diff --git a/selfdrive/athena/athenad.py b/selfdrive/athena/athenad.py
index cc7cdd87a..cd00e6b50 100755
--- a/selfdrive/athena/athenad.py
+++ b/selfdrive/athena/athenad.py
@@ -163,6 +163,8 @@ def upload_handler(end_event: threading.Event) -> None:
   sm = messaging.SubMaster(['deviceState'])
   tid = threading.get_ident()
 
+  cellular_unmetered = Params().get_bool("CellularUnmetered")
+
   while not end_event.is_set():
     cur_upload_items[tid] = None
 
@@ -182,7 +184,7 @@ def upload_handler(end_event: threading.Event) -> None:
       # Check if uploading over cell is allowed
       sm.update(0)
       cell = sm['deviceState'].networkType not in [NetworkType.wifi, NetworkType.ethernet]
-      if cell and (not cur_upload_items[tid].allow_cellular):
+      if cell and (not cur_upload_items[tid].allow_cellular) and (not cellular_unmetered):
         retry_upload(tid, end_event, False)
         continue
 
diff --git a/selfdrive/athena/tests/helpers.py b/selfdrive/athena/tests/helpers.py
index 26655b4a3..bb5fcd106 100644
--- a/selfdrive/athena/tests/helpers.py
+++ b/selfdrive/athena/tests/helpers.py
@@ -53,7 +53,8 @@ class MockParams():
   default_params = {
     "DongleId": b"0000000000000000",
     "GithubSshKeys": b"ssh-rsa AAAAB3NzaC1yc2EAAAADAQABAAABAQC307aE+nuHzTAgaJhzSf5v7ZZQW9gaperjhCmyPyl4PzY7T1mDGenTlVTN7yoVFZ9UfO9oMQqo0n1OwDIiqbIFxqnhrHU0cYfj88rI85m5BEKlNu5RdaVTj1tcbaPpQc5kZEolaI1nDDjzV0lwS7jo5VYDHseiJHlik3HH1SgtdtsuamGR2T80q1SyW+5rHoMOJG73IH2553NnWuikKiuikGHUYBd00K1ilVAK2xSiMWJp55tQfZ0ecr9QjEsJ+J/efL4HqGNXhffxvypCXvbUYAFSddOwXUPo5BTKevpxMtH+2YrkpSjocWA04VnTYFiPG6U4ItKmbLOTFZtPzoez private",  # noqa: E501
-    "AthenadUploadQueue": '[]'
+    "AthenadUploadQueue": '[]',
+    "CellularUnmetered": False,
   }
   params = default_params.copy()
 
@@ -61,6 +62,9 @@ class MockParams():
   def restore_defaults():
     MockParams.params = MockParams.default_params.copy()
 
+  def get_bool(self, k):
+    return bool(MockParams.params.get(k))
+
   def get(self, k, encoding=None):
     ret = MockParams.params.get(k)
     if ret is not None and encoding is not None:
diff --git a/selfdrive/common/params.cc b/selfdrive/common/params.cc
index 3f64f790c..5bb49d7ce 100644
--- a/selfdrive/common/params.cc
+++ b/selfdrive/common/params.cc
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ std::unordered_map<std::string, uint32_t> keys = {
     {"CarParams", CLEAR_ON_MANAGER_START | CLEAR_ON_IGNITION_ON},
     {"CarParamsCache", CLEAR_ON_MANAGER_START},
     {"CarVin", CLEAR_ON_MANAGER_START | CLEAR_ON_IGNITION_ON},
+    {"CellularUnmetered", PERSISTENT},
     {"CompletedTrainingVersion", PERSISTENT},
     {"ControlsReady", CLEAR_ON_MANAGER_START | CLEAR_ON_IGNITION_ON},
     {"CurrentRoute", CLEAR_ON_MANAGER_START | CLEAR_ON_IGNITION_ON},