Privacy Policy

AutoTickers ("AutoTickers", "we", "us", "our") operates AutoTickers.com, an automotive news and reviews platform covering new and used cars, motorcycles, commercial vehicles, and automotive parts and accessories. We connect automotive enthusiasts, buyers, and industry professionals with high-quality journalism, expert reviews, and market insights.

This Privacy Policy applies to all services provided through our website (autotickers.com), mobile applications, and any related digital services (collectively, the "Platform"). By using the Platform, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this policy.

We collect information in three ways: information you provide to us directly, information generated automatically through your use of the Platform, and information we receive from third-party services.

1.1 Information you provide directly

• Account registration: Full name, email address, mobile phone number, city of residence, and chosen password. For Google Sign-In registrations, we receive your name and email from Google.
• Identity verification: National ID number, date of birth, and a copy of a government-issued identity document (for users undergoing verification). This is required by our anti-fraud policies and applicable law.
• Dealer and business accounts: Business name, trade licence number, company registration number, physical address, and the name of the authorised representative. Business accounts may also provide their tax identification number for invoicing purposes.
• Profile information: Profile photograph, preferred contact method, and optional biography for dealer accounts.
• Communications: Messages sent through our secure in-platform messaging system, and communications with our customer support team.
• Payment information: Billing name, billing address, and payment card details for premium listing upgrades. Payment card data is processed entirely by our PCI-DSS-compliant payment processor; AutoTickers does not store your full card number or CVV.
• Support requests: Any information you provide when submitting a complaint, reporting a listing, or contacting our trust and safety team.

1.2 Information collected automatically

• Device and browser data: IP address, browser type and version, operating system, device type (desktop/mobile/tablet), screen resolution, and device identifiers.
• Usage data: Pages visited, search queries entered, listings viewed, filters applied, time spent on pages, scroll depth, and buttons clicked.
• Search and browsing history: Vehicle makes, models, body types, price ranges, and cities you search for — used to personalise your experience and show relevant listings.
• Location data: Approximate location derived from your IP address. If you grant explicit permission, we may access more precise location to show nearby listings. You can withdraw location permission at any time through your device settings.
• Session and log data: Server access logs, error logs, session identifiers, referral URLs, and platform access times.
• Saved and favourite listings: Vehicles and parts you save, bookmark, or add to your watchlist.

1.3 Information from third parties

• Google Sign-In: Name and email address, as provided by Google when you authenticate using Google OAuth.
• Payment processors: Transaction confirmation, payment status, and billing details from our payment gateway partner.
• Analytics providers: Aggregated and anonymised usage statistics from services such as Google Analytics.
• Fraud prevention services: Risk signals and fraud indicators from third-party trust and safety providers.

Because AutoTickers covers vehicle news and reviews, we collect specific data about the vehicles and parts featured on our platform. Publicly published editorial data is visible to all Platform visitors.

2.1 Vehicle listing information

• Vehicle identification: Make, model, year of manufacture, body type, fuel type, transmission, engine capacity, mileage (odometer reading), and chassis/VIN number (where provided).
• Condition and history: Number of previous owners, service history details, accident history disclosure, and any defects disclosed by the seller.
• Registration details: Vehicle registration number (plate), country of registration, import status, and customs clearance status.
• Pricing: Asking price in Azerbaijani Manat (₼), price negotiability, and financing availability.
• Location: City and district where the vehicle is located. Precise address is never published publicly and is shared only with prospective buyers upon explicit seller consent.
• Photographs: Images uploaded by the seller to represent the vehicle. By uploading photographs, the seller confirms they hold the rights to those images.
• Contact preference: Whether the seller prefers phone calls, messages, or both, and their available contact hours.

2.2 Parts and accessories listing information

• Part category and subcategory (e.g., Engine Parts, Body Parts, Electrical), compatible vehicle make and model, part condition (new/used/refurbished), part number where applicable, photographs, price, and seller location.

2.3 How vehicle data is displayed

Vehicle listing data — excluding the seller's full name, phone number, and precise address — is publicly accessible to all visitors of the Platform, including unregistered users. Search engines may index listing pages. Once a listing is removed or expired, it will no longer appear in search results; however, cached versions may temporarily remain accessible through search engines.

We use the data we collect solely for the purposes described below. We do not use your data for purposes incompatible with these stated uses without first obtaining your explicit consent.

3.1 Providing the service

• Creating and managing your AutoTickers account and verifying your identity.
• Publishing, managing, and renewing your vehicle and parts listings.
• Enabling secure messaging between buyers and sellers through our in-platform communication system.
• Displaying relevant listings based on your search queries, filters, and browsing history.
• Sending transactional notifications: listing approvals or rejections, listing expiry reminders, new messages from buyers/sellers, and account alerts.

3.2 Personalisation and recommendations

• Personalising your search results and home screen based on your browsing history and saved searches.
• Sending you alerts when new listings matching your saved search criteria are posted.
• Recommending similar vehicles or related parts based on your viewing history.

