TermsRating
Companies / General Motors

General Motors

9 serious, 3 to watch. Found 14 of 23 practices.
Applies to: everyday users.
F

Do they sell or share your data?Yes

We may also disclose Personal Information to the following categories of third parties. Some of these disclosures may qualify as “sales” under some state laws. Disclosures
gm.com/privacy-statement, lines 200–207
In plain wordsThe company may sell your personal information to certain third parties, which some state laws define as a sale. This means your data could be shared with outside groups for purposes beyond just providing you with their services.

7 of 7 other car companies we rated do this too.

Do they refuse responsibility when things break?Yes

GM DOES NOT WARRANT, ENDORSE, GUARANTEE, OR ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY PRODUCT OR SERVICE ADVERTISED OR OFFERED BY A THIRD-PARTY THROUGH THE WEB SITE OR ANY HYPERLINKED WEB SITE OR FEATURED IN ANY BANNER OR OTHER ADVERTISING, AND GM WILL NOT BE A PARTY TO OR IN ANY WAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING ANY TRANSACTION BETWEEN YOU AND THIRD-PARTY PROVIDERS OF PRODUCTS OR SERVICES. AS WITH THE PURCHASE OF A PRODUCT OR SERVICE THROUGH ANY MEDIUM OR IN ANY ENVIRONMENT, YOU SHOULD USE YOUR BEST JUDGMENT AND EXERCISE CAUTION WHERE APPROPRIATE. 9. Limitation of Liability
gmc.com/terms-of-service, lines 66–67
In plain wordsThis clause states that the company is not responsible for any products or services you buy from third parties through their website. If something goes wrong with a third-party transaction, the company will not help you or take any blame.

6 of 6 other car companies we rated do this too.

Do they combine your data across products?Yes

The types of Personal Information that GM collects about you when you interact with us include: Identifiers
gm.com/privacy-statement, lines 120–125
In plain wordsGM can merge your information from vehicle services, mobile apps, and home energy products into a single profile. They may also add data from outside sources to this combined profile.

3 of 4 other car companies we rated do this too.

Can they change the deal without asking?Yes

GM reserves the right to amend these Terms of Service at any time and without notice, and it is your responsibility to review these Terms of Service for any changes. Your use of the Web site following any amendment of these Terms of Service will signify your assent to and acceptance of its revised terms. YOU AGREE THAT ANY CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TOTHE WEB SITE MUST COMMENCE WITHIN ONE (1) YEAR AFTER THE CAUSE OF ACTION ACCRUES.
gmc.com/terms-of-service, lines 77–78
In plain wordsThe company can change these rules whenever they want without telling you first. If you keep using the website, you are automatically agreeing to the new rules.

Do they use your data to target ads?Yes

g more useful and relevant advertising to you on GM and non-GM websites about the products and services that may interest you Measure site activity, identify visitors to our websites, provide a better user experience, and tailor our marketing communications Evaluate our online advertising campaigns or tailor promotions and other marketing messages to you across your devices Administer your participation in contests, quizzes, surveys, promotions, and offers Purchasing, rewards and incentive programs Verify eligibility for vehicle purchase or incentive programs Verify eligibility for a My GM Rewards Card and to provide My GM Rewards Card account management services To support the electronic si
gm.com/privacy-statement, lines 177–185
In plain wordsThe company uses your personal information to show you personalized ads and marketing messages on both their own and other websites. They also track your activity to tailor promotions and communications to your specific interests across your devices.

7 of 7 other car companies we rated do this too.

Can your data go to a buyer if the company is sold?Yes

here you have chosen to receive a service from them or authorized them to request data from GM (for example, financial organizations who offer financing for the purchase or lease of GM vehicles or the My GM Rewards GM Card program) Third parties for research and development purposes (such as university research institutes for improving highway safety) In connection with the sale, transfer or financing of a GM business or its assets, including any such activities associated with a bankruptcy proceeding As required or permitted by law, such as to comply with a civil, criminal, or regulatory inquiry, investigation, subpoena, or summons by federal, state, local, or other governmental authorities
gm.com/privacy-statement, lines 213–216
In plain wordsIf the company is sold, merges with another business, or goes through bankruptcy, your personal information may be transferred to the new owners or the new entity.

6 of 7 other car companies we rated do this too.

