Privacy Policy
GarageCodex is an offline-first app for auto-repair shops and mobile mechanics. It is built around a simple principle: your data stays on your device. We don't run servers that hold your information, we don't have user accounts, and we don't track you.
The short version
- All of your shop, customer, vehicle, and financial data is stored locally on your device in an on-device database.
- GarageCodex has no user accounts and no GarageCodex cloud. We never receive or store your data.
- We do not use analytics, advertising, or third-party trackers.
- Backups, exports, and shared PDFs go only where you send them.
Information GarageCodex stores
You enter information into GarageCodex to run your shop — for example: shop details, customers and their contact information, vehicles, work orders, repairs, parts, invoices, payments, inspection results, and photos you capture. This information is saved in a database on your device only. It is never transmitted to us or to any GarageCodex server, because no such server exists.
Device permissions
GarageCodex asks for permissions only to provide specific features, and the data they produce stays on your device:
- Camera — to scan a VIN barcode, capture inspection photos, and photograph receipts. Images are stored locally.
- Location (Mobile Mechanic mode) — to record driven miles and travel time for a work order using on-device GPS, including in the background while a trip is recording. Trip data is stored locally and is used for your own job and mileage records. It is not sent to us or to any third party.
- Notifications — to show an ongoing notification while a labor timer or a trip is recording.
- Storage / files — to save backups and to export or share CSV and PDF files that you choose to create.
When GarageCodex connects to the internet
GarageCodex works fully offline. It makes a network request only in these optional cases, and only when you trigger them:
- VIN decode (NHTSA) — when you scan or enter a VIN, GarageCodex can look it up against the U.S. government's free NHTSA vPIC vehicle database to fill in make, model, year, and engine. This sends the VIN to NHTSA. If you're offline, GarageCodex decodes what it can on-device instead.
- Parts price lookups — the part forms can open your web browser to a retailer's search page (such as O'Reilly Auto Parts, AutoZone, or Google) for a part. This opens an external website; their own privacy practices apply once you leave GarageCodex.
- Maps / navigation — the Navigate button hands a destination address off to your device's maps app. That app's privacy practices then apply.
These features are conveniences. GarageCodex does not send your customer or financial records over the internet.
Backups and exports
GarageCodex keeps rotating backups of your database on your device. You can also export data as CSV, generate estimate/invoice and tax-summary PDFs, and share a backup file. When you share or export, the file goes only to the destination you pick (for example email, a messaging app, or your own cloud storage). You control where your data goes.
Children's privacy
GarageCodex is a business tool intended for shop owners and mechanics, and is not directed at children.
Data we collect about you
None. Because GarageCodex has no servers and no accounts, we — the makers of GarageCodex — do not collect, receive, store, sell, or share any of your personal or business data.
Changes to this policy
If we change this policy, we'll update the date at the top of this page. Material changes will be reflected here at garagecodex.app/privacy.
Contact
Questions about this policy? Reach us through the form at garagecodex.app.