Cookie Policy

1. About this Cookie Policy

This Cookie Policy explains how AutoIdeal UK Ltd (“AutoIdeal”, “we”, “us” or “our”) uses cookies and similar storage and access technologies when you visit or use autoideal.co.uk, including the AutoIdeal dealer portal (together, the “Site”).

This policy should be read together with our Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect and use personal information more generally.

2. What are cookies and similar technologies?

Cookies are small files or pieces of information that may be stored on your computer, smartphone, tablet or other device when you use a website.

AutoIdeal may also use technologies that perform similar functions, including:

• localStorage;
• sessionStorage;
• scripts and tags;
• authentication tokens;
• security technologies; and
• other browser storage or access technologies.

These technologies can, for example, keep you signed in, remember settings, protect the Site from abuse, record your cookie choices and help us understand how the Site is functioning.

For simplicity, this policy refers to cookies and similar technologies collectively as “cookies and similar technologies.”

3. How we use cookies and similar technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies for a limited number of purposes.

These include:

• operating the Site;
• authenticating users;
• maintaining account sessions;
• remembering settings and selections;
• protecting the Site against fraud, bots and automated abuse;
• processing payments;
• recording cookie and privacy choices;
• diagnosing technical problems; and
• measuring vehicle-advertisement and Site performance where legally permitted.

AutoIdeal does not currently use cookies to build advertising profiles about users or to track users across unrelated websites for behavioural advertising.

4. Essential and exempt technologies

Some technologies are necessary for AutoIdeal to provide functionality or services that you request.

Depending on the particular technology and purpose, applicable law may permit these technologies to operate without your consent.

Examples may include technologies used for:

• keeping you securely signed in;
• authenticating your account;
• maintaining essential security;
• preventing automated abuse;
• remembering information necessary to provide requested functionality;
• processing payments; and
• storing and respecting your cookie choices.

Where a technology is used without consent, we will only do so where an applicable legal exemption permits this.

You may still be able to remove or block these technologies using your browser or device settings. However, doing so may prevent parts of AutoIdeal from functioning correctly.

5. Analytics and performance technologies

We may use technologies to understand how AutoIdeal and individual vehicle advertisements are being used.

For example, these technologies may help us:

• count vehicle-advertisement views;
• count enquiries and other interactions;
• avoid counting the same interaction repeatedly;
• provide performance information to sellers;
• identify technical problems; and
• understand and improve the operation of the Site.

Depending on how a particular technology is configured and used, we will either:

• obtain consent before using it; or
• rely on an applicable exemption permitted by UK law.

Where the law requires us to provide a simple means of objecting to an exempt use, we will provide that facility.

We do not use this information for cross-site behavioural advertising.

6. Vehicle-advertisement analytics – ai_visitor

AutoIdeal may use a first-party identifier called ai_visitor to help measure vehicle-advertisement views and enquiries without unnecessarily counting the same browser repeatedly.

Where enabled, a random identifier may be generated and stored in the browser’s localStorage.

The identifier itself does not contain your name, email address, telephone number or other directly identifying account information.

Its purpose is to help distinguish repeat interactions for statistical and advertisement-performance reporting.

Where browser storage is unavailable, AutoIdeal may use limited technical information to help prevent duplicate counting. This may include generating a pseudonymous identifier from technical information such as an IP address and browser or device information.

Where such processing takes place, AutoIdeal does not retain the raw IP address as part of the analytics identifier.

A pseudonymous or hashed identifier may nevertheless constitute personal data in some circumstances and is therefore handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable data protection law.

AutoIdeal does not use ai_visitor to track your activity across unrelated websites or to create a behavioural advertising profile.

Where consent is legally required for this technology, it will not be activated until the appropriate consent has been obtained.

Where we rely on a statutory exemption instead, we will comply with the conditions applicable to that exemption, including providing an appropriate means of objecting where required.

7. Third-party providers

AutoIdeal uses selected third-party providers to operate, protect and improve the Site.

Depending on the functionality you use, these may include:

Cookiebot / Usercentrics

Used to manage cookie choices and maintain records of those choices.

Stripe

Used to process payments and assist with payment security and fraud prevention.

Stripe may use cookies or similar technologies when its payment functionality is used.

Cloudflare

Used for security and protection against malicious or automated activity.

Cloudflare Turnstile may be used to distinguish legitimate users from automated systems.

