrections to Smart
Submit data deletion requests
Dispute inaccurate broker data

Day 46-60: Follow-Up

Confirm corrections processed
Request updated reports
Adjust ongoing privacy settings

Day 61+: Ongoing Protection

Set quarterly review reminders
Maintain privacy settings
Stay informed of legal changes

Final Thoughts

Your Smart car collects extensive data about your life, habits, and driving behavior. Taking control of this information requires active effort, but the peace of mind is worth it. By requesting your privacy report, reviewing it thoroughly, and cleaning up unnecessary data, you regain some control over your personal information.

The most effective privacy protection is ongoing. Submit your request today, review your report when it arrives, and make this a regular part of your vehicle ownership routine. Your data is valuable—protect it accordingly.

Have you requested your Smart privacy report? What surprised you most about what you found? Share your experience in the comments below.

References

Privacy Rights and Data Request Resources: