Effective Date: January 1, 2024
Last Updated: January 1, 2024
Miles Before Money ("we," "our," or "us") operates the website milesbeforemoney.com (the "Site"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and being transparent about how we collect, use, and safeguard your information. This Privacy Policy explains our practices regarding data collection and your rights as a visitor to our Site.
1. Information We Collect
1.1 Personal Information You Provide
When you interact with Miles Before Money, we may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide, including:
Name and email address when you subscribe to our newsletter or contact us
Contact information submitted through inquiry forms
Comments, questions, or feedback you provide through our contact channels
Any other information you choose to share with us directly
1.2 Automatically Collected Information
When you visit milesbeforemoney.com, we automatically collect certain technical information through cookies and similar technologies:
IP address and general geographic location
Browser type, version, and language settings
Device type, operating system, and screen resolution
Pages visited, time spent on pages, and navigation patterns
Referring website or source that directed you to our Site
Date and time of your visit
1.3 Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Miles Before Money uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience and analyze Site usage. Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help us remember your preferences and understand how visitors interact with our content about Toyota reliability, maintenance costs, and ownership economics.
We use the following types of cookies:
Essential Cookies: Necessary for basic Site functionality and security
Analytics Cookies: Help us understand visitor behavior and improve our content
Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences for future visits
2. How We Use Your Information
Miles Before Money uses the collected information for the following purposes:
To provide, maintain, and improve our educational content about Toyota vehicles and ownership costs
To respond to your inquiries, comments, and requests for information
To send newsletters, updates, and informational content you have subscribed to receive
To analyze Site traffic, user behavior, and content performance to enhance user experience
To detect, prevent, and address technical issues or security threats
To comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Service
To understand which topics (reliability, hybrid economics, depreciation, maintenance) resonate most with our audience
We use your information solely to support our mission of helping American families make informed decisions about Toyota vehicle ownership. We do not sell your personal information to third parties.
3. Third-Party Services and Sharing
3.1 Analytics Services
Miles Before Money uses third-party analytics services, such as Google Analytics, to understand how visitors use milesbeforemoney.com. These services collect information about your Site usage through cookies and similar technologies. The analytics providers process this data according to their own privacy policies.
3.2 Email Service Providers
If you subscribe to our newsletter, we use third-party email service providers to manage our mailing list and send communications. These providers have access to your email address and name solely for the purpose of delivering our content.
3.3 When We May Share Information
We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:
Service Providers: With trusted third-party vendors who assist in operating our Site and providing services, under strict confidentiality agreements
Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or government regulation
Protection of Rights: To protect the rights, property, or safety of Miles Before Money, our users, or the public
Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, with advance notice to affected users
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to marketers, advertisers, or other third parties for their commercial purposes.
4. Data Retention
Miles Before Money retains your personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy. Specific retention periods include:
Newsletter Subscriptions: Until you unsubscribe or request deletion
Contact Inquiries: Typically retained for up to two years to maintain correspondence records
Analytics Data: Aggregated and anonymized data may be retained indefinitely for statistical purposes
Cookie Data: According to the expiration settings of each cookie type, typically ranging from session-based to two years
After the retention period expires, we securely delete or anonymize your personal information in accordance with data protection best practices.
5. Your Privacy Rights
As a visitor to milesbeforemoney.com, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:
5.1 Access and Portability
You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you and receive a copy in a structured, commonly used format.
5.2 Correction and Update
You may request that we correct or update inaccurate or incomplete personal information.
5.3 Deletion
You have the right to request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain legal exceptions (such as records we must retain for legal compliance).
5.4 Opt-Out Rights
You can opt out of:
Email Communications: Unsubscribe using the link in any newsletter or by contacting us directly
Cookies: Adjust your browser settings to refuse cookies or delete existing cookies (note that this may affect Site functionality)
Analytics Tracking: Use browser plugins or opt-out tools provided by analytics services
5.5 Do Not Track Signals
Some browsers offer "Do Not Track" (DNT) signals. Currently, there is no industry standard for responding to DNT signals. Miles Before Money does not currently respond to DNT browser settings, but you can control tracking through cookie settings and opt-out mechanisms described above.
6. Children's Privacy
Miles Before Money does not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13. Our Site and content about Toyota reliability, maintenance economics, and ownership costs are directed toward adults making vehicle purchasing decisions. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected information from a child under 13, we will take immediate steps to delete such information from our systems.
If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided personal information to milesbeforemoney.com, please contact us immediately using the information provided in the Contact section below.
7. International Data Transfers
Miles Before Money operates primarily for American families, and our servers are located in the United States. If you access our Site from outside the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States, where data protection laws may differ from those in your country of residence.
By using milesbeforemoney.com, you consent to the transfer of your information to the United States and its processing in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable U.S. laws.
8. Data Security Measures
We take the security of your personal information seriously. Miles Before Money implements reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your data against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. Our security measures include:
Encryption of data in transit using SSL/TLS protocols (HTTPS)
Secure server infrastructure with regular security updates and patches
Access controls limiting employee and contractor access to personal information on a need-to-know basis
Regular security assessments and monitoring for potential vulnerabilities
Secure data backup and recovery procedures
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 any account credentials and for notifying us immediately of any unauthorized access.
9. Third-Party Links
The Miles Before Money website may contain links to external websites, resources, or references that are not operated by us. These may include links to Toyota manufacturer information, automotive research sources, or other relevant resources about vehicle reliability and ownership costs. This Privacy Policy applies only to milesbeforemoney.com.
We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of third-party websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any external sites you visit through links on our Site.
10. Changes to This Privacy Policy
Miles Before Money reserves the right to update or modify this Privacy Policy at any time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or Site functionality. When we make material changes, we will:
Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
Notify users through a prominent notice on milesbeforemoney.com
For significant changes affecting how we use personal information, provide advance notice via email to subscribers
Your continued use of the Site after any changes to this Privacy Policy constitutes your acceptance of the updated terms. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.
11. California Privacy Rights
If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):
Right to know what personal information we collect, use, disclose, and sell
Right to request deletion of your personal information
Right to opt out of the sale of personal information (note: Miles Before Money does not sell personal information)
Right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights
To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided below. We will verify your identity before processing requests and respond within the timeframes required by California law.
12. Contact Information
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact Miles Before Money:
Email: privacy@milesbeforemoney.com
We will respond to your inquiry within a reasonable timeframe, typically within 30 days. For data access, correction, or deletion requests, we may require verification of your identity to protect your privacy and security.
13. Consent and Acceptance
By accessing and using milesbeforemoney.com, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with any part of this policy, please discontinue use of our Site immediately.
Thank you for trusting Miles Before Money as your resource for evidence-based information about Toyota reliability, maintenance, hybrid economics, depreciation, and total ownership costs.