Privacy Policy

What we collect

• Anonymous usage events — e.g. a diagnostic was started, a question answered, a terminal reached, a safety verdict shown. See “Analytics” below for the exact list and payload.
• Standard server logs — our hosting provider may log basic request data (such as IP address and user agent) to operate and secure the service. We do not combine this with anything else.

What stays on your device — and never reaches us

• Vehicle details. The year, make, and model you can save are stored only in your browser’s local storage (key symptomotive-vehicle). They are never sent to us, to analytics, or anywhere else. You can clear them at any time with the “clear” control on the page.
• Your answers. Diagnostic answers live only in the page’s memory while you use it.
• Your position in the diagnostic. This is kept in the page address’s fragment (the part after #), which browsers never send to servers. Note: if you share the link, whoever opens it sees the same step.

Analytics

We use Cloudflare Zaraz (free tier) in cookieless mode to understand whether the diagnostics are useful. Analytics only runs if the Zaraz script is present; the site works fully without it.

Events we send — and nothing else:

• diagnostic_started — you began a diagnostic
• diagnostic_question_answered — you answered a question (which branch, which question number, the answer option label)
• diagnostic_completed — you reached a diagnosis
• terminal_reached — which terminal (diagnosis endpoint) was reached
• safety_state_shown — which safety verdict was shown
• safe_check_opened — you opened a “safe checks” section
• cost_section_viewed — you viewed a cost section
• vehicle_context_added — you saved vehicle details (we record only that you did — never the values)
• diagnostic_restarted — you restarted a diagnostic

Each event carries only: the event name, an anonymous session id (random, stored in session storage, regenerated every session), the page path, and minimal non-identifying context such as a node id or safety-state label.

We never send: your year/make/model, your name, email, IP address (beyond standard server logs), or any other personal data. No cross-site tracking, no fingerprinting, no advertising trackers.

Event data is kept on a rolling 13-month basis.

Google Analytics 4

We also use Google Analytics 4 (GA4), provided by Google LLC, to measure aggregate site usage — for example, which pages are visited and how visitors reach them. GA4 sets first-party cookies on your device (such as _ga) to distinguish visits. It collects pseudonymous information such as pages viewed, approximate location derived from your IP address, and device and browser details. Google processes this data under its own Privacy Policy. You can opt out by disabling cookies in your browser or by installing Google’s opt-out browser add-on.

What we never do

• We do not sell personal data — there is nothing to sell.
• We do not build profiles or track you across sites.
• We do not use advertising trackers.
• We do not ask for or store VINs, license plates, names, emails, or phone numbers.

Children

Symptomotive is a general automotive information site not directed at children, and we do not knowingly collect data from children.

Changes to this policy

If our data practices change — for example, if we add a contact form or change analytics providers — this page will be updated and the “last updated” date revised.