Privacy Policy for Hot.Car
Hot.Car (“Hot.Car,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) values your privacy and makes every effort to safeguard the information you choose to share. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect information in connection with the Hot.Car mobile application, website, and advertising system (collectively, the “Services”). By using the Services, you consent to the practices described below.
1) Information We Collect
- User Information: Account details you provide (e.g., name, email), profile settings, preferences, and content you upload.
- Advertiser Information: Business name, contact details, campaign settings, creatives, and billing metadata handled via payment partners.
- Usage & Analytics Data: Interactions with autos and ads (views, clicks), device/browser data, approximate location from IP, cookies or similar technologies.
- Optional Personal Data: Any personal details you choose to share with auto owners based on your My Account privacy settings.
2) Your Controls & Account Settings
- You can set the level of personal information shared with auto owners. If you select the appropriate options in My Account, we will not disclose your name or personal ownership of any vehicle or Hot.Car link.
- Advertisers’ personal information is not shared with auto owners. We may in the future disclose company-level advertiser details (e.g., brand/dealership) to facilitate off-platform image or sponsorship deals, with reasonable notice where required.
- Preferences can be updated anytime in My Account. Some changes may take effect after a short processing period.
3) How We Use Information
- Operate, maintain, personalize, and improve the Services.
- Provide advertisers with aggregated performance analytics (e.g., which autos drove views/clicks) without revealing personal identities unless you explicitly consent.
- Support user-to-user engagement while honoring privacy settings.
- Detect, prevent, and address fraud, abuse, security incidents, and technical issues.
- Comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Service.
4) Data Sharing & Disclosure
We do not sell your personal information in the traditional sense of transferring your identity to third parties for their independent marketing. However, Hot.Car does provide paid access to certain auto data sets after 30 days, which may include other users’ shared information only if those users have consented to share via My Account. Users who opt out are excluded from such shared fields.
We may otherwise share information in these limited circumstances:
- With Your Direction or Consent: For example, when you choose to share your profile details with auto owners or advertisers.
- Service Providers: With vetted vendors who process data on our behalf under confidentiality and security obligations.
- Legal & Safety: To comply with law, regulation, legal process, or to protect rights, safety, or property of users, the public, or Hot.Car.
- Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, subject to continued protection of your information.
5) Advertiser Transparency
- Advertisers receive analytics on ad performance, including which autos generated views and clicks.
- Advertisers do not receive personal user data unless the user expressly shares it.
- After 30 days, Hot.Car may make certain user-shared auto data available for purchase by advertisers or partners. This may include other users’ shared details only if those users enabled sharing in My Account. We do not release personal identifiers where users have opted out.
6) Security
We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect information against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, or alteration. While no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, Hot.Car makes every effort to prevent information theft and hacking.
7) Data Retention
We retain information as long as necessary to provide the Services, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce agreements. Retention periods vary based on data type and legal requirements.
8) Your Rights
Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or restrict processing of your personal information, and to update privacy settings. You can exercise many controls in My Account or by contacting us at info@hot.car.
9) Children’s Privacy
The Services are not directed to individuals under 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided information, please contact us so we can delete it.
10) International Transfers
Where applicable, information may be processed in countries other than your own, which may have different data protection laws. We take steps to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place when transferring personal data.
11) Changes to This Policy
We may update this Policy from time to time. Material changes will be indicated by an updated “Effective Date” and, where appropriate, additional notice (e.g., email or in-app message). Your continued use of the Services after changes take effect signifies acceptance.
12) Contact Us
- Email: info@hot.car
This Privacy Policy is intended to be clear and “legal-ish.” For formal legal advice or compliance with specific regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA/CPRA), consult counsel to tailor this Policy and add required notices and mechanisms.