Effective Date:
[February 6, 2026]
This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have when using FormerCars (“we,” “us,” “our”).
1. Information we collect
We collect the following categories of information:
- Account information: email address, username, and password (stored only as a secure hash, never in plain text).
- VIN entries and vehicle details: VIN plus optional year/make/model/color and any other fields you choose to save in your account. These entries are private to your account by default.
- Basic logs: standard server logs (e.g., IP address, user agent, request timestamps) used for security, abuse prevention, and troubleshooting.
- Cookies/session data: small files or identifiers used to keep you signed in, protect the site (e.g., CSRF/security checks), and remember preferences.
2. Public information
FormerCars may offer public profile pages (for example: /user/username) if you enable them.
Public profiles display only:
- username
- join date (“member since”)
- number of vehicles tracked (and/or vehicle makes, if enabled)
VIN lists are not displayed on public profiles. You can disable public visibility anytime in your settings.
3. How we use information
We use information to:
- provide and maintain the Service
- authenticate users and secure accounts
- store and display your VIN entries and vehicle details to you
- protect the Service from abuse, fraud, and unauthorized access
- debug, monitor, and improve reliability and user experience
4. Sharing of information
We do not sell your personal information.
We may share limited information:
- With service providers that help us operate the site (e.g., hosting, email delivery), only as needed to provide the Service.
- For legal/safety reasons if required by law, legal process, or to protect the rights, safety, and security of FormerCars and users.
5. Third-party links
FormerCars may include links to third-party services (e.g., search engines, vehicle history providers). If you click those links, you leave FormerCars and are subject to the third party’s privacy policy. We do not control third-party sites.
6. Data retention
We retain your account information and VIN entries until you delete them or request deletion. We may retain limited log data for a reasonable period for security and operational purposes (e.g., preventing abuse, troubleshooting, backups). Administrators may remove content that violates our Terms.
7. Your choices
You can:
- update your username in settings
- disable your public profile visibility in settings
- delete VIN entries you added
- request account deletion by contacting us (if self-service deletion is not available)
8. Security
We use reasonable technical and organizational safeguards designed to protect your data. No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure.
9. Contact
If you have questions or requests about this Privacy Policy, contact us.