Who we are
AutoDTCs.com is a free, informational website that helps vehicle owners decode OBD-II diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs). We are not a repair shop, parts retailer, or professional diagnostic service. The site is operated independently and is reachable at autodtcs.com.
Questions about this policy? Contact us.
Information we collect
AutoDTCs.com does not ask you to create an account, submit personal data, or provide any information to use the site. We do not sell, rent, or trade personal information.
We do collect certain data automatically through cookies and third-party services described below.
Cookies
Like most websites, AutoDTCs.com uses cookies — small text files stored on your device by your browser. Cookies help us understand how visitors use the site and allow third-party services (advertising and analytics) to function.
We use the following categories of cookies:
- Strictly necessary cookies — required for the site to load correctly. These cannot be disabled.
- Analytics cookies — set by Google Analytics (GA4) to measure page views, session duration, and traffic sources. Data is aggregated and anonymous.
- Advertising cookies — set by Google AdSense to deliver and measure advertisements. These may include the Google advertising cookie (
DSID,IDE,NID) used to serve ads based on your prior visits to this and other websites.
Where required by law (EEA/UK visitors), we obtain your consent before setting non-essential cookies via Google's consent management platform.
Google AdSense
We use Google AdSense (publisher ID: pub-4802605500743533) to display advertisements on this site. Google AdSense uses cookies and similar technologies to serve ads that are relevant to your interests, based on prior visits to our site and other sites on the internet.
Google and its advertising partners use the data they collect in accordance with Google's privacy policy. You can learn how Google uses information from sites that use its services at: policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites.
Opting out of personalised advertising:
- Visit Google Ads Settings to manage or opt out of personalised ads across Google services.
- Visit www.aboutads.info (Digital Advertising Alliance) to opt out of interest-based advertising from participating companies.
- EEA and UK users can also manage advertising preferences through Google's consent message shown on your first visit.
Google Analytics (GA4)
We use Google Analytics 4 to understand how visitors find and use AutoDTCs.com. GA4 collects information such as pages visited, time on page, referral source, approximate geographic location (country/city level), and device type.
IP addresses are anonymised by GA4 before storage. We do not enable User-ID tracking or cross-device linking. Analytics data is retained for 14 months and is not shared with third parties beyond Google.
You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking by installing the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on.
EEA, UK, and GDPR
If you are visiting from the European Economic Area (EEA) or the United Kingdom, you have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the UK GDPR. These include the right to access, correct, or delete personal data we hold about you, and the right to withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent.
For advertising and analytics, the legal basis for processing is your consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR), obtained through the consent management platform displayed on your first visit. Non-personalised ads may still be shown if you decline consent.
We comply with the EU ePrivacy Directive (Cookie Law) by requesting consent before placing non-essential cookies on EEA/UK visitors' devices.
Third-party links
AutoDTCs.com may contain links to external websites. We are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of those sites. We recommend reading the privacy policy of any external site you visit.
Children's privacy
This site is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children.
Changes to this policy
We may update this privacy policy from time to time. The date at the top of this page reflects when it was last revised. Continued use of the site after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
Contact
If you have questions about this privacy policy or your data rights, please contact us.