While Congress was away on recess, the American Vehicle Owners Alliance (AVOA) worked hard to advance policies that put drivers, fleet operators, and vehicle owners first. Our summer advocacy focused on ensuring that vehicle owners are shaping the future of transportation policy.
Advancing Priorities in Surface Transportation Reauthorization
AVOA submitted formal comments on vehicle data access to both the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the House Energy & Commerce Committee as they began work on the next surface transportation reauthorization bill. The coalition’s comments highlighted three critical recommendations:
- Legislative language ensuring vehicle owners and operators have unrestricted, real-time access to and control of all raw data generated by their vehicles.
- A regulatory framework that affirms the ability of owners to direct data to third-party providers of their choice.
- Statutory provisions that prohibit manufacturers from limiting, conditioning, or charging for such access.
By championing these proposals, AVOA is working to ensure that reauthorization legislation supports competitive innovation, protects consumer privacy, and reinforces the property rights of vehicle owners.
Advocating for Vehicle Data Privacy Legislation
These principles outlined in AVOA’s written comments are reflected in last year’s Auto Data Privacy and Autonomy Act, a strong bipartisan model for codifying vehicle data rights. To further emphasize the points made in our written submissions, the coalition met directly with congressional offices to discuss the urgent need for a federal vehicle data privacy bill.
In our comments, we respectfully urged the DOT to formally support legislative efforts and recommend statutory language that ensures vehicle owners have full access and control over their vehicle data. Taking such action would modernize federal transportation policy and elevate vehicle data access as a core infrastructure issue and that affects property rights, foster innovation, and promote safety.
Looking Ahead
As the surface transportation reauthorization process moves forward this fall, AVOA will continue to engage with federal agencies, lawmakers, and stakeholders to make sure vehicle and fleet owners have a strong voice in shaping policy.