Privacy Policy.

1. INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Information You Provide

We collect personal information that you provide directly to us, including:

• Account information: name, email address, phone number, password, date of birth, and profile photograph;
• Identity verification: learner permit or driver's licence details, and for Instructors, licence numbers, accreditation details, Working With Children Check details, and insurance information;
• Payment information: credit card or debit card details, billing address, and transaction history (payment processing is handled by our third-party payment service providers);
• Booking information: pickup locations, lesson preferences, scheduling details, and booking history;
• Communications: messages sent through the Platform, feedback, reviews, ratings, and customer support inquiries;
• Instructor profile information: business details, vehicle information, service areas, availability, pricing, qualifications, and experience.

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you use the Platform, we automatically collect certain information, including:

• Device information: device type, operating system, unique device identifiers, browser type, and mobile network information;
• Usage information: pages viewed, features used, search queries, booking patterns, and interaction data;
• Location information: with your consent, we may collect precise or approximate location data from your device to facilitate lesson pickups and display nearby Instructors;
• Log data: IP address, access times, referring URLs, and other standard web log information;
• Cookies and similar technologies: we use cookies, pixels, and similar tracking technologies to collect information about your browsing activities.

1.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive personal information from third parties, including:

• Identity verification services;
• Payment service providers (such as Stripe);
• Social media platforms (if you choose to link your account);
• Analytics providers;
• Marketing partners.

2. HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

We use the personal information we collect to:

• Provide and operate the Platform: facilitate bookings, process payments, enable communication between Learners and Instructors, and deliver our services;
• Verify identity and eligibility: confirm that Learners hold valid learner permits and that Instructors meet our requirements;
• Process transactions: handle payments, Credits, refunds, and payouts;
• Communicate with you: send booking confirmations, reminders, updates, support responses, and service-related notifications;
• Improve our services: analyse usage patterns, conduct research, and develop new features;
• Personalise your experience: show relevant Instructors, remember your preferences, and provide customised content;
• Marketing: with your consent, send promotional communications about DriveBuddy services, offers, and updates;
• Safety and security: detect and prevent fraud, abuse, security incidents, and other harmful activity;
• Legal compliance: comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes;
• Enforce our terms: enforce our Terms and Conditions and other policies.

3. HOW WE SHARE YOUR INFORMATION

We may share your personal information in the following circumstances:

3.1 With Other Users

To facilitate bookings and lessons, we share certain information between Learners and Instructors, including:

• Names and profile photographs;
• Contact information (phone numbers for lesson coordination);
• Pickup locations and booking details;
• Reviews and ratings.

3.2 With Service Providers

We share information with third-party service providers who perform services on our behalf, including:

• Payment processors (e.g., Stripe);
• Cloud hosting and data storage providers;
• Analytics and data analysis providers;
• Email and communication service providers;
• Customer support platforms;
• Identity verification services;
• Marketing and advertising partners.

3.3 For Legal Reasons

We may disclose your information where required or permitted by law, including:

• To comply with legal obligations, court orders, or government requests;
• To protect the rights, property, or safety of DriveBuddy, our users, or others;
• To investigate potential violations of our Terms and Conditions;
• In connection with any legal proceedings or prospective legal proceedings.

3.4 Business Transfers

If DriveBuddy is involved in a merger, acquisition, reorganisation, sale of assets, or bankruptcy, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change and any choices you may have regarding your information.

3.5 With Your Consent

We may share your information for other purposes with your consent or at your direction.

4. DATA RETENTION

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to:

• Provide our services and maintain your account;
• Comply with legal, accounting, or reporting obligations;
• Resolve disputes and enforce our agreements;
• Support business operations and improve our services.

When personal information is no longer required, we will securely delete or de-identify it in accordance with our data retention policies and applicable laws.

Certain information, such as booking history and transaction records, may be retained for longer periods as required by law or for legitimate business purposes.

5. DATA SECURITY

We implement reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest;
• Secure server infrastructure;
• Access controls and authentication;
• Regular security assessments;
• Employee training on data protection.

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure. While we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for any activity that occurs under your account.

6. YOUR RIGHTS AND CHOICES

Subject to applicable law, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

6.1 Access and Correction

You can access and update most of your account information directly through the Platform. You may also request access to or correction of your personal information by contacting us.

To protect your privacy, we may require you to verify your identity before processing access or correction requests. We will respond to valid requests within 30 days, or inform you if we require additional time.

6.2 Deletion

You may request deletion of your account and personal information by contacting us. We will process valid deletion requests within 30 days, subject to identity verification. Please note that we may retain certain information as required by law or for legitimate business purposes (such as transaction records for tax and accounting purposes).

6.3 Marketing Communications

You can opt out of marketing communications at any time by:

• Clicking the "unsubscribe" link in marketing emails;
• Updating your communication preferences in your account settings;
• Contacting us directly.

Please note that you may still receive transactional or service-related communications.

6.4 Cookies

Most web browsers allow you to manage cookie preferences. You can set your browser to refuse cookies or alert you when cookies are being sent. However, some features of the Platform may not function properly without cookies.

6.5 Location Data

You can control location data collection through your device settings. Disabling location services may limit certain features of the Platform.

7. COOKIES AND TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to:

• Remember your preferences and settings;
• Authenticate users and prevent fraud;
• Analyse Platform usage and performance;
• Deliver and measure advertising;
• Provide social media features.

Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential cookies: Required for the Platform to function properly;
• Functional cookies: Remember your preferences and enhance functionality;
• Analytics cookies: Help us understand how the Platform is used;
• Advertising cookies: Used to deliver relevant advertisements.

8. CHILDREN'S PRIVACY

The Platform is not intended for children under 16 years of age. Users between 16 and 18 must have parental or guardian consent to use the Platform.

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 16 without parental consent, we will take steps to delete that information.

9. INTERNATIONAL DATA TRANSFERS

DriveBuddy operates in Australia. Your personal information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in countries other than your country of residence, including countries that may have different data protection laws.

When we transfer personal information internationally, we take appropriate steps to ensure that your information receives an adequate level of protection in accordance with applicable laws.

10. THIRD-PARTY LINKS AND SERVICES

The Platform may contain links to third-party websites, services, or applications. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those third-party services, and we are not responsible for their privacy practices.

We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party services you access through the Platform.

11. CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

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

If we make material changes, we will notify you by:

• Posting the updated Privacy Policy on the Platform;
• Updating the "Effective Date" at the top of this page;
• Sending you an email notification (for material changes).

Your continued use of the Platform after any changes indicates your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

12. AUSTRALIAN PRIVACY PRINCIPLES

DriveBuddy is committed to complying with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) contained in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). These principles regulate how we collect, use, disclose, store, and provide access to personal information.

12.1 Complaints

If you believe we have breached the APPs or mishandled your personal information, you may lodge a complaint with us via our contact page. Please include:

• Your name and contact details;
• A description of your complaint;
• Any relevant supporting information.

We will acknowledge your complaint within 7 days and aim to resolve it within 30 days. If we need more time, we will let you know.

12.2 OAIC Escalation

If you are not satisfied with our response to your complaint, or if we have not responded within the timeframes above, you may escalate your complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC):

13. CONTACT US

If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us at:

We will acknowledge your inquiry within 7 days and respond substantively within 30 days, in accordance with applicable privacy laws.