Do they use what you post to train AI?Yes

When you enroll in OnStar, GM and GM affiliates may use Driver Behavior Information, Precise Geolocation Information, External Vehicle Camera Images and Video, and AI Assistant Interaction Information for the limited purposes outlined below.
gm.com/privacy-statement, lines 194–199
In plain wordsThis clause allows the company to use your interactions with the AI Assistant to help the system respond to your requests, which typically involves using that data to improve and train the AI. This means your conversations and commands may be used to develop their machine learning models.

3 of 4 other car companies we rated do this too.

Do they track you across sites, apps or places?Yes

Pixel tags are tiny images embedded in content These tools may work across your devices and collect information such as your activity in our Vehicle Mobile Apps, browser type, IP address, pages visited, activities conducted on the page, and the day and time of your visit. These tools show us how people interact with us—for example, by clicking an ad, navigating a webpage, or opening, clicking, or forwarding an email—and when and where those interactions occur. They also collect information about the device and browser you use, such as its name, version, operating system, and settings. In addition, they may collect network information and URL that referred you to our websites or applications.
gm.com/privacy-statement, lines 153–155
In plain wordsThe company uses tracking tools that follow your activity across different devices and record your physical location (via IP address). They also monitor how you interact with their ads, emails, and websites to build a profile of your behavior.

7 of 7 other car companies we rated do this too.

Do you pay their legal bills?Yes

10. Indemnity You agree to defend, indemnify and hold harmless GM, and its parent corporation, subsidiaries, officers, directors, employees and agents, from and against any and all claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs or debt, and expenses (including but not limited to attorney's fees) arising from: (i) your use of and access to the Web site; (ii) your violation of any term of these Terms of Service; or (iii) your violation of any third party right, including without limitation any copyright, trademark, property, publicity or privacy right. This defense and indemnification obligation will survive these Terms of Service and your use of the Web site. 11.
gmc.com/terms-of-service, lines 70–72
In plain wordsIf someone sues the company because of something you did, you must pay for their lawyers and any damages they lose. You are responsible for covering their legal costs and losses if you break the rules or violate someone else's rights.

7 of 7 other car companies we rated do this too.

Can they cut you off any time?Partly

Have fun out there, but please don't abuse the site. Please read all of these rules carefully and take them seriously. Don't try to find loopholes around the rules, they were created in the common interest of maintaining a welcoming community for all persons interested in the Web site. Violations of the user guidelines may result in a warning notification or may result in termination of your account and deletion of all or any of your content at our sole discretion. If we terminate your account, you are banned from ever signing up for another Web site account. Look for These Symbols
gmc.com/terms-of-service, lines 9–10
In plain wordsThe company can delete your account and all your content whenever they decide you have violated their rules. They also have the power to decide what counts as a violation at their own discretion.

2 of 6 other car companies we rated do this too.

Can they hand your data to authorities without telling you?Partly

As reasonably necessary to comply with a lawful government request, regulatory requirement, legal order, or similar obligation, which must be in the form of a warrant or court order, absent exigent circumstances or applicable statutory authority AI Assistant Interaction Information Service providers who work on our behalf and who do not have an independent right to use the AI Assistant Interaction Information, such as companies that help us develop our products and services As permitted by law, such as (a) to prevent, detect, protect against, or respond to security incidents, or preserve the integrity or security of systems, or (b) to investigate, establish, exercise, prepare for, or defend
gm.com/privacy-statement, lines 235–238
In plain wordsThe company can share your data with the government or law enforcement if they have a legal order, and they are not required to notify you. They may also share information with service providers or for security and legal reasons without your knowledge.

7 of 7 other car companies we rated do this too.

Do they keep your data after you leave?Partly

We take reasonable steps to respond to all requests and will work to process your request in accordance with the laws that apply where you reside. Our processing time may vary, and in some cases, we may require up to 45 days to process your request. We may retain the Personal Information you submit with your request for as long as required or permitted by applicable law.
gm.com/privacy-statement, lines 285–290
In plain wordsThe company may keep the information you provide in your requests for as long as the law allows. This means your data might not be deleted immediately even after you ask them to process a request.

3 of 5 other car companies we rated do this too.

Checked, nothing hostile

  • Does not say it reads your private messages.
  • Does not say it shows your name, photo or activity in ads.

Not covered by these documents

The documents we read do not mention these practices, which usually live in a document we haven’t read yet:

  • Do you give up the right to sue?
  • Do they get wide rights to what you post or upload?
  • Do they refuse to let you delete your account?
  • Do they lock you in for a year or more?
  • Do they keep rights to your content after you leave?
  • Are they off the hook if your data leaks?
  • Does your subscription renew by itself?
  • Must disputes be settled in their chosen court?
  • Do they own your ideas and feedback?