Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains what information AutoWarranty Options LLC ("we," "us") collects when you use autowarrantyoptions.com (the "Site"), create an account, add a vehicle to My Garage or subscribe to our emails, how we use it, and the choices you have. The Site is operated by AutoWarranty Options LLC, 44661 Sterling Hwy, Soldotna, Alaska 99669.

The short version: we collect what you give us to run your account and My Garage, plus basic technical data to keep the Site working and secure. We do not sell your personal information, we have no advertising or analytics trackers, and we never ask for your phone number, Social Security number or payment details.

1. Who we are and what we are not

AutoWarrantyOptions is an independent publisher of information and free tools about owning a vehicle: warranties, recalls, maintenance and ownership costs. We are not a vehicle manufacturer, dealer, repair shop, insurer, lender or warranty provider, and we are not affiliated with any automaker. Vehicle service contracts are not manufacturer warranties. See How We Make Money.

2. Information we collect

Your account. To sign in we collect your email address and the name you give us. Sign-in usually works by a one-time link sent to your email. If you choose to set a password, add two-factor authentication or a passkey, we store those securely (passwords are stored only as a one-way hash).

My Garage. If you add a vehicle, we store what you enter or what we look up for you: the VIN (shown back to you only as its last four characters), year, make, model, trim and engine, a nickname, purchase date, mileage readings, maintenance and repair records, expenses, service-contract details, notes, your answers to the Protection Check, and any documents you upload to the Vehicle Vault. Costs are whatever you record; we don't add our own estimates.

Uploaded documents. Files you upload to the Vehicle Vault are stored privately on our server. They are not publicly accessible, and only you can open them while signed in.

Email subscriptions. If you sign up for our emails, we record your email address, the page where you signed up, the exact consent wording you agreed to, the date and time, your IP address and browser details, and when you confirmed your subscription. We keep a record of each unsubscribe or opt-out so we can honor it.

Information collected automatically. When you visit the Site we record:

an IP address and browser details (user agent);
a random visitor identifier stored in a cookie, and when you were last seen;
which pages and tools you use and when (for example, that the loan calculator was opened or a vehicle was added), in our own first-party event log;
if you arrive through a link in one of our emails, that the link was clicked.

Information we do not collect. We never ask for your phone number, Social Security number, driver's license, or bank or card numbers. Please don't upload documents containing those details unless you need to; if you do, they stay private to your account.

3. Cookies

We use only first-party cookies needed to run the Site:

Session and security cookies that keep you signed in and protect forms against forgery.
A "remember me" cookie, if you choose to stay signed in.
A visitor cookie (awo_visitor) holding a random identifier, kept for up to two years, so we can recognize a returning browser, link your activity to your account when you sign in, and count how the Site is used.

We do not use Google Analytics, advertising cookies or social-media trackers. You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings; signing in requires session cookies.

4. How we use information

We use the information above to:

run your account and My Garage, and show your records back to you;
look up vehicle details and recalls for you (see section 5);
send the emails you need or asked for: sign-in links, subscription confirmations, reminders about your vehicles and, if you turn it on, a monthly summary;
operate, secure and maintain the Site, including preventing spam, fraud and abuse;
understand which guides and tools are useful, and improve the Site;
respond to your questions and requests, and comply with law.

We share information only as follows:

Service providers that process it on our behalf: our hosting provider (our server is in Canada), Cloudflare (which carries all traffic to the Site and protects it from attacks, so it sees IP addresses and requests), and Resend (which delivers our emails).
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). When you decode a VIN, the VIN is sent to NHTSA's public vehicle-information service. When we look up recalls or owner complaints, we send the vehicle's year, make and model. We don't send your name or email.
Legal and safety reasons, if required by law, subpoena or court order, or to protect our rights, users or others.
Business transfers, if the Site is sold, merged or transferred, in which case this policy continues to apply to information collected before the transfer.

We do not sell your personal information, we do not share it for cross-context behavioral advertising, and we do not rent or sell our email list.

6. Emails

Sign-in links are sent whenever you ask to sign in.
Our newsletter uses double opt-in: you are added only after you click the confirmation link we send.
Reminder emails about your own vehicles (recalls issued for its model, maintenance coming due, mileage updates) are on by default for accounts with a vehicle in My Garage, at most one a day.
The monthly ownership summary is off until you turn it on.

You can change any of these in Settings → Email preferences, and every reminder, summary and newsletter email has a one-click link to stop it. We honor opt-outs promptly, within 10 business days at the latest. If you unsubscribe from all AutoWarrantyOptions email, we also stop reminders and summaries; sign-in links still work. You can also email [email protected].

7. How long we keep information

Your account and My Garage data: until you delete it. You can delete a single record, a whole vehicle (including its uploaded documents), or your entire account in Settings. Deleting your account removes your account, vehicles, records and uploaded documents.
Email consent, unsubscribe and opt-out records: kept after you unsubscribe or delete your account, as proof of permission and so we never email you against your wishes.
Visitor and usage records: kept to understand how the Site is used. When you delete your account they are no longer linked to it.
Application error logs: up to 14 days. Web server logs: a limited period for security and troubleshooting.

8. Your privacy rights

Wherever you live in the United States, you can ask us to:

tell you what personal information we hold about you and give you a copy;
correct information that is inaccurate;
delete your personal information, subject to legal exceptions (for example, keeping a record of your unsubscribe so we stop emailing you);
stop using your information for any purpose you have not agreed to.

Many of these you can do yourself in My Garage and Settings. Residents of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Virginia, Texas and other states with consumer privacy laws may have these rights under state law, including the right to opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information and of targeted advertising. We do not sell or share personal information or use it for targeted advertising, but you can still send an opt-out request. We treat a Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal from your browser as a valid opt-out request.

To make a request, email [email protected] with the subject "Privacy request." We will verify your request by confirming it from the email address involved, and we will respond within 45 days. You may use an authorized agent, and we will not treat you differently for exercising your rights. If we deny your request, you can appeal by replying to our decision with the subject "Appeal."

9. Security

We use reasonable safeguards, including encrypted connections (HTTPS), private storage for uploaded documents, restricted server access, hashed passwords and limits on what data we collect. No website or email system is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

10. Children

The Site is intended for adults 18 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If you believe a minor has created an account or subscribed, contact us and we will delete the information.

11. Where information is processed

The Site is intended for people in the United States. Our server is located in Canada, and our service providers may process information in the United States and other countries. Wherever it is processed, we protect it as described in this policy.

12. Third-party sites

The Site links to websites we do not control, such as NHTSA's recall lookup. Their privacy practices are governed by their own policies.

13. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy. We will post the new version here with a new effective date, and if the changes are significant we will tell account holders by email.

14. Contact us

AutoWarranty Options LLC, 44661 Sterling Hwy, Soldotna, Alaska 99669

Email: [email protected]