Embodiments are directed towards a system and method of anonymizing vehicle location data by using a centralized location of entities near the vehicle instead of the actual vehicle location. One or more entities are selected within a threshold radius around the vehicle. The centralized location is determined based on publicly available entity location information for the selected entities. The centralized location is stored or transmitted to third parties as the vehicle's location. A characteristic of the vehicle or a time range associated with capturing the actual vehicle location may be associated with the centralized location without including an identifier of the vehicle.