The advanced technologies that are standard equipment in today’s cars were pure science fiction when I first started working on cars in the mid-1960s. One technology, telematics, is a double-edged sword. While you can trigger a command to remotely open your doors if you lock your keys in your car or want to warm up the engine on a cold winter day before your daily commute, the same telematics cause driver anxiety as they provide a way for third parties or dealerships to turn off your car.
Who owns, or has rights to access, your vehicles telematics and telematic data—even personal data, and how that data are shared—is a legal gray area and another story for another time. But as any repo man will tell you, if you lease, or are paying off a loan on your car, unless you hold the title, you do not own your car.
Read along as lawyers, law enforcement and automotive experts weigh in on whether a car dealership can turn your car off—or has the right to?
How Remote Car Disabling Works
Telematics providers (General Motors, OnStar, Hyundai Blue Link or SpaceX Starlink) can send signals via cellular or satellite that can remotely disable your vehicle’s ignition or starter system (I.E., remote starting in reverse), keep the engine from starting after being turned off, lock the doors, as well as use GPS data to track a vehicle’s location. According to On-Star, they “work with law enforcement to block the engine from restarting, pinpoint your car’s location and even bring it to a stop if it’s being driven.”
However, according to Michael Kruse, a Criminal Defense Lawyer specializing in traffic-related and criminal charges, “Doing so (disabling a car while it is moving) would leave them open to liability if it resulted in an accident or injury to an innocent third party.” Once law enforcement becomes involved, telematics providers have the ability to slow the vehicle down to a crawl.
How to tell if your car has been disabled (or if something else is wrong)
Unless you believe your dealership or lender has cause to keep your car from starting, check the usual electrical and mechanical suspects first:
- Anti-theft systems may keep a car from starting—check the owner’s manual or use the app to disengage the anti-theft system.
- Clicking sound when starting indicates dirty battery cables, a weak battery or bad starter or starter solenoid, try checking battery voltage.
- Dimming lights or accessories not working properly points to a problem with the battery or alternator—check electrical/battery connections and alternator belt condition.
- Engine cranks normally but shuts off could signify a fuel delivery, ignition, or engine sensor failure—use a scan tool to check for trouble codes if the Check Engine Light is on.
If everything seems to be in working order, contact your lender or dealer if you suspect your car has been remotely turned off.
Reasons a Dealership Would Disable Your Car
The most common reason is missed payments, or “a customer refuses to return a loaner car,” said Greg Eife, of Subaru of Cherry Hill. But he added, as did Mike Rocchi from the Faulkner Automotive Organization, “it’s not something I can do from my desk, it has to be done through the telematics’ provider.” Harper added, “dealers themselves are not usually entitled to disable a car even if they sold it, except where they are the lender.”
Is It Legal?
“Yes,” said Kruse. “The right to disable [a vehicle] is based on contractual law.” You need to examine your financing contract immediately to see if you defaulted on the loan agreement. A borrower may not be aware of the legalese within the full agreement. Ron Harper of Defenders Legal Service stated, if your “signed [financial] contract states that remote disablement is allowed if you miss payments, they have the legal right to do that.”
Kruse also added that in rare circumstances, “Dealerships can do this if telematics identify a hazardous problem in a safety system.” “Except under exigent circumstances, even law enforcement cannot just remotely disable a vehicle without a court order or warrant signed by a judge,” stated retired Montgomery County, PA law enforcement officer Justin (JD) DiBonaventura.
What To Do If Your Car Is Remotely Disabled
While a car not starting can be extremely stressful, remain calm. If your car is parked, go through the basic troubleshooting steps listed above. In the unusual case your car is disabled while driving, safely pull over to the side of the road and immediately call for help, then call your dealer or lender. Remember, once your car shuts off, you lose power steering and power assist braking. Use both hands to steer the car, and don’t slam on the brakes. Instead, keep firm steady pressure on the brake pedal to bring your car to a stop.
FAQ
Do I have to be notified if a dealership disables my car?
Technically, no. Sadly, laws cannot keep up with technology. This creates lots of legal and ethical ambiguity. Consequently, while remote disabling a vehicle is legal in many states, the ability to do so must be disclosed in your financial contract.
Check with your state Office of Consumer Protection to find if lenders are required to provide a reasonable warning—a “pre-repossession notice”—before they or anyone else has the right to remotely disable your car. You may have legal recourse if you were not notified, or if it created an unsafe condition—especially when driving on a highway.
Can they disable my car while I’m driving?
Yes, a car dealer or law enforcement can request one of the telematics providers to disable your car, but only under restricted prerequisites. Additionally, unscrupulous subprime lenders or buy-here-pay-here dealerships can and do legally install “kill switches” that can disable a car while it’s being driven.
Depending on your state, if your contract discloses that a kill switch was installed at the time of financing, a dealership or lender can disable your car remotely. Check with your state’s Office of Consumer Protection if remote disabling kill-switches are legal and under what circumstances they can be activated.
About The Experts
Eric Croak is a CFP and accredited wealth management advisor and president at Croak Capital, an Ohio-based fiduciary financial firm with $300 million under management. Eric was recently named to Forbes’ 2025 Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors. (Electronic communication Sep. 3, 2025)
Greg Eife was my former apprentice 35 years ago, is an Oldsmobile Master Technician and now serves as Service and Parts Director of Subaru of Cherry Hill. (Electronic communication Aug. 30, 2025)
Justin (JD) DiBonaventura has over 40 years in law enforcement as a patrol officer, county detective, private investigator and training commander of Montgomery County PA SWAT, as well as being a certified Pennsylvania Department of Education School Resource Officer. (Phone interview Aug 31, 2025)
Michael Kruse graduated from Queen’s University in 1984 with a degree in business. He went on to attend the University of Western Ontario where he received a Bachelor of Law in 1987, Michael has been a criminal lawyer since 1989 and founded Kruse Law Firm in 1993. His firm now has four regional offices specializing in transportation law. (Electronic communication Sep. 2, 2025)
Mike Rocchi has over 50 years’ experience in every area of the automotive industry. He was former president of Faulkner Mazda (retired), Chairperson of the Mazda National Dealer Advisory Committee, and is now Director of Technical Training for the Faulkner Automotive Organization. (Electronic communication Aug. 30, 2025)
Ron Harper has been the owner of Defenders Legal Services for over 20 years and has more than 40 years of experience both prosecuting and defending traffic-related charges. Ron holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a Certificate in Public Administration, an Honors degree in Political Science, as well as a master’s degree in Judicial Administration from Brock University. (Electronic communication Sep. 2, 2025)
Resources
Ben Michael, Attorney, Michael and Associates (Electronic communication Sep. 2, 2025)
On-Star: Plan Details (Sep. 4, 2025)
VEHQ: “Can a Car Be Stopped Remotely?
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