Privacy Policy

Version 1.1 · Effective 13 July 2026

This policy explains how FuelScout UK uses personal data when you use the Android app. FuelScout helps you find UK forecourts and compare fuel prices. You can use the core map and search features without creating an account.

1. Who is responsible for your data

The data controller is FuelScout UK. For privacy questions, rights requests, complaints or account deletion, email support@fuelscoutuk.app.

2. Data we process

Account data: your email address, Firebase user ID, sign-in provider and authentication or security records. If you choose Google sign-in, Google may supply basic profile information permitted by you, such as an account identifier, email, display name or profile photo.
Location and searches: your approximate or precise device location when you grant Android location permission, and a postcode, town, route start or destination you submit. We use this to return nearby or on-route forecourts and position the map.
Route allowance: for signed-in users, we keep the Firebase user ID, the date and non-readable hashes of route searches used that day to enforce the free daily allowance.
Saved choices: saved forecourt identifiers, vehicle fuel type, tank capacity, fuel economy and theme stored on your device. Signed-in route users may also store route endpoints, route preferences, station identifiers and price-alert settings on our Firebase server.
Notification and plan data: a Firebase Cloud Messaging device token, route-alert delivery records and a server-controlled Free or Premium entitlement used to enforce feature limits.
Technical and security data: IP address, device or app integrity information and request diagnostics processed by Firebase, Google Play Integrity and our cloud functions to operate and protect the service.

We do not currently use advertising SDKs, sell personal data, or use Firebase Analytics or Crashlytics in this version of the app.

3. Why we use data and our lawful bases

To provide searches, maps, accounts and saved features you request: performance of our contract with you, or steps taken at your request before entering a contract.
To secure the service, prevent abuse, diagnose failures and control cloud costs: our legitimate interests in operating a safe and reliable service.
To access device location: only after Android grants the permission you choose. You can withdraw that permission in Android settings and search by postcode or place instead.

We do not make decisions about you using solely automated processing that produces legal or similarly significant effects.

4. How location and caching work

Location or a geocoded search centre is sent to our Firebase server to request forecourts within the selected area. Route searches send the start and destination to our server and Google Maps Platform to calculate driving geometry and, for eligible Premium users, alternative routes. Route geometry and resolved place labels may be held in a shared server cache for up to 24 hours. We do not store the readable start or destination in your daily allowance record; it contains route hashes and is linked to your account solely to enforce the allowance. If you save a route, its readable endpoints and the station identifiers within the selected corridor remain associated with your account until you delete the route or account.

5. Service providers and data sources

Google Firebase and Google Cloud: authentication, app-integrity checks, server functions, protected storage, plan enforcement and Firebase Cloud Messaging notifications.
Google Maps Platform: maps, geocoding of places you submit and calculation of requested driving routes.
Google and Meta: only if you choose their sign-in method; their handling of your account is governed by their own privacy terms.
UK Government Fuel Finder: forecourt, brand, amenity and reported fuel-price data. FuelScout does not send Fuel Finder your account identity.

These providers may process data outside the UK. Where required, transfers are protected by the provider's contractual safeguards and applicable UK data-transfer mechanisms.

Firebase privacy and security → Google Privacy Policy → UK Government Fuel Finder →

6. Retention

Account information is kept while your account exists. After we initiate deletion, Firebase states that authentication data is removed from live and backup systems within 180 days; logged authentication IP addresses are generally kept for a few weeks.
Saved forecourts and preferences remain on your device until you remove them, clear app data or uninstall the app.
Shared forecourt and search caches are refreshed or replaced according to operational cache rules. Security and request logs are retained according to the relevant cloud provider's documented schedules and only as long as reasonably necessary.
Shared route geometry is cached for up to 24 hours. Daily route-allowance records are operational records that may be deleted after they are no longer needed for limits, security or dispute handling.
Saved routes and their alert preferences are retained while your account exists or until you delete them. Device notification tokens are retained until they expire, are rejected by Firebase, or are deleted with the associated account data.
If you contact us, correspondence may be retained as needed to answer the request, resolve disputes and meet legal obligations.

7. Your choices and rights

You may deny or revoke location permission, use the app as a guest, remove saved forecourts, disable notifications, or sign out. Depending on the circumstances, UK data-protection law may give you rights to be informed, access, correct, erase, restrict or port your data, and to object to processing based on legitimate interests. You may also complain to us and to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

Visit the ICO →

8. Children

FuelScout is not directed to children under 13 and we do not knowingly collect their personal data. A parent or guardian should contact us if they believe a child has created an account.

9. Security and changes

We use HTTPS, Firebase access controls, Secret Manager and app-integrity checks. No system is completely secure. We may update this policy when the app, providers or law changes; the revised date will appear here. Material changes will be highlighted in the app where reasonably practicable.

10. Contact

For privacy questions, rights requests, complaints or account deletion, email support@fuelscoutuk.app.