Your privacy matters. This policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have — written in plain language, not legalese.
Effective date: July 4, 2026 · Last updated: July 4, 2026
By creating an account, signing in, or using the Vaahana app or website, you consent to the collection and use of your information as described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with our practices, please do not use Vaahana.
We collect information that is necessary to provide and improve our ride-sharing service. This includes:
When you create an account, we collect your full name, email address, phone number, and WhatsApp number. You must sign in to use Vaahana.
When you post or accept a ride request, we collect the pickup and drop-off locations, distance, pickup date and time, ride status, and any notes you provide for the driver.
With your permission, we access your device location to show nearby ride requests, calculate distances, and display rides on the map. See the Location Data section for details.
We collect your device's push notification token (FCM token) for sending ride updates. We also collect basic usage data such as app interactions and crash logs to improve reliability.
When you rate a rider or driver after a ride, we store the rating and associate it with the rated user's profile to maintain community trust.
Vaahana is built to collect only what is necessary. We do not collect:
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
We do not sell your personal information. We do not use your data for advertising or profiling.
Vaahana is a community ride-sharing platform. To connect riders and drivers, certain information you provide is visible to other authenticated Vaahana users:
Your email address is not visible to other users. Only Vaahana administrators can access your email for account and support purposes.
Your data is stored using industry-standard cloud infrastructure:
Manages user accounts, sign-in credentials, and session tokens. Passwords are hashed and never stored in plaintext.
Stores ride requests, user profiles, ratings, and app data. Protected by security rules that restrict access to authorized users only.
Delivers push notifications for ride updates. FCM tokens are stored per-user and refreshed automatically.
User preferences, cached ride data, and geocoded locations are stored locally on your device and are never transmitted to third parties.
All data is transmitted over encrypted connections (HTTPS/TLS). We implement Firestore security rules to ensure users can only read and write their own data. We regularly review access controls and follow the principle of least privilege.
Vaahana uses the following third-party services to operate. Each has its own privacy policy governing data use:
We do not share your personal information with advertisers, data brokers, or any parties not listed above. All third-party services listed above are contractually required to protect your data and may only use it to provide the specific services described. They may not sell, re-use, or retain your data beyond what is necessary to perform their function.
Vaahana requests access to your device location to provide core ride-sharing functionality:
Location access is optional. You can deny or revoke location permissions at any time through your device settings. Without location access, rides will not be filtered by distance, but you can still browse and post rides.
We use location only while the app is in use ("When In Use"). We do not track your location in the background, and we do not store a history of your movements.
We retain account information, ride history, ratings, safety-related records, and app logs while your account is active or as needed to provide Vaahana. After account deletion, we delete or anonymize personal data within 30 days unless retention is required for legal compliance, safety, fraud prevention, dispute resolution, or backup restoration.
You have control over your data:
For any data-related requests, contact us at vaahana2026@gmail.com.
Vaahana is not intended for use by anyone under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at vaahana2026@gmail.com and we will promptly delete it.
Apple requires apps to disclose their data practices through App Privacy Labels on the App Store. Below is a summary of what Vaahana declares, matching our actual data practices:
None. Vaahana does not track you across other companies' apps or websites.
The following data is collected and linked to your identity:
The following data may be collected but is not linked to your identity:
These labels reflect our practices as of the effective date. If our data practices change, we will update both this policy and our App Store privacy labels accordingly.
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. If we make material changes, we will notify you through the app or by email. Your continued use of Vaahana after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please contact us:
We aim to respond to all privacy-related inquiries within 5 business days.