This page is a structural draft for solicitor review. It is not final legal advice and must be replaced before launch.
1. What this policy covers
Version: 0.1 (draft). Last updated: [DATE]. Consent notice version this text matches: 2026-10-31-v3, the version in the site code today. If the banner text or the categories change, the version in the code is raised so visitors are asked again.
1.1 This policy explains the cookies and similar technologies (such as local storage and session storage in your browser) that evtariffscompared.com (the "site") uses. [COMPANY NAME] runs the site. Contact: hello@evtariffscompared.com.
1.2 "Cookies" in this policy includes similar storage unless we say otherwise. For how we use personal information more widely, see our Privacy Policy.
2. Your choices
2.1 When you first visit, a notice asks you to choose. "Accept all" and "Reject all" are given equal prominence. "Manage settings" lets you choose by category.
2.2 Optional categories are off until you turn them on. We do not use pre-ticked boxes.
2.3 Necessary storage is always on, because the site cannot work properly without it. It is not used for analytics or advertising.
2.4 You can change or withdraw your choices at any time from "Cookie settings" in the footer of every page, or on the cookies page. Withdrawing is as easy as giving consent. Opening the settings does not change your choices. Your choice applies when you save it or when you press "Reject all".
2.5 We remember your choices for 180 days and then ask you again. We also ask again if we change the cookies we use in a way that needs your permission.
2.6 If your browser blocks storage completely, your choices apply only for that visit and the settings page will tell you.
3. The cookies we use
3.1 Necessary storage (always on)
| Name | What it does | How long it lasts |
|---|---|---|
| evtc-cookie-consent (cookie and local storage) | Stores your cookie choices, the version of the notice you saw, the time of your choice and a random browser reference, so we can respect and evidence your choice | 180 days |
| evtc_theme (cookie) and evtc-theme (local storage) | Remembers whether you chose Night, Day or Auto display | Cookie: 1 year. Local storage: until replaced or cleared |
| evtc-charger-compare (session storage) | Remembers the chargers you picked to compare while you browse | Until you close the browser tab or window |
| Sign-in session and quote-management cookies | Keep an installer account secure and signed in, and give you access to the quote request you made | For the length of the session or the link's life (the link to manage a quote request lasts 30 days) |
| Security and bot-protection (Cloudflare Turnstile) | Helps stop automated and abusive form submissions | Turnstile does not set a cookie on our site to identify you. Cloudflare says its short-lived bot-check ID needs no cookies or local storage. In some cases Cloudflare's challenge system sets short-lived security cookies (names beginning "cf_", such as cf_clearance). [TBD: confirm the exact names and lifetimes in a browser check once the live Turnstile keys are connected. They are not connected yet.] |
| Error reporting (Sentry) | Helps us find and fix errors | Nothing is stored in your browser. Sentry's browser tool does not set cookies, and we do not switch on its session replay or offline storage. When an error happens, a minimal error report is sent to Sentry, so Sentry receives your IP address. This only happens once Sentry is switched on. |
3.2 Analytics (optional, off until you accept)
| Provider | What it does | How long it lasts |
|---|---|---|
| Google Analytics 4, loaded through Google Tag Manager | Counts visits and shows how pages are used, so we can improve the site | Cookies: _ga and _ga_ followed by our measurement ID. Google's default for both is 2 years. We set the cookie expiry in the Google tag to 14 months, to match the analytics retention period. |
Nothing in this category loads until you accept analytics. Google Analytics 4 and Google Tag Manager are the only analytics services we use.
3.3 Marketing (optional, off until you accept)
We do not currently use marketing or advertising cookies. The cookie banner has a marketing choice so that, if we add advertising measurement later, it only starts after you accept it. If any are added, they will be listed here and the notice version will change so you are asked again.
3.4 Third parties on other pages
- Stripe: installers pay through Stripe Checkout, which runs on Stripe's own pages. Stripe sets its own cookies there. See Stripe's cookie information. Drivers do not pay on the site.
- Maps: where the site shows a map, the map provider (OpenFreeMap) receives your IP address and the area you view so it can send map images. OpenFreeMap says it sets no cookies, and the map code on our site stores nothing in your browser. The map loads when it comes into view or when you open it.
- Affiliate links: some supplier and charger brand links are paid links (see our Terms of Use). We use an affiliate network, [AFFILIATE NETWORK NAME], for some of them. When you follow one, the supplier or the affiliate network may set cookies on its own site to record that you came from us. We label these links. We do not control those cookies. We add no tracking to our own pages before you click, other than the analytics you have accepted. When you click, we record only which tariff link was clicked and whether it was a paid link.
- Links to other sites: supplier, installer and grant sites set their own cookies, which we do not control.
4. Email
4.1 We switch on open tracking (a tracking pixel) in an email only if you have agreed to analytics or marketing and your agreement is recorded. We do not use it for service emails to people who have not agreed. Links in service emails may be click-tracked so that we can tell whether a link works. Our email provider, Postmark, sends the emails for us.
5. How to control cookies in your browser
You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings. Blocking necessary storage may stop parts of the site working (for example staying signed in). Your browser's help pages explain how.
6. Changes
We may update this policy when we add or change cookies. The date at the top shows the latest version. If a change needs new permission from you, we will ask again.
7. Contact
Questions about this policy: hello@evtariffscompared.com.
[COMPANY NAME], company number [COMPANY NUMBER], registered office [REGISTERED ADDRESS].