Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy describes what information PlatePal collects, how we use it, and the choices you have about that information. We try to keep this page short and in plain English.
What we collect
- Your email address and password. The password is stored as a salted hash — we never see the original.
- Your name and street address if you choose to provide them.
- License plate numbers and states you register.
- Messages you send and receive inside the app.
- Basic technical info like your IP address (for rate-limiting and abuse prevention) and last-active timestamp.
How we use it
- To run the service — sign you in, deliver your messages, send street alerts to the right people.
- To prevent spam and abuse.
- To respond to support questions you send via the Feedback tab.
We do not sell your data. The app may show a small number of ads to help cover hosting costs, but personal information is not shared with advertisers beyond the standard anonymous traffic data that browsers send to any website.
What other users see
- Your plate number and state are searchable so others can message you. That's the whole point of the app.
- The display name on outgoing messages is "Anonymous" when you toggle anonymous, otherwise your name (or the local part of your email if you haven't set a name).
- Your street address is never shown publicly. It's only used to decide whose inbox a street alert lands in.
Admin access
PlatePal admins can access messages, feedback, and account data when needed to:
- Investigate reports of spam, abuse, or threats.
- Respond to your support questions.
- Approve account or plate deletion requests.
We do not read private messages casually or share what we see with anyone outside PlatePal.
Cookies and tracking
PlatePal uses standard web storage (cookies and local storage) to keep you signed in and remember preferences like dark mode. We use Google AdSense to deliver ads, which may set its own cookies. You can opt out of personalized ads at Google's ad settings.
Where your data lives
Your data is stored in MongoDB Atlas (a cloud database service). Backups are kept for normal operational purposes. Data leaves our servers only when you export your data or when our admins audit a report.
Your rights
- Access: contact us via the Feedback tab and we'll send you a copy of your data.
- Delete: Settings → "Request account deletion". Admins review and then permanently erase your data.
- Correct: edit your name, email (via support), and street address anytime in Settings.
Children
PlatePal is not for children under 13. If we learn a child under 13 has signed up, we'll delete the account.
Changes
If this policy changes, we'll update the "Last updated" date at the top and notify you in-app for significant changes.
Contact
Use the Feedback tab inside the app, visit our contact page, or email [email protected] to reach us about anything in this policy.