Privacy Policy
Last Updated: Feb-4-2026
RateGuide (“RateGuide,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) values your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and share information when you visit or use our website located at rateguide.co (the “Site”).
By using our Site, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.
1Information We Collect
A. Information You Provide Voluntarily
When you use our tools or complete forms on the Site, you may choose to provide:
- Email address
- Vehicle preferences (new/used, price range, model year)
- General credit range or tier (not exact scores)
- Location (city/state or ZIP code)
⚠️ Important:
RateGuide does not collect Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, or full credit report data.
B. Automatically Collected Information
When you visit the Site, we may automatically collect:
- IP address
- Device type and browser
- Pages visited and time spent on the Site
- Funnel progression and interaction events
This information is used for analytics and performance optimization.
C. Aggregated & Anonymized Data
We may generate aggregated or anonymized insights from user activity, such as:
- Demand trends by credit tier
- Vehicle financing preferences
- Regional or market-level insights
This data cannot reasonably be used to identify you.
2How We Use Your Information
We do not use your information for unrelated advertising purposes.
3How We Share Information
A. With Financial Institutions (Banks & Credit Unions)
We may share aggregated, anonymized insights about demand and user behavior. Individual user data is only shared when a user explicitly consents to being matched or connected.
B. With Service Providers
We use trusted third-party services (e.g., analytics, hosting, database providers) to operate the Site. These providers are contractually obligated to safeguard your data.
C. Legal Requirements
We may disclose information if required by law, regulation, or legal process.
4. What We Do Not Do
To be crystal clear, RateGuide:
- ✕Does not sell personal data
- ✕Does not collect Social Security numbers
- ✕Does not pull full credit reports
- ✕Does not share personally identifiable data without user consent
5. Cookies & Analytics
We use cookies and similar technologies to keep the Site working and, with your permission, to understand how users interact with the Site and improve performance and user experience. You may disable cookies through your browser settings, though some features may not function properly.
When you accept analytics on the cookie banner, two systems collect information about your visit:
- Google Analytics 4 - page views, traffic sources, device type, and aggregated session data. We disable Google ad personalization signals.
- Our in-house product analytics - funnel-step events that help us understand where applicants drop off and how long each step takes. These events never include raw personal information (no name, email, phone, address, employer, job title, or income amount). Sensitive fields are recorded only as the bucket you selected (e.g. credit-score range, price range). Records are deleted automatically 90 days after the visit.
If you reject analytics on the banner, neither system is loaded and no analytics events are recorded.
6. Data Security
We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your information. While no system is 100% secure, we take data protection seriously and limit access to authorized personnel only.
7. Your Choices & Rights
Depending on your location, you may have the right to request access to your personal data, request correction or deletion of your data, or opt out of communications. Requests can be made by contacting us at the email below.
8. Children’s Privacy
RateGuide is not intended for individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect information from children.
9. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Updates will be posted on this page with a revised "Last Updated" date.
10Affiliate Relationships & Compensation
Affiliate Disclosure
RateGuide participates in affiliate marketing programs and may receive compensation when you are connected with or apply to certain financial institutions and lenders through our platform. This means that when you click on certain links or are matched with certain lenders, we may receive a commission or referral fee if you complete an application or are approved for financing.
These affiliate relationships help support our platform and allow us to provide our services at no cost to you. However, they do not influence our commitment to transparency or the accuracy of the information we provide.
How Affiliate Relationships Work
- Commission-Based: When you submit an application or complete a transaction with a partner lender, we may earn a referral fee or commission.
- Performance Tracking: We use tracking technologies to monitor referrals and attribute them accurately to our platform.
- No Additional Cost to You: Affiliate compensation does not increase the rates or fees you pay. Your loan terms are determined solely by the lender based on your creditworthiness and other factors.
Our Commitment to Independence
While we receive compensation from lender partnerships, this does not affect:
- The objectivity of our matching algorithms
- The accuracy of rate information displayed
- Our commitment to showing you multiple options
- Your ability to compare offers independently
We strive to present lending options fairly and transparently, prioritizing matches that best fit your stated preferences and qualifications.
Important: Not all lenders on our platform provide affiliate compensation. Some relationships are non-compensated partnerships established to provide you with more financing options.
11. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle data, contact us at: