The.Car Privacy Policy

Effective Date: February 5, 2026
Last Updated: February 5, 2026

 

Welcome to The.Car. Your privacy matters.

This document explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your rights when interacting with our website and services.

 

  1. Introduction & Scope

This Privacy Policy applies to all users of The.Car and covers:

  • Free content browsing (EV reviews, comparisons, news, guides)
  • Contests and prize draws
  • Newsletter subscriptions
  • Test drive bookings or inquiries
  • Contact or support forms
  • Optional promotions or competitions
  • Cookies, analytics, and social media embeds
  • Sharing lead data with third-party marketing partners (with consent)

By using our website or services, you consent to the practices described here.

 

  1. Who We Are

The.Car is operated by Leadscale Labs, registered in England and Wales (company number 04738797) with registered office at Unit 1, 6 Owen Street, London, EC1V 7JX.

 

  1. Information We Collect

Personal Information:

  • Name
  • Email
  • Phone number
  • Postal address
  • Proof of identity or UK residency for prize draws
  • Newsletter subscription (The.Car and/or The.Car partners) preferences
  • Test drive; quote; dealer requests (name, email, phone, location, preferred vehicle)
  • Brochure requests (name, email)
  • Contact/support form submissions
  • Entries for optional promotions or competitions

Marketing Consent:

  • If you provide explicit consent, your personal data may be shared with third-party marketing partners for relevant offers, promotions, and updates.
  • Without your explicit consent, your data will not be shared for marketing purposes.

Non-Personal Information:

  • IP address, browser type, device type
  • Pages visited, time spent, clicks, scroll behaviour
  • Cookies, analytics, and tracking pixel data
  • Interactions with social media embeds or share buttons

How We Collect It:

  • Most personal data is collected directly from you via forms, prize draws, newsletters, test drive/brochure/quote/dealerrequests, and contact forms.
  • In some cases, we may receive your data from third-party partners, for example:
    • Marketing partners (with your explicit consent)
    • Lead generation providers (if you opted in)
  • We do not purchase lists of personal data for marketing purposes.

 

  1. How We Use Your Data

We use your information to:

  • Provide and improve our website and services
  • Operate contests, prize draws, and promotions
  • Verify winners and deliver prizes
  • Arrange and manage test drives
  • Send newsletters, offers, or updates (with consent)
  • Respond to support requests
  • Analyse site performance and content engagement
  • Comply with legal obligations
  • Ensure security, prevent fraud, and maintain fair use
  • Share data with third-party marketing partners, but only with your explicit consent

 

  1. Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR/UK GDPR)

We process personal data based on:

  • Consent – e.g., newsletters, prize draw entry, publicity (images, first names), third-party marketing
  • Legitimate interest – e.g., website functionality, analytics, fraud detection, eligibility verification, test drive arrangements
  • Legal obligation – e.g., record-keeping for compliance with UK law

Note: Verification documents (ID, proof of residency) are processed on the basis of legitimate interest and explicit consent.

 

  1. How We Share Your Data

We may share your information with:

  • Service providers (hosting, analytics, marketing, delivery services for test drives)
  • Legal or regulatory authorities if required
  • Third parties in case of business transfer (merger, sale)
  • Third-party marketing partners (only if you explicitly consent)

We never sell your personal data.

 

  1. Cookies, Tracking & Analytics

We use cookies and tracking technologies to:

  • Ensure website functionality
  • Analyse site usage and improve services
  • Measure content engagement
  • Provide marketing or advertising (with consent)

 

The cookies set from our Website: The following table sets out the types of cookie used on our Website and provides detail about what they are used for. When you use the Website for the first time, cookies which are essential to make our Website operate (see those identified as “essential cookies” below) will have been set but the other cookies will not have been set unless you agreed to those cookies being set at the time. If you have agreed to accept cookies then our Website will remember this and continue to set cookies each time you visit. If you do not want a cookie to be stored, then you may turn off certain cookies listed below individually or you can select the appropriate options on your web browser to delete some or all cookies. Please note, however, that if you block some or all cookies (including essential cookies) you may not be able to use or access all or parts of our Website, such as being able to log on to member specific are

Managing Cookies

If you want to disable cookies, you can change your browser settings to reject them. Please note: if you block all cookies, including those essential for the operation of the website, you may not be able to access some parts of The.Car.

Microsoft Internet Explorer

  1. Click the Tools menu, then select Internet Options.
  2. Click the Privacy tab.
  3. Choose the appropriate setting to block or manage cookies.

Mozilla Firefox

  1. Click the Tools menu, then select Options.
  2. Click the Privacy & Security icon.
  3. Under Cookies and Site Data, select your preferred options to block or manage cookies.

Google Chrome

  1. Click the three dots in the top-right corner of the browser and select Settings.
  2. Click Privacy and security in the left-hand menu.
  3. Click Cookies and other site data.
  4. Choose “Block all cookies”, block third-party cookies, or customize settings for specific sites.

