Legal

Cookie Policy

Last updated: May 2026 · Effective: May 2026

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Minimal Cookie Usage

CarCostBreakdown.com uses only essential session cookies (to remember your calculator settings like currency and country) and optional Google Analytics cookies. We use zero advertising cookies, no social media pixels, and no cross-site tracking. Our live data pipelines (fuel prices, CPI, NHTSA, EV incentives) run server-side and do not set any cookies on your device.

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files placed on your device by websites you visit. They are widely used to make websites work efficiently, remember your preferences, and provide information to website owners about how their site is used. Cookies cannot run programs or deliver viruses to your device.

2. Cookies We Use

We use a minimal number of cookies. We do not use advertising cookies, social media tracking pixels, or any cookies that track you across other websites. Our server-side data pipelines (Cloudflare R2 storage for fuel prices, CPI data, NHTSA recalls, EV incentives, and exchange rates) operate entirely server-side and set no cookies on your device.

EssentialAlways Active

Required for the calculator to function. These maintain your session state (currency selection, country, fuel type, and calculator inputs) during your visit. Cannot be disabled without breaking core calculator functionality.

AnalyticsOptional — Can Be Disabled

Google Analytics cookies (with IP anonymisation enabled) help us understand aggregate traffic patterns, popular calculator features, and which countries and vehicle tiers are most searched. No personally identifiable information is collected. You can opt out at any time.

AdvertisingNot Used

We do not use advertising cookies, retargeting pixels, or any cookies that track you across other websites for advertising purposes. No Facebook Pixel, Google Ads remarketing, or similar tracking is present on this site.

Cookie Name	Provider	Purpose	Duration	Type
Session cookies	CarCostBreakdown.com	Maintain calculator state (currency selection, country, fuel type inputs) during your browser session	Session (deleted when browser closes)	Essential
_ga	Google Analytics	Distinguishes unique users for aggregate traffic analysis	2 years	Analytics
_ga_*	Google Analytics	Maintains session state for Google Analytics	2 years	Analytics
_gid	Google Analytics	Distinguishes users for 24-hour session tracking	24 hours	Analytics

3. How to Control Cookies

You can control and/or delete cookies as you wish. You can delete all cookies that are already on your device and set most browsers to prevent them from being placed. However, if you do this, you may have to manually adjust some preferences every time you visit a site. Note: disabling essential cookies will prevent the calculator from remembering your currency and country selections between pages.

Browser Cookie Settings:

•Chrome: Settings → Privacy and Security → Cookies and other site data
•Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
•Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data
•Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Cookies and site data

Google Analytics Opt-Out: Install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on to prevent Google Analytics from collecting data about your visits.

4. Third-Party Cookies

The only third-party cookies we use are Google Analytics cookies (listed above). We do not use Facebook Pixel, Twitter tracking, LinkedIn Insight Tag, or any other social media or advertising tracking cookies. Our data providers (U.S. EIA, World Bank, NHTSA, BLS) are accessed server-side via our automated pipelines and do not set any cookies on your device. If you embed our calculator widget on your website, your own website's cookies are governed by your own cookie policy.

5. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by updating the "Last Updated" date. Your continued use of the Site after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

6. Contact

For questions about our use of cookies: privacy@carcostbreakdown.com