As many of us are expecting to take delivery of a new car soon, I am reminded how important it is to delete all your personal information data from your old car before trading in. It is frightening just how much of our personal data is now stored in the car and is accessible to third parties.

 
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Car traders and dealership's should really be checking cars and if back to factory settings.  I know some new owners might want upgrades that previous keepers had done, or they did.   But the likes of an Ex motability car at 3 years old and that went to auction can have the steering assist increases or decreased. Brake assist as well.  Then there is obviously cars that may have had a remap done and that is still on the ecu.  But even Skoda Approved Used cars are sold not back to factory settings. 

They returned my car back to factory settings a couple of hours after I left it with them this afternoon, I got an email message saying the Skoda app was disconnected from my old car and could no longer be used.

Our current Fabia has the 'Bolero' radio system through which the Bluetooth Hands Free phone system works.

 

It is also fitted with 'Mirror Link' but despite trying several different phones, it would never pair up the interface with any of them.

 

Making and receiving phone calls however did work if that makes any sense

 

Forgive me for asking what might seem a somewhat daft question but presumably my phone contacts which appear on the screen now, wont appear when the car gets traded in next week? I base this presumption on the phone having to be in proximity of the 'Bolero' system for the information to be accessible.

 

With that in mind is any 'Factory Reset' actually necessary prior to Trade In ??

 

Many thanks in advance.