Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

TaxiApp ("we", "us", "our") operates a peer-to-peer carpooling marketplace that connects riders and drivers in India. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information when you use the TaxiApp mobile application or website.

By using TaxiApp, you agree to the collection and use of information as described in this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the service.

TaxiApp is operated as a marketplace platform. We connect independent riders and drivers but do not employ drivers or operate vehicles ourselves.

2. Information we collect

Information you provide

• Account details: Name, phone number, email address, and profile photo when you register.
• Vehicle information (drivers): Vehicle make, model, colour, and registration number.
• Identity verification: Government-issued ID documents submitted during driver verification.
• Trip details: Pickup locations, drop-off points, dates, and times you enter when searching or posting rides.
• Messages: Communications you send through the in-app chat between riders and drivers.
• Ratings and reviews: Feedback you submit about drivers or riders after a completed trip.

Information we collect automatically

• Location data: GPS location while the app is in use to show nearby drivers and track trips in progress. See the Location section below for full details.
• Device information: Device type, operating system, app version, and crash reports to improve the service.
• Usage data: Screens viewed, features used, and time spent in the app to understand how people use TaxiApp.
• Log data: IP address, access timestamps, and API request logs for security and debugging.

3. How we use your information

We use your information only to operate and improve the TaxiApp service:

• Matching riders with nearby drivers for instant rides
• Displaying scheduled ride listings to riders looking for trips
• Sending booking confirmations, ride reminders, and status updates via push notification or SMS
• Showing driver profiles, ratings, and vehicle details to riders before booking
• Verifying driver identity and maintaining platform safety
• Resolving disputes between riders and drivers
• Preventing fraud, abuse, and policy violations
• Improving app performance and fixing bugs
• Complying with legal obligations under Indian law

We do not use your data for targeted advertising. We do not build advertising profiles or sell data to advertisers.

4. Who we share information with

Other users

When you book a ride or accept a booking, we share limited profile information with the other party — name, photo, rating, and (for drivers) vehicle details and phone number. This is necessary to complete the trip.

Service providers

We use trusted third-party providers to operate TaxiApp:

• Cloud hosting: For storing app data securely
• SMS gateway: For sending OTPs and booking confirmations
• Push notifications: For ride updates and request alerts
• Maps provider: For displaying routes and location search
• Analytics: For understanding app usage (anonymised data only)

All providers are bound by data processing agreements and may not use your data for any purpose other than providing their service to us.

Legal requirements

We may disclose your information if required by Indian law, court order, or government authority, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to protect the safety of any person.

We never sell your data

TaxiApp does not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to any third party for their commercial purposes.

5. Location data

Location is central to how TaxiApp works. Here is exactly how we handle it:

• When searching: We use your location to show nearby drivers and relevant ride listings.
• During a ride: We track location to enable the driver and rider to find each other and to provide live trip status to the rider's emergency contact if the share-trip feature is used.
• Drivers (while offering rides): Location is shared with nearby riders so they can see available drivers in the area.
• Background location: We only request background location for drivers during active ride sessions. You can revoke this permission at any time in your device settings.

We do not track your location when the app is closed or when you are not on an active trip or search session.

6. How long we keep your data

• Account data: Kept for as long as your account is active. Deleted within 30 days of account deletion request.
• Trip history: Retained for 2 years for safety and dispute resolution, then deleted.
• Chat messages: Deleted 90 days after the trip date.
• Location data: Real-time location is not stored permanently. Trip route data is retained with trip history.
• Driver verification documents: Retained for 5 years as required by applicable regulations.
• Log data: Retained for 90 days for security purposes.

7. Your rights

You have the following rights over your personal data:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information in your profile at any time through the app.
• Deletion: Request deletion of your account and associated personal data. Some data may be retained for legal obligations.
• Objection: Object to certain processing of your data, such as analytics.
• Data portability: Request your trip data in a machine-readable format.

To exercise any of these rights, email us at privacy@taxiapp.in. We will respond within 30 days.

8. How we protect your data

We use industry-standard security measures including:

• Encryption in transit (TLS) for all data sent between your device and our servers
• Encryption at rest for all stored personal data
• Access controls limiting which staff can view personal data
• Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments
• Automatic session expiry and secure authentication

No system is perfectly secure. If you believe your account has been compromised, contact us immediately at security@taxiapp.in.

9. Children's privacy

TaxiApp is not intended for use by anyone under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If we discover that a minor has registered, we will delete their account immediately. If you believe a minor has registered, please contact us.

10. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make significant changes, we will notify you via the app or by email at least 14 days before the change takes effect. Continued use of TaxiApp after the effective date means you accept the updated policy.

The date at the top of this page always shows when it was last updated.

11. Contact us