Harshbarger, Weber, Perry introduce DRIVER Act to Restore Americans’ Property Rights and Protect Vehicle Data

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), along with her colleagues, Congressman Randy Weber (R-TX) and Congressman Scott Perry (R-PA) introduced the Data Rights for Information and Vehicle Electronics in Real-time (DRIVER) Act , legislation that reaffirms a basic principle: if you own the vehicle, you should own the data it generates.

"If you buy the car, you should own the data. It's that simple," said Congresswoman Harshbarger. "Automakers have quietly taken control of information that rightfully belongs to consumers. The DRIVER Act restores those property rights, strengthens privacy protections, and ensures no foreign adversary can access Americans' sensitive vehicle data. This bill puts Americans back in the driver's seat and protects our data and national security in the digital age."

"In a day and age where data collection is the new gold rush, Americans shouldn't lose control over their own personal information just by turning the key in their car," said Congressman Weber. "Drivers deserve clear ownership of the data their vehicles generate and the peace of mind that it isn't being misused or sent overseas. I'm proud to work with Congresswoman Harshbarger on the DRIVER Act to implement these common-sense protections, safeguard privacy, and ensure vehicle data stays in the driver's hands."

"Auto manufacturers are secretly tracking where, when, and how you drive - and it's an obvious threat to your Constitutional right to privacy," said Congressman Perry. "Our 'DRIVER Act' restores your property rights, ownership of your data, and revokes self-awarded, all-access pass to private property. When you buy a car, it's yours - to include your vehicle-generated data. The DRIVER Act is a win for common sense and drivers across America."

Additionally, the DRIVER Act has the support of the American Vehicle Owners Alliance and Enterprise.

"For too long, automakers have held the keys not just to our vehicles, but also to the data we generate by driving them. This bill is a critical step to restore trust and ensure that American drivers-not just manufacturers-access and control the information generated by their own vehicles. When you buy a car, you should own both the machine and the data it produces. For individual drivers, this means stronger privacy and property rights. For fleet owners and operators, it means fair access to their data, which they need to maintain vehicles, manage safety, and keep their businesses competitive. AVOA urges Congress to pass the DRIVER Act to protect consumers' property rights, foster competition, and prevent unnecessary and burdensome restrictions on owners' access to their data." - Richard Ward, Executive Director of AVOA

You can read the full bill text HERE .

BACKGROUND:

For decades, vehicle owners-whether individuals, small businesses, or fleet managers-had full access to essential vehicle information like mileage, diagnostics, fuel levels, and even location data. But as modern vehicles became more connected, automakers increasingly claimed ownership of this data, restricting access and eroding the traditional property rights of vehicle owners.

The DRIVER Act restores control to the American driver. By ensuring real-time access to all vehicle-generated data, strengthening privacy protections, and blocking the sale of sensitive information to foreign adversaries, the bill establishes a future-ready framework that promotes safety, competition, and national security.

Key Provisions of the DRIVER Act:

• Affirms full data ownership by granting vehicle owners secure, real-time access to all data their vehicle produces-through standard physical ports and wireless interfaces-without paying additional fees to manufacturers.
• Strengthens privacy protections and empowers owners to block the sale of sensitive data, including biometrics, driver behavior, and geolocation, and allows consumers to easily delete personal information stored in onboard infotainment systems.
• Protects national security by prohibiting the sale of any vehicle data to companies owned, controlled, or influenced by foreign adversaries.
• No cost to taxpayers thanks to existing Federal Trade Commission enforcement authority, requiring no new spending or appropriations.