Privacy Policy
Last updated: 17 September 2026
This Privacy Policy explains how information may be collected and processed when you use carhiretrawler.com, including information associated with website analytics, cookies and the car hire booking journey.
Car Hire Trawler is an independent car hire comparison website. The car hire search and booking journey is powered by CarTrawler. Information entered as part of that booking journey may therefore be processed by CarTrawler and, where necessary, the rental provider selected for your booking.
1. Who we are
Car Hire Trawler operates carhiretrawler.com, an independent website that allows users to search and compare car hire offers.
Car Hire Trawler does not own or operate the rental vehicles shown in the search results. The search and booking technology is supplied by CarTrawler, while the selected rental provider supplies the vehicle and manages collection and return.
2. Information collected when you use the website
When you visit the website, limited technical and usage information may be collected automatically by the website and the services used to operate and analyse it.
This may include information such as:
- pages viewed and navigation through the website;
- date and time of visits;
- browser and device type;
- operating system;
- approximate geographic information derived from technical data;
- referring website or traffic source;
- screen or browser dimensions;
- technical and performance information; and
- interactions with website elements, where provided by an analytics service.
Some technical information, including an IP address or identifiers stored in cookies or similar technologies, may also be processed by the services used on the website.
3. Website analytics
Car Hire Trawler uses analytics services to understand how visitors use the website and to help identify technical or usability problems.
Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics to measure website traffic and usage. This can include information about pages viewed, visits, devices, browsers, referral sources and interactions with the website.
Google processes information in accordance with its own privacy and data-protection practices.
Microsoft Clarity
We use Microsoft Clarity to help understand how visitors interact with the website. Clarity can record information about website interactions such as clicks, scrolling, navigation, page layout and technical performance.
Information collected through Clarity is processed by Microsoft in accordance with Microsoft's applicable privacy terms and settings.
4. Car hire searches and booking information
The car hire search and booking journey available through Car Hire Trawler is powered by CarTrawler.
When you enter information into the CarTrawler booking platform, such as your rental dates, driver details, contact information, payment information or other information required to complete a reservation, that information is processed as part of the CarTrawler booking service.
Information required to provide the rental may also be shared with the rental provider selected during the booking process.
CarTrawler is responsible for explaining how it processes personal information within its booking services. You should therefore read its privacy information when making or managing a booking.
5. Cookies and similar technologies
Cookies and similar technologies may be used to operate the website, remember preferences, measure website usage and support third-party services used on the site.
These technologies can include:
- Strictly necessary technologies: used for functions required for the website or consent-management process to operate.
- Analytics technologies: used by services such as Google Analytics and Microsoft Clarity to understand website usage and performance.
A cookie-consent notice is provided on the website to give visitors information and choices relating to cookies and similar technologies.
You can also control or remove cookies through your browser settings, although blocking some technologies may affect how parts of a website operate.
6. How information is used
Information collected in connection with this website may be used to:
- operate and maintain the website;
- understand how visitors use the site;
- identify technical errors and performance problems;
- improve navigation, content and user experience;
- protect the website against misuse or security threats; and
- provide access to the third-party car hire search and booking service.
7. Sharing and third-party services
We do not sell personal information collected through the Car Hire Trawler website.
Information may, however, be processed by third-party service providers where this is necessary to operate, secure or analyse the website. These may include providers of:
- website hosting and technical infrastructure;
- analytics services;
- cookie and consent-management services; and
- car hire search and booking technology.
During the booking process, CarTrawler and the selected rental provider may process the information required to arrange and fulfil your reservation under their own applicable privacy terms.
8. Links to other websites
Car Hire Trawler contains links to websites and services operated by other organisations, including CarTrawler, rental providers and travel-related partners.
When you leave carhiretrawler.com, the privacy policy and terms of the destination website apply. We recommend reviewing the privacy information provided by that organisation.
9. Data retention
Information relating to operation and analytics of this website is retained only for as long as reasonably required for the purpose for which it was collected, subject to the retention settings and policies of the services involved.
Booking information processed by CarTrawler or a rental provider is retained according to the privacy and retention policies of those organisations.
10. Your privacy rights
Depending on where you live and the data-protection law that applies, you may have rights in relation to your personal information.
These may include the right to:
- request access to personal information held about you;
- request correction of inaccurate information;
- request deletion of information in certain circumstances;
- request restriction of processing;
- object to certain processing;
- receive certain information in a portable format where the law provides this right; and
- withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.
You may also have the right to raise a complaint with the relevant data-protection supervisory authority in your country.
11. Requests concerning booking information
If your request concerns personal information supplied during a car hire booking or through CarTrawler's booking-management or support services, the request should normally be directed to CarTrawler.
CarTrawler provides information about privacy rights and how to contact its Data Protection Officer in its own Privacy Policy.
12. Data security
Reasonable technical and organisational measures are used to help protect the website and the information processed in connection with it.
No internet service can guarantee absolute security, and third-party services used through the website are also responsible for the security of information they process.
13. Children
Car Hire Trawler is a car hire comparison website intended for people researching or arranging vehicle rental. The website is not directed at children.
14. Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy when the website, the services we use or applicable privacy requirements change.
The date shown at the top of this page indicates when this policy was most recently updated.
Privacy and booking enquiries
For privacy questions relating specifically to information supplied through a CarTrawler booking, contact CarTrawler using the privacy contact information provided in its Privacy Policy.
For general information about bookings and support, visit our Customer Support page.