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junoVIN™
Privacy Policy
Effective June 1, 2026
junoVIN is a free tool for decoding a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and looking up recalls, complaints, safety ratings, and specifications from public U.S. government data. This policy explains what information junoVIN handles, why, and who it is shared with. We have tried to keep it plain and honest.
1. Who we are
junoVIN (“we,” “us,” the “Service”) is operated by Brandon Gatz. You can reach us about privacy at privacy@junovin.com. The Service is available as a website at junovin.com and as a mobile app.
2. Information we handle
Information you provide
- VINs you enter. When you decode a VIN, we send it to public U.S. government APIs (see Section 4) to retrieve vehicle information. We do not require an account, and we do not link a VIN to your identity. We may keep aggregate, non-identifying counts of how many decodes are performed.
- Camera photos (optional VIN scanner). If you use the camera feature to scan a VIN, the photo you capture is sent to our server and to our text-recognition provider (Anthropic) for the sole purpose of reading the VIN characters from the image. We do not use these images for anything else, and we do not retain them after the VIN is extracted.
- Email address (optional recall alerts). If you sign up for free recall alerts, we store your email address together with the vehicle (make, model, and year) you asked us to watch, so we can email you when NHTSA posts a new recall. Sign-up uses double opt-in (you confirm via a verification email). You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in any email.
Information collected automatically
- Usage analytics. We use Google Analytics 4 to understand aggregate usage — for example, how many people decode a VIN or open a section. This may involve cookies or similar identifiers set by Google.
- Server logs. Like most websites, our hosting records standard technical information (such as IP address, browser type, and timestamps) for security and reliability.
- On-device storage. Your browser’s local storage keeps things like your saved garage, recent lookups, and (in dealer mode) your settings and notes on your device. This data stays in your browser unless you use a feature that explicitly syncs it (for example, dealer workspace sync), in which case it is sent to our server to provide that feature.
3. How we use information
- To decode VINs and show you vehicle specifications, recalls, complaints, and safety ratings.
- To send recall-alert emails you have requested, and to verify your email address.
- To read VINs from photos when you use the camera scanner.
- To understand and improve how the Service is used (aggregate analytics).
- To operate, secure, and troubleshoot the Service.
We do not sell your personal information, and we do not show third-party advertising.
4. Government data sources
To answer a lookup, junoVIN queries public U.S. government services. The VIN (and/or the vehicle’s make, model, and year) is transmitted to these services so they can return results:
- NHTSA — vPIC VIN decoder, Recalls, Complaints, and Safety Ratings (vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov, api.nhtsa.gov).
- U.S. EPA / fueleconomy.gov — fuel economy and related vehicle data.
These are operated by their respective agencies under their own terms and privacy practices. The data they return is public-record information about vehicles.
5. Service providers
We use a small number of third parties to run the Service. They process information only as needed to provide their function:
| Provider | Purpose | Data involved |
|---|
| Google Analytics | Aggregate usage analytics | Usage events, device/browser, identifiers |
| Anthropic | Camera VIN text recognition; AI-written vehicle reputation summaries | Scanned photo (for OCR); vehicle make/model/year |
| Resend | Sending recall-alert and verification emails | Your email address |
| Hosting provider | Serving the site and app | Standard server logs (e.g., IP) |
The AI-written vehicle reputation summaries are generated from a vehicle’s make, model, and year only — they do not include your personal information.
6. Cookies & local storage
junoVIN does not use cookies to track you across other websites. Google Analytics may set its own cookies or identifiers for measurement. We use your browser’s local storage to remember your preferences and saved vehicles on your device, as described above. You can clear this at any time through your browser settings.
7. Affiliate links
junoVIN includes links to third-party vehicle-history report providers (such as VinAudit, Bumper, and EpicVIN). If you click one and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. When you follow such a link, you leave junoVIN and the third party’s own terms and privacy policy apply.
8. Data retention
- Recall-alert emails: kept until you unsubscribe or ask us to delete them.
- Camera photos: not retained after the VIN is read.
- Analytics & logs: kept for a limited period per our providers’ defaults, in aggregate or technical form.
- On-device data: remains on your device until you clear it.
9. Your choices & rights
- Recall alerts: unsubscribe via the link in any email, or email us to be removed.
- Analytics: you can opt out of Google Analytics using Google’s opt-out browser add-on, or block analytics with browser settings or extensions.
- On-device data: clear your browser’s storage or use the in-app controls to remove saved vehicles.
- Access or deletion: depending on where you live, you may have rights to access or delete personal information we hold (which, for most users, is at most a recall-alert email address). Email privacy@junovin.com and we will respond.
10. Children’s privacy
junoVIN is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them. If you believe a child has provided us information, contact us and we will delete it.
11. Security
Connections to junoVIN are encrypted with HTTPS. We take reasonable measures to protect information, but no method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
12. Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the effective date above. Significant changes will be reflected here.
13. Contact
Questions about this policy or your information? Email privacy@junovin.com.