Privacy Policy

Last updated:

Our Commitment

Wrench Buddy is built on a simple principle: your vehicle data belongs to you. The app does not require an account, does not transmit your data to any server we operate, and does not sell or share your information with third parties.

Summary: All data stays on your device. No accounts. No cloud sync. No ads. No data sold — ever.

Information We Collect

Vehicle diagnostic data

When connected to an OBD2 adapter, Wrench Buddy reads diagnostic trouble codes, live sensor parameters, and readiness monitor status directly from your vehicle's ECU. This data is displayed in the app and, if you use the Trip Recorder, stored locally in a database on your device. It is never transmitted off your device by Wrench Buddy.

Vehicle information (Garage)

You may enter details about your vehicles (make, model, year, VIN, mileage) when adding them to My Garage. This information is stored locally in the app's on-device database. If you use the VIN Decode feature, your VIN is sent to the NHTSA vPIC public API (a free U.S. government service) to retrieve vehicle specifications. No account or personally identifying information is sent with this request. Please refer to NHTSA's privacy policy for details about their service.

GPS and location data

The Trip Recorder feature uses your device's GPS to record trip routes, distance, and speed. Location data is stored locally on your device as part of the trip record. It is never transmitted to Ozark GigWorks or any third party by the app. You can delete any trip at any time from the Trip History screen.

Bluetooth

Wrench Buddy uses Bluetooth to communicate with your OBD2 adapter. The app requests Bluetooth permissions solely for this purpose. No Bluetooth data (device names, MAC addresses, scan results) is stored beyond what Android requires to maintain the connection during an active session.

Crash and diagnostic logs

Wrench Buddy does not integrate any third-party analytics or crash-reporting SDK. If the app encounters an error, Android may generate a local log file. These logs remain on your device and are not automatically shared with us.

Information We Do Not Collect

  • No name, email address, or contact information — no account is required.
  • No advertising identifiers or tracking pixels.
  • No browsing history or cross-app tracking.
  • No precise location data beyond what you explicitly record with the Trip Recorder.

Data Storage and Security

All app data (vehicles, trips, reminders, scan history) is stored in a local SQLite database in the app's private storage directory on your Android device. This storage is sandboxed by Android and is not accessible to other apps without your explicit permission (e.g., via a backup or file manager with root access).

Uninstalling Wrench Buddy removes all locally stored app data from your device.

Permissions Explained

Permission Why it's needed
BLUETOOTH_CONNECT
BLUETOOTH_SCAN		 Required on Android 12+ to discover and connect to paired OBD2 Bluetooth adapters.
BLUETOOTH
BLUETOOTH_ADMIN		 Required on Android 11 and below for Bluetooth adapter discovery and connection.
ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION Required by Android for Bluetooth device scanning (system requirement, not used for location tracking). Also used by the Trip Recorder to record GPS route data.
FOREGROUND_SERVICE
FOREGROUND_SERVICE_LOCATION		 Keeps the Trip Recorder running while the app is in the background so trips are recorded accurately during drives.
CAMERA Optional — used only when you tap the camera button in the VIN Scanner to scan a VIN barcode. Never used otherwise.
INTERNET Used only when you tap "Decode VIN" to query the NHTSA vPIC API. Not used for any background network activity.

Children's Privacy

Wrench Buddy is not directed at children under 13 years of age and does not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 13.

Changes to This Policy

If we make material changes to this privacy policy, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page and note the change in the app's changelog. Continued use of the app after a policy update constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

Contact

Questions about this privacy policy or how your data is handled? Contact us at [email protected].