Don’t forget that even if you can disable its network connection (which is still an important step to avoid remote control shenanigans), the data collection may still continue, and if that’s the case the make’s diagnostic software will forward it to the cloud the next time your car is at service. I’m afraid that can’t be avoided.

Is there a way to disable the cellular antenna? Vehicle have to be prepared for dead spots. Maybe yours is always in a dead spot.

Don’t get a tesla for one, apart from that try not to get any that has internet or other services if you can.

Buy one made before, I dunno, 2005?

https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/blog/privacy-nightmare-on-wheels-every-car-brand-reviewed-by-mozilla-including-ford-volkswagen-and-toyota-flunks-privacy-test/

Here’s my advice: Don’t buy a car. Ride a bike or take public transit. Walk whenever possible.

Maintaining privacy in a (new) car might be difficult. Maybe by emitting white noise with an external bluetooth speaker so that possible microphones can’t pick up voices easily?

The problem with privacy in a new car is that there is nothing much one can do about it. Even if it were possible by altering the cars’ software (think of something like the equivalent of a browser extension for your car), this might pose a problem in case of an accident (the insurance will try to refuse compensation, because the cars’ software has been altered and thus, the car is deemed to be not road safe).

One thing to aviod this problem would be to buy an older, used car. With that, there wouldn’t be any issues regarding privacy, but mainaining the car might be more expensive, as older cars often have worse emission standards, which can result in higher taxes, depending on where you are located. Also, older cars might have a worse fuel effiency than new cars, depending on the size, weight and engine power of the car. An old economic compact car might have the same fuel efficiency as the latest doomsday street tank.

My personal advice: a used compact car, not older than five years (the older the car, the more repairs might come up, also there is a chance that a car this age already has a USB port for connecting a thumb drive or phone equipped with music), but with rear doors. Having two additional doors is an underrated feature that not only comes in handy when you pick up some friends, but they also serve as additional loading hatches that are accessible from both sides of the car.

You can attach antenna terminators to the cellular antenna.

I’m sorry to say this, but I don’t think you can really maintain privacy.

Sure, maybe you can disable some antennas to stop your location from being broadcast, but there are cameras in ever major road, so you cant get far without being spotted by a camera. Cars can also store data locally, then if you take your to the dealership, they will access the data. So you’d have to find an individual car mechanic that doesn’t read this data, and at anytime, they can betray your trust. Not to mention, your phone is kinda already tracking you, so you’d have to turn that off as well, even dumbphones still have cellular triangulation and has even worse security. And whenever you need to use your phone, the carrier will know where you are.

So I think in the modern world with all these cameras, you kinda have to accept that you ain’t gonna get much privacy.

Or the alterative is to not have a phone on you when you travel, take public transport, cover your face, etc.

If you want privacy, you’ll have to sacrifice convienience.

Read the manual

Buy a renault 12

I only saw a few people saying this, but buy a used car from anywtime-2012 max.

Make sure that car is in good shape, has been up to date on oil changes and was well taken care of. And if you wants some newer car features, adding in a newer stereo could do the trick.

But get used to learning how to fix your car because less cars will be made that meet your requirements. Meaning that if you don’t to sacrifice privacy for a new car when yours breaks down, be ready to fix it.

The effort needed to neuter surveillance equipment in modern cars without compromising functionality is comparable to the effort of sprucing up an older car. Possibly biased from driving and maintaining a decades-old car. Is there a particular reason you prefer a modern car?

Are cars outside the United States more privacy conscious, or is this a gap in GDPR as well?

Dare I ask what you are doing in your car that requires privacy?

Are you not wanting people to know where you go or are you beating off in the passing lane and don’t want to make accidental eye contact with anyone?

Don’t answer those questions actually. I will assume what the answers might be and respond to whatever my imagination gives me.

First things first, if you are beating off and don’t want anyone to see, get tinted windows. One way mirrors would be sweet but are probably illegal in most places. They would be nice for those a-holes that drive at night and have stupidly bright headlights. I could really see myself in a car with mirrored windows that aren’t one way mirrors.

Others already covered that phones track everything and your car is harvesting all the data it can. Driving without a phone is exponentially safer than with one. That’s my opinion, I have no way to claim it as fact with any proof. Makes me wish phone booths were still a thing but I doubt one would fit in any modern car.

Even if you secured the car or found an old one that worked well, you’d need to avoid every camera out there and even things like billboards. Billboards frequently have wifi or bluetooth by the way. They track the cars that drive by and the people that walk by. Not just the noticeably electronic ones, take a close look at a billboard sometime, especially if you can see behind it. You’ll likely find a device doing more than just powering spotlights on the crappy advertisement.

Unless someone invents a wearable Faraday cage that isn’t obvious or constraining, you are not invisible to the all seeing eyes of technology.

If you want vehicular privacy so no one knows you are buying illegal drugs, you’ll want to choose a place that’s secluded with a good view in all directions to avoid ambush from cops or gangs. Alternatively you could do a place that’s very busy, hide in plain sight. It depends on how much you trust your connection. I mean your drug dealer, not your internet plan.

If you want car privacy to pick up a prostitute in a place where prostitution is illegal, simply say you only wish to film a pornography. This makes you a director, not a criminal. Maybe. I’m not a cop or a lawyer.

If you want to be private in a car while you pick up a prostitute where it is legal, you can park beforehand and approach the individual or group on foot. You could also borrow a friends car or get a rental. It’s legal, you really could do it with any vehicle. Don’t hide your desires. Be free.

If you seek privacy in your vehicle to work as a prostitute, regardless of legality, you probably will have a difficult time obtaining customers. A custom license plate that is crafted cleverly enough might do the trick. You could also make an account on OnlyVans.

If you auto privacy is needed because your psycho ex is stalking you, go make some friends at the nearest gym and start carrying mace or a tazer. Wasp spray is a cheaper alternative to those. It has great range and is almost as effective at a fraction of the cost. Don’t hide, it’s time to fight back!

If your privacy needs when driving are because you are stalking your ex, don’t do that, you psycho. It’s time to move on. Let them go. There are plenty of fish in the sea. Don’t worry if feel like you are going to die alone, because remember, in your car you are never truly alone. Technology is always watching. Even when you masturbate in your car.

Hope this helps, drive safe!

your username 🥰