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, and we don't track you. The one optional exception is a backup to your own Google Drive — which you turn on, sign in to, and control.
The short version
- All of your shop, customer, vehicle, and financial data is stored locally on your device by default, in an on-device database.
- There is no GarageCodex cloud or server — we never receive or store your data.
- Optionally, you can back up to your own Google Drive. The copy goes to your Google account, not to us.
- 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. It is never transmitted to us or to any GarageCodex server, because no such server exists. If you turn on Google Drive backup, a copy of this database is uploaded to your own Google Drive (see “Backups and exports” below) — never to us.
Device permissions
GarageCodex asks for permissions only to provide specific features. The data they produce stays on your device — and, if you turn on Google Drive backup, is included in that backup to your own Google account (photos are kept on the device and are not part of the backup):
- 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, only while a trip you started is recording (a visible notification is shown the whole time, and tracking stops if you close the app). GarageCodex uses the standard “while using the app” permission — it never requests always-on background location. Trip data is stored locally and is used for your own job and mileage records. It is not sent to us (it is part of the database, so it is included if you turn on Google Drive backup, to your own account).
- 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.
-
Google Drive backup (optional) — if you connect Google Drive in
Settings, GarageCodex uploads a copy of your database to your own Google
Drive. It uses only the
drive.filepermission, which limits the app to the files it creates — it cannot see the rest of your Drive. The backup lives in your Google account; we never receive it. You can disconnect anytime, and any backup already in your Drive stays there until you delete it.
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.
Optionally, you can connect Google Drive (Settings → Backups) to
automatically keep a copy of your latest backup in your own Google account.
GarageCodex requests only the drive.file scope (access limited to the
files it creates); the backup goes to your Drive and not to us, and you can disconnect
at any time. This is off until you turn it on.
Purchases
The optional Pro unlock is a one-time in-app purchase handled entirely by Google Play — GarageCodex never sees or stores your payment details, and Google's own privacy policy applies to the payment itself. Your unlock is tied to your Google account; when online, the app checks with Google Play to confirm it (this is how the unlock restores on a new device). From Google we receive only basic order records (order number, product, and amount — never your card details), which we use solely for support and refunds.
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
From the app: none. GarageCodex has no app servers of its own, so we — the makers of GarageCodex — do not collect, receive, store, sell, or share any of your personal or business data from the app. If you choose to connect Google Drive, you sign in to your own Google account and your backup is stored there; Google's handling of your account is governed by Google's privacy policy. We still receive nothing. The one place we do receive anything is the contact form on this website — see the next section.
The website contact form
If you use the “Get notified” form on this website (the “Site”), the Site stores what you submit — your name, email address, and message — along with the standard technical details of the request (your IP address and browser user-agent), which are kept to prevent abuse of the form. We use this information only to reply to you and to let you know when GarageCodex is available. It is never sold, shared, or used for marketing beyond that, and no analytics or tracking scripts run on the Site. To have your submission deleted, email support@garagecodex.app.
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? Email support@garagecodex.app, or reach us through the form at garagecodex.app.