Google

Where you choose Sign in with Google, Google technology is used to authenticate you.

Google’s own processing is also subject to Google’s applicable privacy information.

Sentry

Used to help identify, diagnose and resolve technical errors affecting AutoIdeal.

Where its use requires consent, it will only operate after the appropriate consent has been obtained.

Postcodes.io

Used for postcode and location-related functionality.

Where the service operates without storing or accessing information on your device, it is not treated as a cookie for the purposes of this policy.

The exact technologies used by these providers can change as their services and AutoIdeal’s configuration develop.

Our cookie-management system provides further information about cookies detected on the Site, including their provider, purpose and duration where available.

8. AutoIdeal first-party browser storage

AutoIdeal currently uses or may use the following first-party browser-storage items:

ai_cw_token

Technology: localStorage Purpose: authentication on the public Site. Duration: normally until you sign out, the token expires or browser storage is cleared.

ai_portal_token

Technology: localStorage Purpose: authentication within the dealer portal. Duration: normally until you sign out, the token expires or browser storage is cleared.

ai_car_listings_filters

Technology: sessionStorage Purpose: remembers vehicle-search filters while navigating between listings. Duration: normally until the relevant browser tab or session is closed.

ai_lead_analytics_filters

Technology: sessionStorage Purpose: remembers filters applied to the dealer enquiries or analytics interface. Duration: normally until the relevant browser tab or session is closed.

ai_portal_session_ended

Technology: sessionStorage Purpose: records that a portal session has ended so that the Site can display the appropriate information to the user. Duration: normally until the relevant browser tab or session is closed.

ai_visitor

Technology: localStorage Purpose: helps distinguish repeat vehicle-advertisement views or interactions for statistical and advertisement-performance measurement. Duration: retained only for an appropriate period configured by AutoIdeal and subject to applicable consent or exemption requirements.

The precise operation and duration of these technologies may change as AutoIdeal develops. Our cookie-management information will be updated where appropriate.

9. Cookie consent and choices

When you first visit AutoIdeal, we may display a cookie or privacy settings panel.

Where consent is required, you can choose whether to allow the relevant non-essential technologies.

Rejecting optional technologies will not prevent you from accessing the basic AutoIdeal service.

Where we rely on a legal exemption rather than consent, your choices may operate differently. Where applicable law requires us to provide a simple way to object, we will make that option available.

You can review or change your available cookie choices at any time using the Cookie Settings link on the Site.

Withdrawing consent will not affect the lawfulness of processing that occurred before consent was withdrawn.

10. Browser controls

Most web browsers also allow you to view, delete or block cookies and other stored website information.

You can normally find these controls within your browser’s privacy, security or website-data settings.

Please be aware that deleting or blocking essential browser storage may affect the operation of AutoIdeal.

For example, you may:

• be signed out;
• lose saved temporary settings;
• need to authenticate again; or
• be unable to use certain payment, account or security functionality.

11. How long cookies and similar technologies remain

Different technologies remain on your device for different periods.

Some are session-based and disappear when you close your browser or tab.

Others are persistent and remain until:

• their configured expiry date;
• you delete them;
• you withdraw the relevant consent and they are removed where technically applicable; or
• AutoIdeal or the relevant provider removes or replaces them.

We aim to ensure that storage periods are proportionate to the purpose for which the technology is used.

More detailed information about individual cookies, including available duration information, may be displayed through our cookie settings or cookie declaration.

12. Changes to third-party technologies

The cookies and technologies used by third-party providers may change from time to time as those providers update their services.

For this reason, the cookie declaration or settings panel available on AutoIdeal may contain the most current technical information about individual third-party cookies detected on the Site.

We periodically review the technologies used by AutoIdeal and update this policy where appropriate.

13. Changes to this Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time, including where:

• our technology changes;
• we introduce new functionality;
• a supplier changes;
• our use of cookies or similar technologies changes; or
• applicable legal or regulatory requirements change.

The “Last updated” date at the top of this policy shows when it was most recently revised.

Where appropriate, we may ask you to review your choices again following significant changes.

14. Contact us

If you have questions about AutoIdeal’s use of cookies or similar technologies, please contact:

AutoIdeal UK Ltd

Email: customersupport@autoideal.co.uk

Postal address: 113-115 Codicote Road, Welwyn, Hertfordshire, AL6 9TY, United Kingdom For further information about how AutoIdeal handles personal information, please see our Privacy Policy.