Telematics device for vehicles with an interface for multiple peripheral devices

In one embodiment, the invention provides an in-vehicle telematics system featuring: 1) a controller; 2) a diagnostics system configured to receive diagnostic information from a host vehicle; 3) a position-locating system configured to determine the host vehicle's location information; 4) a communication interface configured to send additional information to a peripheral system other than the diagnostic position-locating systems; and, 5) a wireless transmitter configured to transmit information through a wireless network to an Internet-accessible website.