Tip: You can usually manage cookies for other browsers via their settings or preferences menu. Always save changes before exiting the settings page.

Third-party tracking:

  • Social media embeds (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) may collect data; we are not responsible for their practices
  • Advertising pixels may track visitor behaviour for marketing purposes

You can manage cookie preferences via our cookie banner.

 

  1. Data Storage & International Transfers

Some of the personal data we collect may be stored or processed outside the UK or the European Economic Area (EEA), including in countries that may not have the same level of data protection laws.

We ensure that any international transfers of your personal data are protected by appropriate safeguards, such as:

  • Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the UK government
  • Binding corporate rules for internal company transfers
  • Encryption and secure transfer methods

By using our website or services, you consent to such transfers. Your personal data will always be handled in accordance with this Privacy Policy and UK GDPR.

 

  1. Data Retention

Please contact us via Privacy[at]Leadscale[dot]com for any information or a copy of our Data Retention Policy.

 

  1. Automated Decision-Making & Profiling

We do not make decisions about you solely by automated means, except basic analytics to improve site performance.

 

  1. Security

We take the security of your personal information very seriously. We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your data against:

  • Unauthorized access
  • Loss, destruction, or accidental damage
  • Disclosure or misuse
  • Alteration or corruption

Our security measures include, but are not limited to:

  • Encryption of sensitive data during transmission and storage
  • Secure access controls, passwords, and authentication procedures
  • Regular monitoring, testing, and updating of our systems
  • Staff training on data protection and security best practices
  • Policies and procedures to manage and minimise risk

While we strive to protect your personal data, no system can be completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security of your information.

 

  1. Browsing Free Content

When you browse reviews, comparisons, news, or guides:

  • No registration is required
  • IP, device info, cookies, and behavioural data may be collected for analytics and improvement
  • Data is aggregated and anonymized for recommendations and site performance

 

  1. Newsletters & Updates
  • Newsletter subscriptions are optional
  • You must provide your email address and consent
  • You can unsubscribe at any time
  • Your email is used solely for communications you’ve opted into

 

  1. Test Drives, Quotes& Dealer Enquiries

When you submit a test drive, quote and/or a speak to dealer request:

  • We collect your name, email, phone number, address, and vehicle preferences
  • Data is used to:
    •  Arrange the test drive and/or;
    •  Send out your quote and/or;
    • Arrange a dealer to communicate with you
  • Shared only with service providers necessary to fulfill the request
  • You may request deletion at any time
  1. Brochure Requests

When you submit a brochure request:

  • We collect your name, email address and marketing preferences
  • Data is processed to fulfil your request.
  • Shared only with service providers necessary to fulfil the request
  • You may request deletion at any time
  1. Contact & Support Forms

When you use a contact or support form:

  • We collect your name, email, and message
  • Used solely to respond to your inquiry

 

  1. Optional Promotions
  • Data collected for optional competitions or promotional offers
  • Used solely to manage participation and communicate results

 

  1. Marketing via Third Parties
  • If you explicitly consent, we may share your personal data (name, email, phone, postal address) with third-party marketing partners
  • Purpose: sending relevant offers, promotions, and updates
  • You may withdraw consent at any time via privacy[at]Leadscale[dot]com or opt-out links in communications
  • Without consent, your data will not be shared for marketing

 

  1. External Links & Third-Party Content
  • Clicking social or external links may share data with those sites
  • We are not responsible for third-party privacy practices

 

  1. GDPR / UK GDPR Rights

YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS AS A WEBSITE USER With respect to the personal information that Leadscale Labs collects about you from its Website, you have the right:

  • To request access to that personal information;
  • To receive a copy of the personal information that you have provided to Leadscale Labs in a structured, commonly used and machine readable format so that you can share it with others;
  • Where that personal information is inaccurate or incomplete, to ask for the personal information to be rectified or completed;
  • To ask for that personal information to be erased; and
  • To object to us processing your personal information by asking for the processing of that personal information to be restricted or stopped (for example, where Leadscale Labs uses personal information to make recommendations, suggestions or other decisions automatically, you have the right to object to us doing this).

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us by writing to us at Unit 1, 6 Owen Street, London EC1V 7JX.

You also have the right to make a complaint to the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) whose details are as follows:

The Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House, Water Lane,
Wilmslow, Cheshire
SK9 5AF.

http://ico.org.uk/
0303 123 1113

or another European data protection authority about the manner in which Leadscale Labs processes that personal information.

  1. Contact for Privacy Questions:
    If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding your personal data, you can contact our Data Protection Officer (DPO) at:

Email: privacy[at]Leadscale[dot]com
Postal Address: Leadscale Labs, Unit 1, 6 Owen Street, London, EC1V 7JX

 

  1. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy. The “Effective Date” shows the latest version.