Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Free Plate Check ("we," "us," "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. We believe in a privacy-first approach and collect only the minimal data necessary to provide our Service.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our website and Service. The key principle: we don't store information about which vehicles you look up, and we don't sell your data.

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our Service.

2. What Information We Collect

Vehicle Registration Numbers

• How: You voluntarily enter a UK vehicle registration number
• What we do: We send it to the DVLA API to retrieve vehicle information
• Storage: We do NOT store registration numbers
• Hashing: Registration numbers are hashed (encrypted) for immediate session use only, then deleted

Automatically Collected Information

• Cookies & Analytics: We use Google Analytics to understand how you use Free Plate Check (anonymized data only)
• IP Address: Automatically collected through standard web server logs, not stored long-term
• Device Information: Browser type, device type, operating system (not linked to identity)
• Page Interactions: Which features you use, time spent on pages (anonymized)

Information You Voluntarily Provide

• Email: If you sign up for MOT reminders, general updates, or contact us
• Feedback: If you contact us with feedback or questions
• No payment data: Free Plate Check is free and doesn't process payments

MOT Reminder Service

If you opt in to MOT reminders, we collect and store additional information to deliver the service:

• Email address: To send you reminder emails
• Vehicle registration number: To identify the vehicle and check its MOT expiry
• Vehicle make and model: To personalise your reminder emails
• MOT expiry date: To time your reminders correctly
• Unsubscribe token: A random identifier (UUID) used to manage your subscription — not linked to your identity

Important distinction: The MOT reminder service is separate from the vehicle lookup. When you look up a vehicle, we do NOT store the registration number. When you sign up for a reminder, we DO store the registration number because it's necessary to send you timed reminders. This data is only used for delivering reminders and is never shared for marketing purposes.

Privacy-First Approach: We collect only what's necessary to provide the Service. Vehicle lookups are anonymous — we do not store which vehicles you look up. MOT reminder data is stored only because the service requires it, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use collected information for:

• ✅ Service provision - To provide vehicle lookup functionality
• ✅ Improvement - To understand how users interact with Free Plate Check
• ✅ Analytics - To track usage patterns and optimize the service
• ✅ MOT reminders - To send you email reminders before your MOT expires (if you opted in)
• ✅ Communication - To respond to inquiries or send updates (if opted in)
• ✅ Legal compliance - To comply with GDPR, FCA, or other legal requirements

4. Legal Basis for Processing

We process your information under:

• Consent - You agree by using the Service
• Explicit Consent - When you sign up for MOT reminders, you explicitly consent to us storing your email and vehicle details for that purpose
• Legitimate Interest - To improve and maintain the Service
• Legal Obligation - To comply with applicable laws
• Contract - To provide the Service you've requested

5. Data Retention

• Registration Numbers (lookups): Never stored — hashed for session use, immediately deleted
• MOT Reminder Data: Your email, vehicle registration, make/model, and MOT expiry date are retained while your reminder is active. If you unsubscribe, the record is marked inactive and no further emails are sent. You can request full deletion at any time
• Server Logs: Retained for 7-30 days for security purposes
• Analytics Data: Retained by Google Analytics for up to 26 months (anonymized)
• Email Signup Data: Retained until you unsubscribe or request deletion
• Feedback/Messages: Retained until you request deletion
• Cookies: Retained per cookie policy (typically 1-2 years)

6. Data Sharing

We do NOT sell or rent your personal information.

We MAY share data with:

• DVLA - To retrieve vehicle information (their API)
• Resend - Our email delivery provider, used to send MOT reminder emails. Resend processes your email address on our behalf
• Analytics providers - Google Analytics (anonymized data)
• Service providers - Hosting providers
• Legal authorities - If required by law

Affiliate links in emails: MOT reminder emails contain links to partner services (such as BookMyGarage) that help you book an MOT. These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Clicking these links takes you to third-party sites with their own privacy policies.

We do NOT share with:

• Advertisers or marketing companies
• Insurance or finance companies
• Any third parties without your consent

7. Third-Party Links

Free Plate Check contains links to third-party websites (Go Compare, RAC, HPI Check). These third parties have their own privacy policies. We are not responsible for their privacy practices.

Affiliate Disclosure: We earn commissions from these links. The third parties may collect their own information about you.

8. International Data Transfers

Free Plate Check operates in the UK. If you access from outside the UK, your data may be transferred to and processed in the UK, which may have different data protection laws than your home country.

9. Your Rights

Under GDPR, you have the right to request information about personal data we hold about you.

Important: Limited Identifiable Data

We do NOT store:

• ❌ Registration numbers (hashed for session use only, then deleted)
• ❌ Long-term IP addresses
• ❌ Identifiable location data
• ❌ Personal payment information

We MAY hold (only if you opted in or contacted us):

• ✅ Email address (if you signed up for updates or MOT reminders)
• ✅ MOT reminder data: vehicle registration, make/model, and MOT expiry date (if you signed up for reminders)
• ✅ Feedback or inquiry messages
• ✅ Brief server logs (temporary, not linked to identity)

Your GDPR Rights

If you've provided data to us (email signup, feedback, contact):

• ✅ Access - Request a copy of data we hold about you
• ✅ Correction - Request we correct inaccurate data
• ✅ Deletion - Request we delete your data ("Right to be Forgotten")
• ✅ Restriction - Request we limit how we use your data
• ✅ Portability - Request your data in a portable format
• ✅ Withdraw Consent - Opt out of email updates or analytics

Our Response to Data Requests

If you request your data, we will provide any email address associated with your account, any MOT reminder records linked to your email, copies of any feedback or messages you've sent us, and confirmation that vehicle lookups do not store registration numbers or analytics data linked to your identity.

MOT Reminder Unsubscribe

Every MOT reminder email contains a one-click unsubscribe link. Clicking it immediately stops future reminders for that vehicle. You can also contact us to request full deletion of your reminder data.

To exercise these rights, contact us at: hello@freeplatecheck.co.uk

We will respond to all valid requests within 30 days as required by GDPR.

10. Cookies

We use cookies for:

• Essential: To make the website function
• Analytics: To understand user behavior (Google Analytics)
• Preferences: To remember your settings

How to manage cookies:

• Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies or alert you when cookies are sent
• You can delete cookies at any time
• Disabling cookies may affect Service functionality

11. Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your data:

• HTTPS encryption for all data in transit
• Secure API connections to DVLA
• Regular security assessments
• Limited data retention

However: No security system is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

12. Children's Privacy

Free Plate Check is not directed to children under 18. We do not knowingly collect data from children. If we become aware a child has used the Service, we will delete their data promptly.

13. Do Not Track

Some browsers have "Do Not Track" features. We currently do not respond to Do Not Track signals, but you can opt out of analytics through your browser settings.

14. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. We will notify you of significant changes via email or on the website. Your continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.

15. Contact Information

For questions about this Privacy Policy, contact:

• Email: hello@freeplatecheck.co.uk
• Website: www.freeplatecheck.co.uk

16. Complaint Rights

You have the right to lodge a complaint with the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO):

• Website: www.ico.org.uk
• Phone: 0303 123 1113