Many car owners are curious about the capabilities of OnStar, especially when it comes to vehicle tracking. A common concern revolves around whether services like OnStar can be used for purposes beyond safety and security, such as by repossession companies to track vehicles. This article will clarify how OnStar’s vehicle tracking features work and address the question: can repo companies track your car with OnStar?
OnStar is primarily designed as a safety and security system for vehicles. One of its key features is Stolen Vehicle Slowdown (SVS), which assists law enforcement in recovering stolen vehicles. When a vehicle is reported stolen and the owner contacts OnStar, an advisor can use GPS technology to pinpoint the car’s location and share this information with the police. At the request of law enforcement, OnStar can even remotely slow down the stolen vehicle to prevent high-speed chases and ensure safer recovery. This feature is valuable for reducing risks associated with vehicle theft, and surveys indicate that over 95% of OnStar subscribers appreciate having the Stolen Vehicle Slowdown capability.
It’s important to understand that OnStar’s tracking capabilities are not continuously active. OnStar does not constantly monitor your vehicle’s location in the background. Vehicle location tracking is only initiated when a service is requested by the subscriber, such as pressing the emergency button or the OnStar button for assistance, or automatically in the event of a crash that triggers the Automatic Crash Response system. This means that under normal circumstances, OnStar respects your privacy and does not keep tabs on your car’s whereabouts.
Regarding the specific question of repossession, OnStar is not designed to be a tool for repo companies. The service is focused on vehicle safety, security, and assisting law enforcement with stolen vehicle recovery. While OnStar can locate a stolen vehicle for the police, this functionality is not available to or intended for use by repossession agencies. Furthermore, the Stolen Vehicle Slowdown feature is only activated in coordination with law enforcement to aid in the safe recovery of stolen cars, not for vehicle repossession purposes.
For those who have privacy concerns about vehicle tracking, OnStar offers an option to opt out of the Stolen Vehicle Slowdown service. Subscribers can contact OnStar at any time to remove this capability from their vehicle, providing an added layer of control over the tracking features associated with the service.
In conclusion, while OnStar does have vehicle location capabilities for safety and security purposes like stolen vehicle recovery, it is not a continuous tracking service, and it is not designed for or accessible to repossession companies. OnStar’s tracking is event-driven, initiated by user request or emergency situations, and respects user privacy under normal operating conditions. The primary goal of OnStar’s tracking features is to enhance vehicle security and assist in emergencies, not to facilitate vehicle repossession.
