Miles Plug: a $99 device tracks car location and driving without selling your data
US startup Miles has launched a device that plugs into a car's OBD-II port to track location, driving habits and vehicle health. Its founders say they will not sell user data.
The Miles Plug is a small device with no screen or battery that connects to a car's OBD-II diagnostic port. Using cellular and GPS connections, it sends real-time location, alerts and driving data to an app, including speeding, hard braking and trip recaps. It is aimed mainly at parents who want to follow their teenagers' driving, though it also suits owners of older cars. The Verge's Jennifer Pattison Tuohy tested it; her 15-year-old daughter recently received a learner's permit.
Price and compatibility
The device costs $99, plus a $180 membership for a year ($279 in total). A three-year plan costs $396 with the device included. All plans are paid upfront with no auto-renewal, and the company offers a 60-day money-back guarantee. Miles says it works with most gas and hybrid cars from 2008 onward and some electric vehicles.
Data privacy
Cofounder Matt McGovren says Miles will never sell vehicle, trip or location data, and the app carries no ads. He says the data is encrypted, with the most sensitive data end-to-end encrypted. Location is tied to the car rather than the phone. Users can download their data, stop location collection and delete their account. For context, US automaker General Motors has been banned from selling data to brokers for five years.
Early testing and outlook
The reviewer has used the device for a few days in a Toyota Highlander. Setup was simple, the app identified the car, and arrival and hard-braking alerts worked. The app's AI chatbot, Miles Mechanic, explains warning lights and maintenance timing. Battery drain could not yet be judged. A similar startup, Automatic, shut down its service in 2020, but Miles' founders say the company is well capitalized.
