Privacy Policy

USA Tow Finder ("we," "us," "our") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our directory and referral service.

By using our website or services, you consent to the data practices described in this policy. If you do not agree with our practices, please do not use our services.

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

We collect information you voluntarily provide, including:

• Quote Requests: Name, phone number, email address, vehicle information, service location, and towing service needs
• Account Information: Username, email, password, and profile details when you create an account
• Business Information: For towing professionals claiming businesses - business license, insurance certificates, contact details, service areas
• Communication Data: Messages sent through our contact forms or customer support
• Payment Information: Billing details for subscription services (processed securely through Stripe)

2.2 Information We Collect Automatically

• Technical Information: IP address, browser type, device information, operating system
• Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on site, click patterns, referral sources
• Cookies and Tracking Technologies: As described in our Cookie Policy

3.1 IP-Based Location Detection

• We use your IP address to determine your approximate city and state
• This information is used only to display relevant nearby towing services
• IP-based location is not precise and typically shows city-level accuracy
• You can opt out by manually entering your location instead

3.2 Third-Party Location Services

We use the following services for location functionality:

• MapBox API: For geocoding service areas and mapping functionality
• IP Geolocation Services: For detecting general location from IP addresses

3.3 Your Location Control

• You can disable automatic location detection in your browser settings
• Manual location entry is always available as an alternative
• Location data is never shared for marketing purposes
• We do not track your movements or collect location history

We use collected information for the following purposes:

4.1 Core Service Operations

• Match customers with appropriate towing services based on location and needs
• Facilitate communication between customers and towing professionals
• Process and manage quote requests and business claims
• Maintain and improve our directory of towing services

4.2 Communication & Notifications

• Send SMS and email notifications about quote requests (with TCPA compliance)
• Provide customer support and respond to inquiries
• Send important service updates and account notifications
• Process subscription-related communications

4.3 Business Operations

• Verify business credentials and process claims
• Manage subscription billing and payments
• Generate analytics and improve service quality
• Ensure platform security and prevent fraud

4.4 Legal Compliance

• Comply with applicable laws and regulations
• Respond to legal requests and law enforcement
• Protect our rights and the rights of our users
• Enforce our Terms of Service

We may share your information in the following circumstances:

5.1 With Towing Service Providers

When you submit a quote request, we share necessary information with relevant towing services to facilitate your service request, including:

• Your contact information (name, phone, email)
• Vehicle and service location details
• Type of towing service needed
• Timing preferences and special requirements

5.2 Service Providers

We work with trusted third-party service providers:

• Twilio: SMS notification services
• Email Service Providers: Email delivery and communication
• Stripe: Payment processing for subscriptions
• Hosting and Infrastructure: Website and database hosting
• Analytics Services: Website performance and usage analysis

5.3 Legal and Safety

We may disclose information when required by law or to:

• Comply with legal obligations or court orders
• Respond to law enforcement requests
• Protect our rights, property, or safety
• Protect the rights and safety of our users
• Investigate fraud or security issues

5.4 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of the business assets, subject to the same privacy protections.

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction.

6.1 Security Measures

• SSL/TLS encryption for data transmission
• Secure database storage with access controls
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Employee training on data protection practices
• Limited access to personal information on a need-to-know basis

6.2 Payment Security

Payment information is processed securely through Stripe, a PCI DSS compliant payment processor. We do not store your complete credit card information on our servers.

6.3 Security Limitations

While we use reasonable security measures, no system is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your information. Please use strong passwords and keep your account credentials secure.

You have several rights regarding your personal information:

7.1 Access and Portability

• Access: Request access to personal information we hold about you
• Data Download: Request a copy of your personal data in a portable format
• Account Information: View and update your account information through your profile

7.2 Correction and Deletion

• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate personal information
• Account Deletion: Delete your account and associated personal information
• Data Removal: Request removal of specific personal information (subject to legal requirements)

7.3 Communication Preferences

• SMS Opt-out: Reply STOP to any SMS notification to unsubscribe
• Email Unsubscribe: Click unsubscribe links in emails or contact us directly
• Marketing Communications: Opt out of promotional emails while keeping service-related notifications

7.4 Location Preferences

• Disable Auto-Location: Turn off automatic IP-based location detection
• Manual Entry: Always use manual location entry instead of automatic detection
• Browser Settings: Disable location services in your browser settings

7.5 How to Exercise Your Rights

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience on our website. For detailed information, please see our Cookie Policy.

8.1 Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential Cookies: Required for basic website functionality and security
• Functional Cookies: Remember your preferences and settings
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our website
• Performance Cookies: Monitor website performance and loading times

8.2 Managing Cookies

You can control cookie preferences through:

• Your browser settings (disable or delete cookies)
• Our cookie consent banner (when available)
• Third-party opt-out tools for advertising cookies

We retain your personal information for different periods based on the type of data and our business needs:

9.1 Retention Periods

• Account Information: Until account deletion or 3 years after last activity
• Quote Requests: 2 years for service improvement and analytics
• Communication Records: 3 years for customer support and legal compliance
• Business Claims Data: 7 years for regulatory compliance
• Payment Records: 7 years for tax and financial compliance
• Technical Logs: 1 year for security and system monitoring

9.2 Deletion Process

When retention periods expire or you request deletion, we securely delete or anonymize your information, except where we must retain it for legal compliance.

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided personal information to us, please contact us immediately at privacy@usatowfinder.com.

10.1 If We Discover Child Information

If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 13, we will take immediate steps to delete such information from our records.

10.2 Age Verification

Our Terms of Service require users to be at least 18 years old to create accounts or use our services independently. Users under 18 must have parental supervision.

If you are a California resident, you have additional privacy rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).

11.1 Your CCPA Rights

• Right to Know: Request information about personal information collected, used, or shared
• Right to Delete: Request deletion of your personal information (with exceptions)
• Right to Opt-Out: Opt out of sale of personal information (we do not sell personal information)
• Right to Non-Discrimination: Equal service regardless of exercising privacy rights

11.2 Personal Information Categories

We collect the following categories of personal information from California residents:

• Identifiers (name, email, phone, IP address)
• Commercial information (quote requests, subscription data)
• Internet activity (website usage, clicks)
• Geolocation data (approximate location from IP address)
• Professional information (for business claims)

11.3 Exercising CCPA Rights

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors.

12.1 Notification of Changes

• Major changes will be announced on our website
• We may send email notifications for significant updates
• The "Last Updated" date at the top will reflect recent changes
• Continued use of our services constitutes acceptance of changes

12.2 Review Recommendations

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us: