Privacy Statement
Effective Date: July 1, 2023
Introduction
The Ford Blue Advantage website, which we refer to herein as this “Autotrader Site,” is operated by Autotrader.com, Inc. (“Autotrader”) on behalf of Ford Motor Company (“Ford”). Autotrader respects the privacy of our users when they use our websites, mobile and other online applications and products and services.
By using this Autotrader Site, you consent to the use of your information and information about you in accordance with this Privacy Statement, and you also direct AutoTrader to share your contact information with the applicable participating Ford dealer(s) for use as described in their respective privacy policies.
This Privacy Statement applies to information collected through this Autotrader Site and does not describe the collection, use and disclosure practices of any of our corporate affiliates or third parties, including Ford or any participating Ford dealer. For information on the collection, use and disclosure practices of any company with whom you are doing business, whether or not affiliated with Autotrader, please review their privacy policies.
Services offered by Autotrader are not directed to individuals under the age of eighteen (18). If you are under eighteen (18), you should not provide any personal information to us.
This Privacy Statement covers:
- Information We Collect
- Information You Provide
- Automated Information
- Data Technologies
- Videos
- Location Information
- Publicly Posted Information
- Combined Information and Information from Other Sources
- How We May Use the Information We Collect
- Applications, Widgets and Social Media
- Advertising Networks
- Information We Share
- Affiliates
- Our Service Providers
- Co-Sponsored Promotions
- Ford and Participating Ford Dealers
- Credit Applications
- Corporate and Asset Transactions
- Other
- Your Choices
- Your California Privacy Rights
- Access and Correction
- Links
- Data Security
- Disputes
- Updates to this Privacy Statement
- How to Contact Us
Information We Collect
Information is gathered from this Autotrader Site by us, our service providers, advertisers, sponsors and partners.
Information You Provide. We may collect information that you choose to provide on this Autotrader Site in a variety of ways, such as when you:
- express an interest in buying or trading in a car. This information may include your name, address, telephone number, email address, Social Security Number, and credit information
- participate in chats, web forums or other interactive sessions;
- apply for credit; and
- provide payment card information;
Automated Information. Information regarding your use of this Autotrader Site may be collected and/or aggregated through the use of automated means. This automatically collected information may include information such as:
- your IP address, the type of browser and operating system used;
- date and time you access this Autotrader Site and pages you visit, and if you linked from or to another website, the address of that website;
- email you open and links you click on within those email; and
- your ISP or mobile carrier, and the type of handheld or mobile device that you used.
- your behavior while using this Autotrader site, including the time you spend on portions of the site and how you interact with various aspects of the site
Data Technologies. Various technologies are used to automatically collect information, such as cookies, local shared objects, and web beacons (generally referred to as “Data Technologies”. “Cookies” are small identifiers sent from a web server that are stored on your device for the purpose of identifying your browser or storing information or settings in your browser. “Local shared objects,” sometimes known as Flash cookies, may be used to store your preferences or display content based upon what you have viewed on various websites to personalize your visit. A “web beacon,” also known as an Internet tag, pixel tag or clear GIF, links web pages to web servers and their cookies. Anonymous advertising identifiers are increasingly being used on mobile devices and otherwise in a manner similar to cookies. When we refer to Data Technologies, we are including all current and similar future technologies.
One or more Data Technologies may be used on this Autotrader Site and other websites and mobile applications (that may not be this Autotrader Site) by us, by another party on our behalf, or by third parties in accordance with their privacy policies. Data Technologies may be used by us and others, on our behalf and on their own behalf, to transmit information to you or about you and connect information about you from different sources, websites, devices, and mobile applications.
We may use a uniquely generated trackable toll-free telephone number on this Autotrader Site or in advertisements. If you call one of these uniquely generated toll-free numbers, we (or a service provider acting on our behalf) may collect non-personally identifiable information about the call (e.g., date, time, duration), as well as personally identifiable information (e.g., your name, the number from which your call originated).
Videos. We may target and track the videos you view on this Autotrader Site. You consent to our tracking of your video viewing through this Autotrader Site or third party social media for up to two years or as permitted by applicable law.
Location Information. When use this Autotrader Site, we may collect physical location information that is sufficiently precise to allow us to locate a specific person or device (“Location Information”). We also may collect Location Information when you visit or are in the vicinity of one of the participating Ford dealers. We only collect Location Information with your permission (e.g., such as when you agree to provide it to us after you initially access or download this Autotrader Site). We may use Location Information and provide it to Ford participating dealers to provide you with content and services that are relevant to a particular location, such as advertising, search results, dealers in the area, and direction, to evaluate and improve this Autotrader Site, or to provide you with content and services relevant to one or more nearby participating Ford dealers.
Publicly Posted Information. Information that you make available to us and others via social media networks, forums, blogs, list serves, chat rooms or similar functionality is public information that we or others may share or use in accordance with the law.
Combined Information and Information from Other Sources. We may combine information that you provide to us with information we receive from our affiliates and other sources, as well as with other information that is automatically collected. The combined information may include information about your use of this Autotrader Site, your use of other websites, devices and mobile applications and information from our affiliates and other sources.
How We May Use the Information We Collect
We may use information we collect for the following purposes:
- for everyday business purposes, such as providing products and services you request, processing and collecting payments and providing customer support;
- to provide values and/or offers for cars that you would like to purchase or trade in;
- to offer our other products or services and/or the products or services of Ford to you;
- to communicate about, and administer your participation in, special events, programs, surveys, contests, sweepstakes and other offers or promotions;
- to enable you to interact with Autotrader, Ford, and participating Ford dealers through various means, such as through message boards, blogs and social and other digital media;
- to evaluate and improve our business, including developing new products and services and analyzing the effectiveness of products, services, applications and websites;
- to allow Ford and participating Ford dealers to market or advertise their products or services to you;
- to diagnose and address technical and service problems;
- to perform data analyses, including market and consumer research, trend analysis, demographic analysis and financial analysis;
- to deliver content (including advertising) correlating to your interests and browsing and usage history, both within this Autotrader Site and on other websites and applications;
- to comply with applicable legal requirements and our policies; and
- to contact you via telephone, text or chat. We will obtain your consent to contact you when and in the manner required by law.
Applications, Widgets and Social Media
We may include applications or widgets from social media providers that allow interaction or content sharing by their users. These widgets, such as a Facebook “Share” or “Like” button, are visible to you on the web page you visit. Integration between this Autotrader Site and social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter and others may allow social media networks in which you participate to collect information about you, even when you do not explicitly activate the network’s application or widget. Please visit the applicable social media network’s privacy policy to better understand their data collection practices and choices they make available to you. The privacy policy of the social media network controls the collection, use and disclosure of all personal information transmitted to that network.
Advertising Networks
Advertising that is customized based on predictions generated over time from your visits across different websites, devices and mobile applications is sometimes called “online behavioral” or “interest-based” advertising. This data collection takes place both on this Autotrader Site and on third-party’s websites and mobile applications. This process allows Autotrader and Ford to deliver targeted advertising, enhance marketing programs and help track the effectiveness of such efforts. We do not provide information that is directly associated with a specific person (such as name and address) to an advertising network when you interact with or view a customized advertisement. However, when you view or interact with an advertisement, the advertiser may make an assumption that you are interested in the subject matter of the advertisement.
Some companies disclose when they are using interest-based advertising programs on this Autotrader Site to deliver third-party ads or collecting information about your visit for these purposes and give you the ability to opt-out of this use of your information. You may see an iconin or around third-party advertisements on this Autotrader Site that use interest-based advertising programs and on pages where data is collected and used for online interest-based advertising. Clicking on this icon will provide additional information about the companies and data practices that were used to deliver the ad. You can opt out of delivery of targeted advertising to you by multiple companies by visiting www.aboutads.info/choices, www.networkadvertising.org/managing/opt_out.asp and www.evidon.com. Please note that even if you opt out, you will continue to receive advertisements, but they will not be tailored to your specific interests.
We do not sell or otherwise share information about you that we collect or receive, except as described below:
- Affiliates. We may share Automated Information (defined above) collected about you with our corporate affiliates, who will use it in accordance with their privacy policies. Please visiting http://www.coxautoinc.comfor more information about our affiliates. We will not share other information you provide with our corporate affiliates.
- Our Service Providers. We may engage third parties to provide the services offered through or in connection with this Autotrader Site on our behalf. We require such providers to maintain information about you as confidential and to use the information only to perform the services specified by us in a manner consistent with this Privacy Statement.
- Co-Sponsored Promotions. In the event that you participate in a survey, sweepstakes, contest or other promotion that is co-sponsored by Autotrader and Ford or participating Ford dealers, we may share information collected in conjunction with the survey, sweepstakes, contest or promotion, including personal information, with Ford or participating Ford dealers. After the information is provided, the subsequent use or disclosure of such information is subject to their privacy policies and practices. Surveys, sweepstakes and other promotions conducted on behalf of Autotrader and Ford or participating Ford dealers. will include branding from both Autotrader and Ford or participating Ford dealers.
- Ford and Participating Ford Dealers. Information about you, including personal information and information collected via Data Technologies, may be shared with Ford and its participating Ford dealers, and their respective agents and service providers, who will use that information in accordance with their own privacy policies. For example:
- If you are interested in a particular car for sale, information about you (such as contact information you provide or information about the vehicle(s) you view) may be shared with Ford or the applicable participating Ford dealer;
- If you are considering trading in a car, we may provide information about you to Ford or participating Ford dealers who participate in a trade-in program;
- We may provide or make available to Ford, its agents, or its service providers, information about you that is collected via Data Technologies on this Autotrader Site; or
- We may provide Ford or participating Ford dealers, their respective agents or service providers with information about you when you access this Autotrader Site via Autotrader branded advertising and/or functionality found on their websites or other third-party websites.
- Credit Applications. If you apply for credit on this Autotrader Site, it will be necessary for you to provide personal information to complete the application, including your address, credit information and history, employment and other financial information. We may share your application information with participating Ford dealers you selected and their financial partners (which may include Ford Motor Credit Company LLC) so that they can process your application and otherwise use it in accordance with their privacy policies, however, we will not use your personal financial information for interest based advertising.
- Corporate and Asset Transactions. If we sell all or substantially all of our business or sell or transfer all or a material part of our assets, or are otherwise involved in a merger or transfer of all or a substantial part of our business, we may transfer all information we have collected and stored, including personal information, to the party or parties involved in the transaction as part of that transaction.
- Other. We may access or disclose information, including personal information, to:
- protect or defend our interests and the legal rights or property of Autotrader and our affiliates;
- protect the rights, interests, safety and security of users of this Autotrader Site or members of the public;
- protect against fraud or for risk management purposes; or
- comply with prudent legal practice as we may determine, and applicable law or legal process.
Your Choices
You are entitled to make certain choices about how we communicate with you.
- You may choose not to provide personal information, even though that might impact your ability to register or receive a particular product or service.
- If you do not want to receive marketing email from us, you can follow the unsubscribe link provided in those emails.
- If you do not want to receive interest-based advertisements, you can opt out as discussed in the “Advertising Networks” section above.
- You have a number of choices regarding certain Data Technologies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser’s setting to decline cookies if you prefer. You may also render some web beacons unusable by rejecting their associated cookies and disable or delete similar data used by browser add-ons, such as Flash cookies, by changing the add-on’s settings of the technology provider. If you choose to decline cookies or similar technologies, however, please note that certain features may not function properly or at all as a result. You may be able to adjust the use of advertising identifiers on mobile devices through the settings on your device. Finally, if you do not want to use a uniquely generated telephone number, you may choose to not call us.
- If you do not want us to use Location Information, you can decline our initial invitation to provide that information, or opt out by changing the location services settings on your mobile device. However, please note that certain features may not function properly or at all as a result if you opt out.
Your California Privacy Rights
This PRIVACY NOTICE FOR CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS supplements the information contained in the Privacy Statement of AutoTrader.com, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, “we,” “us,” or “our”), a Cox Automotive, Inc. company, and applies solely to consumers who reside in the State of California (“consumers” or “you”). We adopt this notice to comply with the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (“CCPA”) and other California privacy laws. Any terms defined in the CCPA have the same meaning when used in this notice.
Information We Collect
We collect information that identifies, relates to, describes, references, is capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked, directly or indirectly, with an individual consumer, household, or device (“personal information”). We have collected the following categories of personal information from consumers within the last twelve (12) months:
The following examples are taken directly from California Consumer Privacy Act, AutoTrader.com, Inc. collects at least one of the example items from each category.
Category | Examples
(Autotrader collects at least one of the examples from each category) | Collected | Business Purpose for Collection
(*see note below)
|
A. Identifiers. | A real name, alias, postal address, unique personal identifier, online identifier, Internet Protocol address, email address, account name, Social Security number, driver’s license number, passport number, or other similar identifiers. | YES |
1, 2, 3, 4,5,6,7, 8,9, 10, 11 |
B. Personal information categories listed in the California Customer Recordsstatute (Cal. Civ. Code § 1798.80(e)). | A name, signature, Social Security number, physical characteristics or description, address, telephone number, passport number, driver’s license or state identification card number, insurance policy number, education, employment, employment history, bankaccount number, credit card number, debit card number, or any other financial information, medical information, or health insurance information. Some personal information included in this category may overlap with other categories. | YES |
1, 2, 3, 4,5,6, 7,8,9, 10, 11 |
C. Protected classification characteristics under California or federal law. | Age (40 years or older), race, color, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, religion or creed, marital status, medical condition, physical or mental disability, sex (including gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy or childbirth and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, veteran or military status, genetic information (including familial genetic information). | YES | 2, 11 |
D. Commercial information | Records of personal property, products or services purchased, obtained, or considered, or other purchasing or consuming histories or tendencies. | YES | 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11 |
E. Biometric information. | Genetic, physiological, behavioral, and biological characteristics, or activity patterns used to extract a template or other identifier or identifying information, such as, fingerprints, faceprints, and voiceprints, iris or retina scans, keystroke, gait, or other physical patterns, and sleep, health, or exercise data. | NO | N/A |
F. Internet or other similar network activity. | Browsing history, search history, information on a consumer’s interaction with a website, application, or advertisement. | YES | 3,4,5, 7, 9, 10 |
G. Geolocation data. | Physical location or movements. | YES | 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 |
H. Sensory data. | Audio, electronic, visual, thermal, olfactory, or similar information. | NO | N/A |
I. Professional or employment-related information. | Current or past job history or performance evaluations. | NO | N/A |
J. Non-public education information (per the Family EducationalRights and Privacy Act (20 U.S.C. Section 1232g, 34 C.F.R. Part 99)). | Education records directly related to a student maintained by an educational institution or party acting on its behalf, such as grades, transcripts, class lists, student schedules, studentidentification codes, student financial information, or student disciplinary records. | NO | N/A |
K. Inferences drawn from other personal information. | Profile reflecting a person’s preferences, characteristics, psychological trends, predispositions, behavior, attitudes, intelligence, abilities, and aptitudes. | YES | 1,2, 3,7,9, 10 |
*Note:The numbers in this column refer to the list of uses in the section above entitledHow We May Use The Information We Collect.
We obtain the categories of personal information listed above from the following categories of sources:
- Directly and indirectly from activity on this Autotrader Site and on www.autotrader.com. For example, from customer submissions through our website or customer usage details collected automatically.
- Directly from our customers or their agents. For example, from documents that our clients provide to us related to the services for which they engage us.
- From other third-parties. For example, Facebook and Kelley Blue Book.
Sharing Personal Information
We may disclose your personal information to Ford and/or participating Ford dealers, or to a third party for a business purpose. When we disclose personal information for a business purpose, we enter a contract that describes the purpose and requires the recipient to both keep that personal information confidential and not use it for any purpose except performing the contract.
In the preceding twelve (12) months, we have disclosed the following categories of personal information for a business purpose:
Category A: Identifiers.
Category B: California Customer Records personal information categories.
Category C: Protected classification characteristics under California or federal law.
Category D: Commercial information
Category F: Internet or other similar network activity
Category G: Geolocation data
Category K: Inferences drawn from other personal information.
We disclose your personal information for a business purpose to the following categories of third parties:
- Our affiliates. For example, sharing information with other companies owned by Cox Automotive.
- Service providers. For example, sharing information with a marketing campaign service provider.
- Third parties to whom you or your agents authorize us to disclose your personal information in connection with products or services we provide to you. For example, providing tools which allow a customer to contact participating Ford dealerships to express their interest in a vehicle.
In the preceding twelve (12) months, we have sold, as the term “sell” is defined in the CCPA, the following categories of personal information:
Category A: Identifiers.
Category B: California Customer Records personal information categories.
Category C: Protected classification characteristics under California or federal law.
Category D: Commercial information
Category F: Internet or other similar network activity
Category G: Geolocation data
Category K: Inferences drawn from other personal information.
Your Rights and Choices
The CCPA provides California residents with specific rights regarding their personal information. This section describes your CCPA rights and explains how to exercise those rights.
Access to Specific Information and Data Portability Rights
You have the right to request that we disclose certain information to you about our collection and use of your personal information over the past 12 months. Once we receive and confirm your verifiable consumer request, we will disclose to you:
- The categories of personal information we collected about you.
- The categories of sources for the personal information we collected about you.
- Our business or commercial purpose for collecting or selling that personal information.
- The categories of third parties with whom we share that personal information.
- The specific pieces of personal information we collected about you (also called a data portability request).
- If we sold or disclosed your personal information for a business purpose, two separate lists disclosing:
- sales, identifying the personal information categories that each category of recipient purchased; and
- disclosures for a business purpose, identifying the personal information categories that each category of recipient obtained.
California Civil Code Section 1798.83 entitles California users to request information concerning whether a business has disclosed certain information about you to any third parties for the third parties’ direct marketing purposes. California users who wish to request further information in compliance with this law or have questions or concerns about our privacy practices and policies may contact us as specified in the “How to Contact Us” section below.
Deletion Request Rights
You have the right to request that we delete any of your personal information that we collected about you and retained, subject to certain exceptions in the CCPA. Once we receive and confirm your verifiable consumer request, we will delete your personal information from our records, unless an exception applies, and we will direct our service providers to similarly delete your personal information from their records.
Right to Opt-Out of Sales
You have the right to opt-out of our sale of your personal information. To the extent that we sell your personal information, as the term “sell” is defined under the CCPA, you have the right to opt-out of the sale of your personal information by us to third parties at any time. You may submit a request to opt-out by clicking Do Not Sell My Personal Information.
You can also limit sharing with third parties from this Autotrader Site via Data Technologies (some of which may constitute CCPA “selling“) by selecting your cookie preferences, which you can access from the cookie banner or via the “Cookie Settings“ link at the bottom of this Autotrader Site.
Exercising Access, Data Portability, and Deletion Rights
To exercise the access, data portability, and deletion rights described above, please submit a “verifiable consumer request” (defined below) to us by either:
- Calling us at 1-866-288-6872.
Only you or someone you authorized to act on your behalf, may make a verifiable consumer request related to your personal information. You may also make a verifiable consumer request on behalf of your minor child.
A verifiable consumer request must:
- Provide enough information that allows us to reasonably verify you are the person about whom we collected personal information or an authorized representative; and
- Describe your request with enough detail that allows us to properly understand, evaluate, and respond to it.
You may only make a verifiable consumer request for access or data portability twice within a 12-month period.
We cannot respond to your request or provide you with personal information if we cannot verify your identity or authority to make the request and confirm the personal information relates to you. Making a verifiable consumer request does not require you to create an account with us. We will only use personal information provided in a verifiable consumer request to verify the requestor’s identity or authority to make the request.
Non-Discrimination
We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of your CCPA rights. Unless permitted by the CCPA, we will not deny you goods or services, charge you different prices or rates for goods or services, including through granting discounts or other benefits, or imposing penalties, provide you a different level or quality of goods or services, or suggest that you may receive a different price or rate for goods or services or a different level or quality of goods or services.
Do Not Track
Online Tracking Policy for California Residents. As of the effective date of this Privacy Statement, there is no commonly accepted response for Do Not Track signals initiated by browsers, therefore we do not respond to them.
Contact Information
If you have any questions or comments about this notice, our Privacy Statement, the ways in which we collect and use your personal information, your choices and rights regarding such use, or wish to exercise your rights under California law, please do not hesitate to contact us at:
Website: https://www.autotrader.com/help/contact
Email: privacy@coxautoinc.com
Postal Address: Cox Automotive, Inc.
Attn: Scott Hilsen, Chief Compliance & Privacy Officer
6205 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd. NE
Atlanta, Ga 30328
Access and Correction
Access to information that we collect and maintain about you may be available to you. If you believe that information we maintain about you is inaccurate, subject to applicable law, you may request that we correct or amend the information by contacting us as indicated in the “How to Contact Us” section below.
Links
This Autotrader Site may contain links to websites not operated by us, as well as third party widgets and applications discussed above. Once you leave this Autotrader Site, we suggest that you review the applicable privacy policy of the third-party website or application. We are not responsible for the content or use of any websites or applications other than on this Autotrader Site or the privacy practices of those websites or applications.
Data Security
We use commercially reasonable administrative, technical, personnel, and physical security measures designed to safeguard information about you in our possession against loss, theft and unauthorized use, disclosure or modification. Of course, despite these measures, we cannot guarantee perfect security of networks, servers and databases we operate or that are operated on our behalf.
Disputes
If you choose to visit this Autotrader Site, your visit and any dispute regarding privacy is subject to this Privacy Statement and our Visitor Agreement, including limitations on damages, resolution of disputes, and application of the law of the state of Georgia.
Updates to this Privacy Statement
We may update this Privacy Statement to provide clarification or notice of changes to our practices. If we make changes, we will revise the date at the top of this Privacy Statement. We will provide you with additional notice of material changes by posting notice of the changes for thirty (30) days before we implement those changes.
How to Contact Us
If you have any questions or comments about this Privacy Statement, or if you would like us to update information we have about you or your preferences, please contact us by email at privacy@autotrader.com.