Privacy Policy

Last updated: 7 July 2026

1. Who we are

MapCars is a ride-sharing app operated by MAP CARS CHI LTD, a company registered in England and Wales (company number 15837715). We operate across the South Coast of the United Kingdom, including Southampton, Portsmouth, Chichester, Brighton and surrounding areas. If you have any questions about this policy or your data, contact us at info@mapcars.uk.

2. Data we collect

Account information

Your first name, last name, email address, phone number, and a password (stored only in hashed form). If you sign in with Google or Apple, we receive your account identifier and basic profile details (such as your name and email) where you have chosen to disclose them.

Location data

With your permission, we collect your device’s precise and approximate location to show your position on the map, set your pickup point, match you with a nearby driver, and — for drivers — share your live location with the assigned rider during a trip.

Trip information

Pickup and drop-off addresses and coordinates, trip status, timestamps, and fare amounts.

Driver-specific information (MapCars Driver app only)

Your PHV (Private Hire Vehicle) licence number and driver approval status, used to verify your eligibility to provide rides.

Device & technical data

Information needed to operate the App and to keep your sign-in session secure on your device.

We do not currently collect payment card details in the App. When card payments are introduced, they will be handled by our payment processor (Stripe) and this policy will be updated.

3. How and why we use your data

You can withdraw location permission at any time in your device settings, though core features of the Service will not work without it.

4. Who we share data with

We do not sell your personal data. We share it only as needed to run the Service:

• Between riders and drivers — limited details (e.g. first name, live location during a trip, pickup and drop-off) to complete your ride.
• Service providers — mapping, hosting, and (when launched) payments (Stripe), acting on our instructions.
• Authorities and licensing bodies — where required by law or to meet private-hire licensing obligations.

5. International transfers

Our infrastructure is hosted in the UK/EU. Where data is transferred outside the UK, we use appropriate safeguards such as UK International Data Transfer Agreements or adequacy decisions.

6. How long we keep data

We keep your account and trip data for as long as your account is active and as required to meet legal, tax, and licensing obligations, after which it is deleted or anonymised.

7. Your rights

Under UK GDPR you have the right to access, correct, delete, restrict, or object to processing of your personal data, and to data portability. To exercise any of these, contact info@mapcars.uk. You also have the right to complain to the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk.

8. Security

We use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Children’s privacy

These Services do not address anyone under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from anyone under 18. If we discover that someone under 18 has provided us with personal information, we delete it immediately.

10. Delete account

To delete your account and personal data, email info@mapcars.uk from your registered address. We will permanently delete your profile, contact details, social logins and booking history within 30 days, retaining only records we must keep for legal, tax and licensing obligations.

11. Contact us