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If it's a newer car, it's unlikely that it will even have a physical sim and instead use esim.
Source: did work for a major automaker and talked to people on the teams involved
Find a car that isn't supported for network features anymore is my primary suggestion. (Using the 3g network or before)
Thanks, I didn't know the eSims weren't physical cards.
Btw, 3G network is shutting down extremely soon for both Optus and Telstra (and providers using their networks), so I won't be able to do that with any future car. Telstra is going on August 31, Optus is going in September. Your phone probably isn't locked to 3G, but even if your phone supports 4G and/or 5G but does not support a technology called "VoLTE", you may not be able to call emergency services after the 3G closure date. Both Telstra and Optus have provided an option to easily check if your phone is compatible after the closure. Using either Optus, Telstra, or other providers using their network, you can text 3 to the number 3498 and they will send you an automated message telling you whether your phone will be affected after the closure or not.
https://www.optus.com.au/support/mobiles-tablets-wearables/important-changes-3g
https://www.telstra.com.au/support/mobiles-devices/3g-closure
I doubt any modern car with those features have a physical sim card you can remove. They are probably all using some sort of esim. On some cars the antennas can be unplugged but that depends on the specific model. If you're unlucky, you will not even be able to remove the tracking features at all because they are integrated with other components needed to function.
With regards to the legality of that, I unfortunately cant help you there. Probably best to search for local cases or ask a local lawyer.
Your best option in probably buing a used car thats old enogh not to track you. Hope that helps a bit
As others have said it will likely be an ESIM or similar solution because there isn't a need for the manufacturer to support physical SIMs.
Regarding being tracked though, Australia has ANPR just like most other developed countries, you will be trackable even if your car was just a Flintstones car with a numberplate.
I'd also add if you've got a phone in your pocket, that's just as trackable
This is more about the car maker harvesting data, rather than just tracking the car. Car makers have been (quietly) building more tech into their cars to collect data for the purposes of selling it to third parties. It's effectively the enshittification of cars.
It’s not Toyota it’s all of them and Mozilla did a much better report
That is not the problem, it’s the incredible invasion of privacy the cars have from the manufacturer not the state. Lookup Mozilla privacy report on cars for more information. It’s appalling.
I can't speak to the legality, but if you own the vehicle 100%, I can't see removing parts from the vehicle being illegal as long as they don't impinge on road safety.
I would recommend removing more than just the SIM card, if the radios have their own fuse, take the fuse out, or physically remove the radios themselves.
Yep. It's your car to do with it what you want. The ADRs (Australian Design Rules) only apply at point of sale. Once it's yours, it merely needs meet roadworthy requirements. As long as you keep a functioning speedo, wipers and lights, you can rip out every bit of electronics in the car.
You'd better be leaving your phone at home every time you drive that car or you've defeated the point
Not necessarily true. Don't let perfection be the enemy of good enough. Limiting the number of organizations that have your data is a good thing. There's no reason the car vendor needs that data
Why would a car manufacturer give you cellular service for free? If you don’t pay for subscriptions, surely they’re not seeing any of your car’s data?
The telemetry from your car has value, plus if they control your infotainment system they can constantly try to upsell you to subscribe or buy other features.
Not to mention when we're talking about on a car manufacturer, they can negotiate fleet-wide data access for all the vehicles. With an agreement with the manufacturer that if the user actually buys data access for themselves, they split the profit with the carrier
So new cars have always-on cellular connectivity regardless of subscriptions paid? That’s insane. The auto industry is a genuine menace.
Not all new cars. But some. Whenever you get a vehicle, it's probably a good idea to buy one of those aftermarket service manuals sold to car mechanics for your make and model. Then you can verify radio repair etc etc and what circuits to take out etc
Besides if you're trying to do information upsell, you don't want your customer to have to go to a cell phone store and buy a SIM card and put it in the car. That's extra friction they might change their mind. You want it to be always on and available, so they can just consent and get into the funnel
Also there’s many more settings on a phone to disable share your location for most uses vs on a car where it seems like your location goes straight to insurance companies.
Research the fuses on the car. The smart systems or modem can most likely be disabled by removing power to them.
Or if the fuses apply to too broad of a system, the wireless modem should be able to be disconnected.
Manufacturers like to implement this capability using modules which can be used across their lines of vehicles. Here's an example for a 2017 Silverado, but you'd want to research service manuals / diagrams for the vehicle you're considering buying: https://www.silveradosierra.com/threads/2017-silverado-removed-lte-modem.660593/
Unfortunately, any mobile data component likely to be integrated with something more integral to the car, like the entire entertainment/climate control interface, or something equally difficult/impossible to drive without.
the modem or mobile router in the car is what can be tracked by telcos via IMEI pings with or without an ESIM. telematics units can be disabled by pulling fuses and you should also call to opt out with most car manufacturers.
Are you sure your car actually has a simcard?
edit rereading I see youre asking about a potential car for the future.
I found very little info- except this, which hints at having network connectivity without a simcard (and also discusses swapping sims). But I found very little else
https://intotomorrow.com/can-you-swap-the-sim-card-in-your-car/
A second link about someone asking whether they should remove the card before returning the car. The advice says to take it out. Which implies to me, for this car at least, itll function without a sim
https://www.fpaceforum.com/threads/leave-or-remove-sim-when-turning-car-in.47642/
I suggest using public transport since that is almost impossible to do
When you do finally drive, you'll find that having a GPS and such is awesome.
If you're paranoid to that extent, you're better off getting an old car honestly. But trust me, nobody cares about tracking your car, and there are so many licence plate readers here in Australia you're not really anonymous anyway
I think OP is referring to the whole "connected cars" thing, which isn't the same as GPS. Many cars nowadays have mobile data capabilities on and are, unbeknownst to the owner, sending all sorts of information to the car makers.
This isn't just governments and government contractors collecting data for road use and tolling. It's for-profit companies harvesting consumer data for their own purpose. OP is right to be paranoid.
I know how helpful GPS is. Also, I am not paranoid, and you shouldn't be making those kinds of assumptions about anyone you don't know. I simply want to minimize private data being open for abuse and am exploring what can and can't be done, and their benefits and disadvantages. This after all, is the privacy community you're talking in; where you share advice and knowledge about enhancing ones privacy, not telling them they are paranoid for pursuing it.
Cellular service has nothing to do with gps capabilities.
true, but totally irrelevant. Gps has nothing to do with sim cards
This is just the usual "nothing to hide" handwaving argument.
This data is not used by some theoretical policeman to laugh at how bad you drive, it is part of commercial datamining present in virtually all devices and services you use.
GPS and such? Great that I have a smartphone that I trust more, and have more control over, than this big blackbox with no access whatsoever.
I guess the manufacturer would void any warranty you have on the car, so there'that to be considered
I'm happy to take that to court. There are legal controls on what invalidates a warranty, including reasons that can't be signed away in a contract.
Doing god's work my mate!
Better would be to locate the antenna connection on the device that's doing the communication, and replace the antenna with a dummy load.
With how big Australia is and how long the stretches are in which there are only things that want to kill and/or consume you how wise is it to do that? I'm not trolling, if I got jumped by a rowdy gang of drop crocs I'd rather people at least knew where to start looking for the pieces.
A better question is 'how often will you drive these areas'
For most it's never
A good point, but if privacy is their key concern then I would imagine it would have to be a two step approach - rip out the SIM and radio, but also have a couple of plan B's such as phones with location tracking (the irony isn't lost on me), land-based EPIRB's, or satphones or whatever's needed.
That, or invest in some drop-croc martial arts!