1. What we collect
Information you give us
- Contact info — name and email address when you sign up for our free guide, purchase the Toolkit, or apply for Concierge service
- Purchase info — billing details and transaction records when you buy the Toolkit (handled by Stripe; we never see your full card number)
- Concierge intake details — vehicle preferences, budget, timeline, and other information you share when applying for our Concierge service
- Email correspondence — any messages you send us at info@carhandled.com
Information collected automatically
- Usage data — pages visited, time on site, referring URL, device type, browser, and approximate location (city/country level)
- Behavioral data — clicks, scrolls, and form interactions captured by our analytics and session recording tools (see Section 3 for full disclosure)
- Cookies — small data files stored in your browser (see Section 4)
2. How we use it
We use your information for these specific purposes:
- Deliver what you bought — sending the Toolkit files, processing your Concierge intake, fulfilling your order
- Communicate with you — order confirmations, follow-up emails, responses to your questions, and educational content if you've subscribed to our list
- Improve the site and product — understanding which guides are read, where users drop off, and what to fix
- Provide customer support — looking up your order, processing refunds, helping you access your files
- Comply with legal obligations — fraud prevention, tax records, and responding to lawful requests
We do not use your data for advertising targeting, lead resale, or any purpose beyond running the business you signed up for.
3. Third-party tools we use
Full transparency — here's every external service that touches your data, what it does, and what data it sees:
| Service | What it does & what it sees |
|---|---|
| StripePayment processor |
Processes Toolkit and Concierge payments. Stripe sees your name, email, billing address, and payment card details. We never store your card number — only a transaction reference.
Stripe privacy policy → |
| MailerLiteEmail delivery |
Sends our free guide email sequence and any future newsletters. Stores your name and email. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in any email.
MailerLite privacy policy → |
| ZapierAutomation |
Connects Stripe to Gmail to deliver your Toolkit files automatically after purchase. Sees your name and email at the moment of purchase.
Zapier privacy policy → |
| Google DriveFile hosting |
Hosts the Toolkit PDF, calculators, and worksheets. Files are sent to you as email attachments via Zapier — Google Drive itself does not see your personal information.
Google privacy policy → |
| GmailEmail sender |
Used to send your Toolkit delivery email after purchase. Sees your email address as the recipient and the email content.
Google privacy policy → |
| Google Analytics 4Site analytics |
Tracks page views, time on site, traffic sources, and aggregated user behavior. Uses cookies. We use this to understand which content is helpful and where to improve.
Google privacy policy → |
| HotjarSession recording |
Records anonymized user sessions (mouse movements, clicks, scrolls) so we can improve the site. Hotjar masks form inputs by default — we never see your typed data. You can opt out at any time at the link below.
Opt out of Hotjar tracking → |
Most companies bury their tracking tools in vague legal language. We don't think that's right. If a tool sees your data, you should know its name and what it does. If we add or remove tools, we'll update this list and the effective date.
4. Cookies & tracking
We use cookies and similar technologies for two purposes:
Essential cookies
Required for the site to function — keeping your shopping cart, remembering form inputs as you fill them out, and connecting your Stripe checkout to your purchase. These cannot be disabled without breaking site functionality.
Analytics cookies
Set by Google Analytics 4 and Hotjar. These tell us how the site is used in aggregate — which pages are read, where users click, where they drop off. We use this data to improve the experience.
Opting out: You can disable cookies in your browser settings, or use the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on and the Hotjar opt-out tool. Note that disabling cookies may affect site functionality.
5. Your rights
You have rights regarding your personal data. Under GDPR (EU), CCPA (California), and similar laws elsewhere — these include:
Access
Request a copy of the data we hold about you
Correct
Update inaccurate or outdated information
Delete
Request removal of your data from our systems
Export
Receive your data in a portable, readable format
Object
Opt out of email marketing and tracking
Withdraw consent
Change your mind on previously granted permissions
To exercise any of these rights, email us at info@carhandled.com with the subject line "Privacy Request." We respond within 30 days.
6. Data retention
We keep your data only as long as needed to provide the service or comply with legal obligations:
- Email subscribers — until you unsubscribe (one click in any email)
- Toolkit purchases — kept indefinitely for support and refund eligibility, but you can request deletion at any time
- Concierge clients — kept for 7 years to comply with US tax and business record requirements
- Analytics data — Google Analytics retains aggregate data for 14 months by default; Hotjar retains session recordings for 365 days
7. Children's privacy
CarHandled is for adults purchasing vehicles. We don't knowingly collect data from anyone under 18. If you believe a minor has provided us with personal information, email us at info@carhandled.com and we'll delete it immediately.
8. Policy updates
We update this policy when our tools or practices change. The "Effective" date at the top reflects the most recent revision. For significant changes, we'll notify subscribers by email. Your continued use of the site after updates constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.
Questions about your privacy?
We respond to every email within one business day.
info@carhandled.com