3.3 Trust, safety, and fraud prevention

• Verifying the identity of sellers listing vehicles above a certain value threshold.
• Detecting and preventing fraudulent listings, including stolen vehicles, cloned plates, and tampered odometers.
• Monitoring platform activity for scam patterns, phishing attempts, and policy violations.
• Investigating reported listings and taking enforcement action where required.
• Sharing data with law enforcement authorities when legally required.

3.4 Platform improvement and analytics

• Analysing usage patterns to improve search relevance, page performance, and user experience.
• Conducting A/B testing of new features before full rollout.
• Measuring the effectiveness of marketing campaigns.
• Generating anonymised, aggregated market intelligence reports (e.g., average used car prices by make and city).

3.5 Marketing communications

• Sending you newsletters, new feature announcements, and promotional offers only where you have opted in to receive them.
• Displaying personalised advertising on the Platform and on third-party websites (only where consent has been given for marketing cookies).
• You may unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time via the unsubscribe link in the email or by contacting us directly.

3.6 Legal compliance

• Complying with applicable laws, including consumer protection, anti-fraud, anti-money-laundering, and tax regulations.
• Responding to lawful requests from government authorities and courts.
• Maintaining records as required by financial and commercial regulations.

We do not sell your personal data to any third party for their own commercial use. We share information only in the circumstances described below, and only to the extent necessary.

• With other users (public listing data): Vehicle and parts listing details, seller city, and account type (individual/dealer/retailer) are visible to all Platform visitors. Your phone number is shared only when a buyer explicitly requests it by clicking "Show Number" on a listing.
• With shortlisted buyers: When a seller accepts a buyer's request or initiates contact, the seller's full name and contact details may be shared with that specific buyer to facilitate the viewing and transaction.
• With service providers: We share data with carefully selected third-party vendors who process data on our behalf — including cloud infrastructure providers, payment processors, email and SMS delivery services, analytics providers, and customer support tools. All service providers are bound by data processing agreements and must maintain equivalent privacy standards.
• With insurance and financing partners: Where you explicitly use our integrated car insurance quotation or vehicle loan calculator tools, your vehicle details and contact information may be shared with the relevant insurance company or bank for the purpose of generating a quote. This sharing only occurs with your active consent.
• For fraud prevention: We may share data with fraud prevention agencies and law enforcement bodies where we suspect criminal activity, in accordance with applicable law.
• Legal requirements: We will disclose data if required by a valid court order, search warrant, or directive from a competent government authority.
• Business transactions: In the event of a merger, acquisition, restructuring, or sale of all or part of our business, user data may be transferred as part of that transaction. You will be notified of any such transfer and the privacy protections that will apply.
• With your consent: We will share data with any additional third party where you have given clear, informed, and explicit consent for that specific sharing.

We use cookies, web beacons, pixel tags, and similar technologies to provide, improve, and personalise the Platform, and to show relevant advertising.

Types of cookies we use

• Strictly necessary cookies: Essential for the Platform to function. These include session cookies (keeping you logged in), security tokens (protecting against CSRF attacks), and load-balancer cookies. These cannot be disabled.
• Preference cookies: Remember your settings such as selected language, preferred city or region, currency display preference, and search filter defaults.
• Performance and analytics cookies: Collect aggregated, anonymous data about how users navigate the Platform — which pages are visited, how long users stay, which searches are most common. We use Google Analytics and our own internal analytics systems for this purpose.
• Functional cookies: Enable enhanced features such as recently viewed listings, saved searches, and personalised vehicle recommendations.
• Marketing and advertising cookies: Used to display relevant vehicle and automotive advertising to you on the Platform and on third-party sites. These are only activated with your explicit consent. We work with advertising networks including Google Ads. You can opt out of personalised advertising through Google Ads Settings.

Cookie control

When you first visit AutoTickers, you will be shown a cookie consent banner. You may accept all cookies, accept only necessary cookies, or customise your preferences. You can also control cookies through your browser settings; note that disabling all cookies will impair Platform functionality, including the ability to stay logged in.

We retain your personal data for as long as your account is active or for as long as we need it to provide our services and fulfil the purposes described in this policy. Specific retention periods are:

• Account and profile data: Retained for the lifetime of your account, plus 360 days after account closure. This grace period allows us to assist with any post-closure disputes.
• Active vehicle and parts listings: Retained while the listing is live. Expired or deleted listings are removed from public view immediately but retained in our internal systems for 6 months for fraud investigation and dispute resolution purposes.
• In-platform messages: Messages between buyers and sellers are retained for 12 months from the date of the message. You may delete your own messages from your inbox at any time, but the recipient retains their copy.
• Transaction and payment records: Retained for 7 years from the date of the transaction to comply with financial and tax regulations.
• Identity verification documents: Retained for 5 years from the date of verification, as required by anti-money-laundering regulations.
• Server and access logs: Retained for 90 days and then automatically purged.
• Analytics data: Anonymised aggregated analytics data may be retained indefinitely as it no longer constitutes personal data.

