The short version
- You don't need an account, and we don't ask for your name to use any tool.
- Registration numbers you check are kept for up to 24 hours, then deleted.
- Analytics and advertising cookies are only used if you agree to them.
- We never sell your data.
Who we are
VehicleMonkey (vehiclemonkey.co.uk) is run by [OWNER OR BUSINESS NAME], [FULL POSTAL ADDRESS]. We are the controller of your personal data under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
For any privacy question, email [email protected].
What we collect and why
| Information | Why we use it | Legal basis | How long we keep it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration numbers you enter | To fetch the MOT record and show you the result | Legitimate interests: giving you the result you asked for | Up to 24 hours |
| Server logs: IP address, browser type, pages visited and the time | To keep the site secure, fix errors and stop misuse | Legitimate interests: running a safe website | 30 days |
| Messages you send us | To reply to you | Legitimate interests: answering your question | 12 months after our last reply |
| Analytics data from Google Analytics | To see which pages help people and which need work | Your consent | 14 months |
| Advertising data from Google AdSense | To show adverts, limit how often you see them and stop ad fraud | Your consent | Up to 13 months |
Figures you type into our calculators, like your mileage or fuel price, are worked out in your browser. They are not sent to us.
Registration numbers
A registration number on its own doesn't tell us who you are. But it could be linked to a person by someone who has other information, so we treat it with care.
- We send it to the DVSA's MOT History API to get the vehicle's MOT record. That is the only reason we use it.
- We keep the result in a short term store for up to 24 hours so the page loads quickly if it's checked again, then it is deleted.
- We don't send registration numbers to Google Analytics.
- Our server logs record page addresses, which can include a registration number, alongside an IP address. These logs are used only for security and are deleted after 30 days.
Cookies, analytics and adverts
When you first visit, a message asks whether you agree to analytics and advertising cookies. If you say no, we don't use them. You may still see adverts, but they won't be based on your browsing. You can change your mind at any time using the "Privacy and cookie settings" link at the bottom of every page.
Google uses cookies to show adverts on this site and on other sites you visit. You can read how Google uses information from sites that use its services, and you can turn off personalised adverts in My Ad Center.
Our cookie policy lists every cookie we use and how long each one lasts.
Who we share data with
We only share data with the companies that help us run the site:
- The DVSA, which receives the registration number you check, to return the MOT record.
- Google, for analytics and advertising, only if you agree.
- [HOSTING COMPANY NAME], which hosts our website and server logs.
We never sell your data, and we don't share it for anyone else's marketing.
Data sent outside the UK
Google may process data outside the UK. When that happens, it is protected by legal safeguards approved under UK data protection law, such as the UK International Data Transfer Addendum.
Your rights
Under UK data protection law, you have the right to:
- ask for a copy of the personal data we hold about you
- ask us to correct data that is wrong
- ask us to delete your data
- ask us to limit how we use your data, or object to how we use it
- ask for your data in a format you can take elsewhere
- withdraw your consent to cookies at any time
To use any of these rights, email [email protected]. It's free, and we'll reply within one month.
Complaints
If you're unhappy with how we've handled your data, please tell us first and we'll do our best to put it right. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK's data protection regulator, at ico.org.uk or on 0303 123 1113.
Keeping data safe
The whole site runs over a secure connection (HTTPS). Our access keys for official data are kept on our server, never in the pages you load, and only the people who run the site can access our systems.
Children
VehicleMonkey is made for adults. We don't knowingly collect personal data from children under 13.
Changes to this policy
If we change how we use your data, we'll update this page and the date at the top. If the change is important, we'll also show a notice on the site.