Abstract: In a method of tracking usage habits of a vehicle having a standard vehicle data port, in which a user identification, a start date, a start time, and a start odometer reading are recorded a local vehicle data storage medium upon receipt of an authorized user identification. A shutoff date, a shutoff time and a shutoff odometer reading are recorded in the local vehicle data storage medium upon sensing engine shutoff. A request for vehicle usage information is received from an off-board data storage device. In response thereto the user identification, the start date, the start, the start odometer reading, the shutoff date, the shutoff time and the shutoff odometer reading are transmitted from the local vehicle data storage medium to the off-board data storage device.

Abstract: In a method of tracking usage habits of a vehicle having a standard vehicle data port, in which a user identification, a start date, a start time, and a start odometer reading are recorded a local vehicle data storage medium upon receipt of an authorized user identification. A shutoff date, a shutoff time and a shutoff odometer reading are recorded in the local vehicle data storage medium upon sensing engine shutoff. A request for vehicle usage information is received from an off-board data storage device. In response thereto the user identification, the start date, the start, the start odometer reading, the shutoff date, the shutoff time and the shutoff odometer reading are transmitted from the local vehicle data storage medium to the off-board data storage device.

Abstract: A system for tracking usage habits of a vehicle having a standard vehicle data port includes an anchor that fixedly couples the system to the vehicle. A connector is electrically couplable to the standard vehicle data port. A communication port transmits data to and receives data from a remote data device. A data storage medium records data received from the standard vehicle data port relating to the usage habits of the vehicle. A programmable processor is in data communication with the connector, the communication port and the data storage medium and is programmed to record in the data storage medium user-specific usage data relating to use of the vehicle and transmit the user specific usage data from the data storage medium to the data device via the communication port in response to an authorized data query received from the data device.