After retention periods expire, data is securely deleted or irreversibly anonymised. You may request the earlier deletion of your account and personal data by contacting us, subject to our legal obligations to retain certain records.

Subject to applicable law and any overriding legal obligations, you have the following rights with respect to your personal data:

• Right of access: Request a copy of all personal data we hold about you in a structured, readable format.
• Right to rectification: Request correction of any personal data that is inaccurate, incomplete, or out of date.
• Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten"): Request deletion of your personal data where we no longer have a legitimate reason to retain it. Note that we may retain data that is required by law or that is necessary for ongoing dispute resolution.
• Right to data portability: Receive your personal data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format (e.g., JSON or CSV) so you can transfer it to another service.
• Right to restriction of processing: Request that we limit how we use your data in certain circumstances — for example, while you contest the accuracy of that data.
• Right to object: Object to our processing of your data where we rely on legitimate interests as the legal basis, including for direct marketing purposes. Where you object to marketing, we will stop immediately.
• Right to withdraw consent: Where our processing is based on your consent (e.g., marketing emails, marketing cookies), you may withdraw consent at any time without penalty. Withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before the withdrawal.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact our privacy team at [email protected]. We will acknowledge your request within 5 working days and fulfil it within 30 calendar days. Where we cannot fully comply (e.g., due to legal obligations), we will explain why.

We take the security of your personal data seriously and implement multiple layers of technical and organisational controls.

• Encryption in transit: All data transmitted between your browser or mobile app and our servers is encrypted using TLS 1.2 or higher (HTTPS). We enforce HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security) across all Platform domains.
• Encryption at rest: Sensitive personal data stored in our databases — including identity documents, payment information, and contact details — is encrypted at rest using AES-256 encryption.
• Password security: All user passwords are hashed using a salted bcrypt algorithm. We never store passwords in plain text and we never transmit passwords over email or SMS.
• Access controls: Access to personal data within AutoTickers is restricted to employees and contractors who genuinely need it for their work, enforced through role-based access controls and multi-factor authentication for all staff accounts.
• Vulnerability management: We conduct regular security audits, automated vulnerability scans, and periodic penetration tests of our infrastructure. Critical vulnerabilities are patched within 24 hours; high-severity vulnerabilities within 72 hours.
• Data breach response: In the event of a data breach that is likely to affect your rights and freedoms, we will notify affected users within 72 hours of discovering the breach and report to the relevant authorities as required by law.

While we apply industry-standard security measures, no online platform can guarantee absolute security. We encourage you to use a strong, unique password for your AutoTickers account, enable two-factor authentication (where available), and log out of your account when using shared devices.

The Platform integrates with and may contain links to third-party services, including:

• Google services: Google Maps (for location-based listing searches), Google Analytics (for usage analytics), and Google Ads (for advertising). Google's own privacy policy governs the data they collect.
• Payment gateways: Our payment provider processes card transactions independently. We do not have access to your full card details.
• Insurance and financing tools: Integrated quote tools that connect to insurance companies and banks. Your data is shared with these partners only when you actively request a quote.
• Social media platforms: Our pages on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and LinkedIn. Visiting these pages is subject to those platforms' own privacy policies.

This Privacy Policy does not cover the data practices of any third-party service. When you click a link that takes you away from AutoTickers, you leave the scope of this policy. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any external service before submitting your data.

AutoTickers is a platform intended for use by persons aged 18 and over. Our services may involve legally binding transactions and we do not knowingly collect, process, or store personal data from individuals under the age of 18.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child has provided personal data to AutoTickers without your consent, please contact us immediately at [email protected]. We will investigate and take prompt steps to delete any such data.

AutoTickers primarily processes and stores data within the Republic of Azerbaijan and the European Economic Area (EEA). Some of our third-party service providers — including our cloud hosting provider and analytics tools — may process data outside Azerbaijan.

Where data is transferred outside Azerbaijan, we ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place, such as:

• Using service providers located in countries with adequate data protection laws.
• Entering into standard contractual clauses (SCCs) with service providers in other countries.
• Ensuring third parties are certified under recognised international data protection frameworks.

We review and update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our data practices, new features, legal requirements, or regulatory guidance. When we make material changes, we will:

• Post the updated policy on this page with a revised "Last Updated" date at the top.
• Send an email notification to all registered users at least 14 days before the changes take effect.
• Display a prominent notice on the Platform for the first 30 days following the update.

Your continued use of the Platform after the effective date of any updated policy constitutes your acceptance of those changes. If you do not agree with a change, you may close your account by contacting us before the change takes effect.

For any questions, concerns, data subject requests, or complaints regarding this Privacy Policy or the way we handle your personal data, please contact our Privacy & Data Protection team: