[Philkotse tips] Let's learn how to wipe your data from your vehicle

It’s vital that you remove these data before passing the ownership of the vehicle onto another person. If you are planning to sell your vehicle, you might want to remember this before handing over the keys.

If not, you may end up selling your vehicle and throwing in your info for free. So how do you wipe your personal data from your car’s computer? Would you need an expert to do that, or can you do it yourself? Get the answers you need in this article from Philkotse.com.

That’s why it’s vital that you remove these data before passing the ownership of the vehicle onto another person

1. Delete your contacts

One of the first things every new car owner does is sync his phone with the car.  When you do this, you’re leaving the contact number of your friends and family members in your vehicle. You may also leave text messages if you have a habit of using your car’s system to read phone messages.

Now we all know that reading and contacting friends and family through your car’s system makes in-vehicle communication easier and more convenient. And though there is technically nothing wrong with that, you may end up sharing your data.

When a car owner syncs his phone with the car’s system, he or she might leave contact information in the car

Do this data wipe just before you turn over the vehicle to your buyer, or ask someone to remind you about it. The deleting process will vary from one car to another, but you won’t have to worry because automakers make the buttons easy for their customers to identify.

You should be able to choose the phones that are synced with the car. Just tap the phone that is currently synced, and you can take it from there. Your phone will most likely prompt you to do the following steps.

>>> Read more: See what happens to the automotive industry after AI.

2. Remove maps and locations

This is another step that’s usually forgotten by a lot of vehicle owners. The navigation system in your vehicle contains all of your regularly visited places. With that said, you can just imagine how much info a stranger can gather about you.

By removing these types of data, you are protecting yourself from people with ill intentions. Not only that, but you’ll also be making it easier for the buyer to settle in. He can instantly use the system without worrying about deleting the pre-recorded data in it.

To delete this, go to your vehicle’s maps, destinations, and location settings. This will display a menu that will let you delete previous addresses and saved locations.

The navigation system in your vehicle may contain a list of the places you visit

>>> FYI: This is what happens when you put absolute belief in GPS directions.

3. Clear out the mobile apps

If there is important log-in information stored in the apps you’re using, this info may also be accessed via the car. There are apps that can help you locate the vehicle if it was ever stolen. Any other apps that you’re using in sync with your car may also contain passwords and other vital info. That is why you should delete these types of apps before handing out your car to the next owner.

Any other apps that you’re using in sync with your car may also contain passwords and other vital info

>>> See how important maps are: Let's drive smart: What you need to know about Google Maps.

4. Unsubscribe from digital content

If you have any type of subscription for your vehicle, you can transfer it to a new car. This may sound like a lot of work, but it’s actually easy to do. Terminating and/or transferring digital content subscriptions is one of the most commonly forgotten tasks.

If you forget to do this, new owners may still have access to your subscriptions. But of course, the service will still be charged to you. The easiest way to do this is to contact your service provider and tell them that you’re selling your car. You can decide whether you’ll be terminating or transferring the service to another vehicle.

The vehicles that are roaming the streets these days are starting to get more tech-filled

5. Use apps

There are apps that are specifically made for these types of things. They can be found all over the web with different capabilities. You can pick the one you find best. Our suggestion, on the other hand, is the Privacy4Cars. It allows its users to select cars according to their makes and models. Then, it provides step-by-step instructions on how you can wipe your info from that car.

Check out: Smart driving: Want a perfect drive? Consider these 5 car apps.

A lot of us don’t know it, but we actually have a lot of data in our cars