GarageScout ("GarageScout", "we", "us", or "our") operates the GarageScout website at
garagescout.app and the GarageScout mobile app
(together, the "Service"), which helps you search listings for cars across multiple sources.
This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you
have. By using the Service, you agree to this policy.
Information we collect
- Account information. When you create an account, we collect your email
address and a securely hashed password. We never store your password in plain text.
- Search and preference data. The car searches you run, searches you save,
recent search history, and preferences such as your home ZIP code (used for
"within X miles of me" searches and distance sorting), default sort, and notification
settings.
- Voice search (microphone). The app has an optional voice search button.
If you tap it and grant microphone permission, the app records audio only while you are
actively dictating, and stops as soon as you tap the button again. See
Voice search and speech recognition below — the audio is processed by
your device's speech recognition service, not by us.
- Device and usage data. Basic technical information such as your device
type, browser, IP address, and how you interact with the Service, collected automatically
to operate, secure, and improve it.
- Bug reports and feedback. If you send feedback from within the app, we
receive your message, your account email, and — so we can reproduce the problem — your
device model, operating system and version, the app version and build number, the screen you
were on, and the text of your most recent search.
- Communications. If you opt in, we use your email address to send a daily
digest of matching listings, and (in the app) push notifications. You can turn these off at
any time in your account settings.
- Purchases. If you subscribe to GarageScout Pro, payment is handled by
Google Play (in the Android app) or by Stripe (on the website). We never receive your card or
bank details. We receive a record of the purchase
(what you bought, when, and whether the subscription is active, renewed, or expired) so we
can unlock Pro on your account. See Subscriptions and purchases.
How we use your information
- To provide the Service — run and save your searches and show you matching listings.
- To turn a voice search into the text of a search, when you choose to use the microphone.
- To investigate and fix problems you report through the in-app feedback form.
- To send the alerts and digests you have opted into.
- To operate, maintain, secure, and improve the Service and prevent abuse.
- To display advertising that helps keep the Service free (see below).
- To comply with legal obligations.
Voice search and speech recognition
Voice search is optional. The microphone is never used unless you tap the
voice button, and the app asks for microphone permission the first time you do. You can search
by typing instead, and you can revoke microphone permission at any time in your device
settings — the rest of the Service keeps working.
- Your speech is sent to a third party to be transcribed. The app does not
do speech recognition itself. It hands the audio to your device's speech recognition
service, which on most Android devices is provided by Google and processes the audio
on Google's servers rather than on your device. That processing is governed by the
provider's own privacy policy — see
Google's Privacy Policy. On devices where
the operating system provides on-device recognition, the audio may stay on the device; which
happens is determined by your device and its settings, not by us.
- We never receive or store the audio. Only the transcribed text comes back
to the app, and it is placed in the search box so you can review or edit it before running
a search.
- Transcribed text is treated exactly like a typed search. If you run the
search, the text is stored as search and preference data, as described above.
- Audio is captured only while you are actively dictating, and stops when you tap the voice
button again, when you leave the search screen, or on an error.
Advertising and cookies
We show ads to support the free version of the Service. On the web we use
Google AdSense, and in the mobile app we use Google AdMob.
These Google services, and their third-party advertising partners, use cookies, device
identifiers, and similar technologies to serve and measure ads, including personalized ads
based on your prior activity.
Subscriptions and purchases
- Google Play takes the payment. Subscriptions are bought, billed, renewed
and cancelled through your Google Play account, under
Google's Privacy Policy. Your payment
details stay with Google.
- On the website, Stripe takes the payment. Subscriptions bought at
garagescout.app are processed by Stripe through
RevenueCat's checkout. Stripe receives your card details, your email address, and your country
and ZIP or postal code (used to calculate any sales tax), under Stripe's Privacy Policy. Your
card details go to Stripe and are never sent to us.
- RevenueCat keeps the subscription status. We use
RevenueCat to check purchases with Google
Play and Stripe and tell us whether your subscription is active. RevenueCat receives your
GarageScout account number, the purchase record, and basic device and app information. For
purchases on the website it also receives your email address, so it can send your receipt and
a secure link to manage your subscription.
- How to cancel. In the Android app, cancel any time in the Google Play Store
under Payments & subscriptions. On the website, cancel any time from Account › Manage
subscription, or from the link in your receipt email. Either way, Pro stays on until the end of
the period you have paid for.
How we share information
We do not sell your personal information for money. However, the advertising cookies and
identifiers described in Advertising and cookies may count as "selling" or
"sharing" personal information for targeted advertising under some US state privacy laws, such as
California's. You can opt out at any time: on our website, use the "Do Not Sell or Share My
Personal Information" link shown on pages that display ads; in the Android app, turn off
personalized ads or delete your advertising ID in your device's Google ad settings. Paid subscribers are
not shown ads.
Apart from that, we share information only:
- With service providers who help us operate the Service (for example, cloud hosting,
email delivery, subscription management, payment processing, and the advertising providers named above), under obligations to protect
it;
- With your device's speech recognition provider, when you use voice search — your spoken
audio is sent to that provider to be transcribed (see
Voice search and speech recognition);
- When required by law, or to protect the rights, safety, and security of GarageScout, our
users, or the public;
- In connection with a business transfer such as a merger or acquisition.
When you open a listing, you are taken to a third-party site (such as a dealer or auction
site) that has its own privacy practices, which we do not control.
Data retention
We keep your information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the
Service. You can delete your account, after which we delete or de-identify your personal
information except where we must retain it to meet legal obligations.
Your choices and rights
- Access or update your account information and preferences in the app or website.
- Turn off the email digest and push notifications at any time in your settings.
- Opt out of personalized ads using the links above.
- Opt out of the "sale" or "sharing" of your personal information for targeted advertising, as
described in How we share information.
- Request deletion of your account and associated personal data by contacting us.
Children's privacy
The Service is not directed to children under 13 (or the minimum age required in your
jurisdiction), and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them. If you believe
a child has provided us information, please contact us and we will delete it.
Security
We use reasonable administrative and technical safeguards to protect your information. No
method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute
security.
Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the "Last
updated" date above and, where appropriate, provide additional notice.
Contact us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or your data, contact us at
support@garagescout.app.
GarageScout — garagescout.app