Privacy Policy
RealCost is a UK cost-decision website that provides calculators, guides and comparison tools to help visitors estimate car ownership costs, fuel costs, EV charging costs, commuting costs and related motoring expenses.
This privacy policy explains what information may be collected when you use this website, how it may be used, and what rights you have.
Who we are
This website is RealCost, available at realcost.co.uk.
If you have any questions about this privacy policy, please use the contact form on the Contact page.
Calculator data
The calculators on RealCost are designed to help you estimate costs such as fuel cost, car ownership cost, EV charging cost, insurance budgeting, maintenance costs and commuting costs.
We do not ask you to create an account to use the calculators. We do not intentionally collect personal information through the calculator input fields.
Calculator results are estimates only. You should not enter sensitive personal information into calculator fields.
Information we may collect
Depending on how you use the website, we may collect or receive the following types of information:
- Information you send through a contact form, such as your name, email address and message.
- Basic technical information, such as browser type, device type, pages visited and approximate location data from analytics tools.
- Cookie and usage information, where cookies or similar technologies are used.
- Information connected to affiliate links or advertising, if those features are used on the site.
We do not knowingly collect special category personal data through this website.
How we use information
We may use information for the following purposes:
- To operate and improve the website.
- To understand which pages and calculators visitors use.
- To respond to messages sent through the contact form.
- To monitor website performance and security.
- To measure the performance of affiliate links, advertising or sponsored links if used.
- To comply with legal obligations where required.
Lawful basis for processing
Where UK data protection law applies, we rely on the following lawful bases depending on the situation:
- Legitimate interests: to run, secure and improve the website, understand how visitors use it, and maintain useful calculators and content.
- Consent: where required for optional cookies, analytics, advertising or marketing-related technologies.
- Legal obligation: where we need to keep or share information to comply with the law.
Where consent is required, you can withdraw consent at any time through your browser settings or any cookie controls provided on the website.
Analytics
RealCost may use analytics tools to understand how visitors use the website. Analytics information may include pages visited, time spent on pages, device type, browser type and approximate location.
This helps us improve calculators, fix problems, understand which pages are useful and make the website easier to use.
Cookies
Cookies are small files stored on your device. RealCost may use cookies or similar technologies for:
- Basic website functionality.
- Analytics and performance measurement.
- Affiliate tracking, where relevant.
- Advertising or sponsored content, where relevant.
You can control or delete cookies through your browser settings. Blocking some cookies may affect how parts of the website work.
Affiliate links and advertising
Some pages may contain affiliate links, sponsored links or advertising. If you click one of these links, a third party may use cookies or tracking technologies to record that the visit came from RealCost.
Affiliate links or advertising do not change the price you pay unless clearly stated. Any commercial relationship should not affect the independence of RealCost’s calculator-led guidance.
Contact forms
If you contact us through a form or message, we may collect your name, email address and message so we can respond.
We will not sell your contact details. We will only use them to deal with your enquiry, unless you have clearly agreed to another use.
Third-party services
RealCost may use third-party services to help operate the website, such as hosting providers, analytics tools, security plugins, contact form tools, advertising networks or affiliate platforms.
These providers may process limited information as needed to provide their services. Their own privacy policies may also apply.
External links
RealCost may link to external websites, including government websites, motoring resources, insurers, retailers or other third-party services.
We are not responsible for the privacy practices, accuracy or content of external websites. You should read the privacy policy of any external website you visit.
How long we keep information
We keep personal information only for as long as needed for the purpose it was collected.
- Contact form messages may be kept for a reasonable period so we can respond and manage the enquiry.
- Analytics data may be kept according to the settings of the analytics provider.
- Technical and security logs may be kept for a limited period to protect the website.
- Information required for legal, tax or compliance reasons may be kept for longer where necessary.
Your rights
Under UK data protection law, you may have rights over your personal information, including the right to:
- Ask for a copy of the personal information held about you.
- Ask for inaccurate information to be corrected.
- Ask for information to be deleted in certain circumstances.
- Object to certain types of processing.
- Ask for processing to be restricted in certain circumstances.
- Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.
To make a request, please contact us through the Contact page.
Complaints
If you are unhappy with how your personal information has been handled, please contact us first so we can try to resolve the issue.
You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office, the UK data protection regulator.
ICO website: https://ico.org.uk
Changes to this policy
We may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes to the website, cookies, analytics, advertising, affiliate relationships or legal requirements.
Any changes will be published on this page.