Privacy Policy

Last updated: November 1, 2026

ModBuddy (modbuddy.co) is a free car mod guide site. This page explains what we collect, why, who helps us run the site, how long we keep things, and how to get a copy of your data or delete it. Short version: you can use ModBuddy without an account, we collect as little as we can, we don't sell your data, we don't show ads, and we don't use tracking or advertising cookies.

What we collect

If you just browse: nothing that identifies you. Your picks (like your car, year and build list) are saved in your own browser so they're there next time. Clearing your browser data removes them.

If you create an account (optional):

  • Your username (shown publicly only on builds you choose to share and on approved suggestions).
  • Your email, only if you give one. It's never shown. We use it only to help you get back into your account or to answer you.
  • Your password, stored only as a one-way scrambled hash. We can't read it.
  • The cars, years and mods you save. Builds are private unless you tick "Share this build".
  • When you agreed to these terms, and that you confirmed you're 13 or older.
  • Sign-in records (when you signed in and when that sign-in expires) so you stay signed in.

If you suggest a fix or vote on a guide: what you write, the guide it's about, and the name and email you choose to give (both optional). Names are shown only on approved suggestions. To stop spam we keep a scrambled code made from your IP address that changes every day and can't be turned back into your IP.

Security records: when someone fails to sign in, gets locked out, or a request is blocked, we log the time, the username tried, the IP address, rough location (country and city from the IP) and browser type. We use this only to stop break-in attempts.

We don't collect payment details, precise location, contacts, photos or anything else. We don't buy data about you from anyone.

Cookies and browser storage

We use one cookie, mb_s, and only if you sign in. It keeps you signed in and is required for accounts to work. We also save a few settings in your browser's storage (your car, sort order, build list, the name you last used on a suggestion, and a random code so you can only vote once per guide). None of these track you across other websites, so we don't show a cookie banner. We don't use advertising, social media or cross-site tracking cookies.

How we use it

  • To run your account and save your builds.
  • To review suggestions and improve the guides.
  • To keep the site secure and stop spam and break-in attempts.
  • To count visits in total (no personal profiles) so we know which guides are useful.

We don't sell or rent your information, we don't use it for advertising, and we don't use it or allow it to be used to train AI models. We won't send you marketing email.

Companies that help run the site (subprocessors)

  • Cloudflare hosts the site and stores the database (accounts, builds, suggestions, votes, security records). It also provides privacy-friendly visit counts (Cloudflare Web Analytics, which doesn't use cookies or build profiles) and protects the site from attacks. Cloudflare's customer terms include a data processing agreement.
  • Google Fonts provides the site's fonts. Your browser downloads them from Google, which means Google receives your IP address and browser details when you load a page.
  • YouTube (Google) plays the install videos. Nothing loads from YouTube until you tap a video; we use YouTube's privacy-enhanced mode. Once you tap play, YouTube's own privacy policy applies.
  • Gmail (Google) is used if you email us.

Links to parts stores take you to those stores; what they collect is covered by their own policies.

How long we keep it

  • Account, email and saved builds: until you delete your account.
  • Sign-ins: 90 days, or until you sign out.
  • Security records: 90 days.
  • Daily spam codes on votes and suggestions: 30 days. Spam-limit counters: 2 days.
  • Email addresses on reviewed suggestions: 1 year.
  • Suggestions and votes themselves: kept to improve the guides. Deleting your account removes your votes and removes your name and email from your suggestions.
  • Cloudflare's own technical request logs are kept for a few days.

Old records are deleted automatically every day.

Your choices and rights

  • Get a copy: on your account page, tap "Download my data".
  • Delete: on your account page, use "Delete my account". It happens right away.
  • Fix: email us to correct anything, or to delete a suggestion you sent without an account.
  • Ask a question or make another privacy request: email getmodbuddy@gmail.com. We'll answer within 30 days. We may ask you to email from the address on your account so we know it's you.

Depending on where you live (for example California, the EU or the UK), you may have extra rights, such as to object to or limit how your data is used, or to complain to your local data protection authority. We honor these requests for everyone. We don't sell or share personal information for targeted advertising.

Kids

ModBuddy is not for children under 13, and you must be 13 or older to create an account or send a suggestion with your contact details. If you believe a child under 13 has given us personal information, email us and we'll delete it.

Security

We protect your data with HTTPS everywhere, hashed passwords, sign-in limits, 2-step verification on the owner account and other safeguards. No website is perfectly secure, so if we ever learn of a breach that affects you, we'll tell you as the law requires.

Changes

If we change this policy, we'll update the date at the top. If we start collecting something new (for example affiliate links or ads), we'll explain it here first, and ask again if the law requires it.

Contact

ModBuddy · getmodbuddy@gmail.com · Contact page