Privacy Policy
This policy explains what information OBD2SCAN collects, how it is used and shared, how long it is kept, and the choices available to you.
1. Scope
This policy applies to obd2scan.com and the accounts, Community, My Garage, article interactions, search, and related features that link to it. “OBD2SCAN,” “we,” and “us” refer to the operator of this site.
For a privacy question or request, email support@obd2scan.com or use the contact page.
2. Information we collect
| Category | Examples | How we receive it |
|---|---|---|
| Account and profile | Username, email address, password hash, display name, profile details, preferences, and avatar choice. | When you register, sign in, or update your profile. |
| Public contributions | Community questions, answers, replies, comments, public profile details, and moderation history. | When you publish or interact publicly. |
| Private vehicle records | Vehicles, mileage, maintenance dates, service types, and notes saved in My Garage. | When a signed-in user chooses to save them. |
| Site activity | Searches, viewed or saved content, favorites, follows, reactions, votes, and general interaction data. | When you use site features. |
| Device and security data | IP address, browser, requested pages, timestamps, session identifiers, login attempts, and abuse signals. | Automatically from your browser and our systems. |
| Correspondence | Your email, message, attachments, and details needed to handle a request or report. | When you contact us. |
Do not place passwords, payment information, a full VIN, or unnecessary personal information in public posts or vehicle notes.
3. Public and private information
Public information. Community posts, comments, display names, and public profile fields can be viewed, indexed, quoted, or shared by others. Search engines and other services may retain copies after content changes.
Private account information. Email addresses, password hashes, My Garage records, and account settings are not displayed as public content. Authorized systems and administrators may access them when needed to operate, secure, support, or comply with law.
Review a screen before publishing. Information included in a public question or reply is public even if the same detail also appears in a private record.
4. How we use information
- Provide accounts, profiles, Community participation, Garage records, saved items, and requested site features.
- Return relevant search results and content, remember preferences, and improve site usefulness.
- Protect accounts, prevent spam and abuse, moderate content, and maintain site reliability.
- Respond to support, correction, privacy, accessibility, and copyright requests.
- Enforce our terms and meet legal obligations.
Where applicable, processing may be based on your request or agreement, our legitimate interest in operating a useful and secure service, your consent, or a legal obligation. You may withdraw consent for future processing when consent is the basis.
5. Cookies, search, and recommended content
We use first-party cookies and browser storage for sign-in, security, Community preferences, saved actions, article-view counting, and other requested functions. See the Cookie Policy for categories and typical durations.
Search and content interactions may be used to return results, understand which information is useful, and improve recommendations. Personalization tied to an account is used only when the relevant account choice is enabled. At the date above, OBD2SCAN does not use third-party behavioral advertising or third-party web analytics.
6. External content and service providers
Some profiles may display an image hosted by Gravatar, and articles may embed video, images, documents, or other resources from another provider. When your browser requests external content, that provider may receive normal request information and apply its own privacy policy.
We may share limited information with hosting, email, infrastructure, security, and other providers that help us operate the site; when required by law or necessary to protect people and the site; or as part of a business transfer subject to applicable safeguards. We do not sell personal information.
7. Retention
- Account, Garage, saved-item, and follow data are generally kept while the account or feature is active, then deleted or de-identified when no longer needed.
- Public Community contributions may remain after account closure to preserve useful discussions, subject to applicable deletion rights.
- Session-based reading and recommendation activity is normally deleted after 30 days. Activity tied to an account with personalization enabled is normally deleted after 180 days. De-identified totals may be kept longer.
- Support, moderation, and security records are kept only as long as reasonably needed for the request, abuse prevention, disputes, and legal obligations.
- Backups may retain deleted information for a limited recovery cycle before being overwritten.
8. Your choices and rights
You can update available profile fields in My Account, change relevant account preferences, and manage browser technologies through your browser. Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, restrict, object to, or receive a copy of personal information; withdraw consent; opt out of certain sale, sharing, or targeted advertising; and complain to a privacy authority.
Send requests from the email associated with your account when possible. We may verify identity and authority before acting. Some information may be retained where permitted or required for security, legal obligations, disputes, or freedom of expression.
9. Security and children
We use administrative and technical safeguards intended to protect information, but no website or storage method is completely secure. Use a unique password and tell us if you suspect unauthorized account access.
OBD2SCAN is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect their personal information without legally valid permission. Contact us if you believe a child has provided personal information improperly.
10. Changes and contact
We may update this policy when our services, practices, or legal obligations change. We will update the date above and provide additional notice when required.
Privacy questions and requests: support@obd2scan.com.