Businesses selling car-tracking hardware face a familiar problem: automakers and startups have monetized driving data, and consumers are wary. The Miles Plug, reviewed by The Verge, is a $99 OBD-II device that tries to flip that model. It charges a membership fee instead of harvesting data. A one-year plan costs $180 on top of the hardware, or $279 total, while a three-year plan runs $396 with the plug included, bringing the monthly cost to about $11.
The device adds crash detection, roadside assistance, real-time location, trip logging, and an AI chatbot that decodes dashboard warning lights. The company says it will never sell vehicle, trip, or location data, and that sensitive data is end-to-end encrypted. The app also lets users download their data, stop location collection, and delete their account. The Verge's reviewer found setup simple and alerts accurate, though she had only tested it for a few days.
The business model is a deliberate contrast to connected-car services that rely on data monetization. Co-founder Matt McGovren, a former Wink executive, argues that comparable roadside and family-tracking services can cost $30 to $40 a month. Still, the subscription approach carries risk. Automatic, a similar OBD-II tracker, shut down in 2020 after failing to sustain its business, and Miles' founders have firsthand experience with Wink's collapse. The source is a single hands-on review, so long-term reliability and company longevity remain unproven.