Question 1

What is the Garage?

Accepted Answer

The Garage is your personal workspace on AUTODYSSEY. It is free for every owner who wants to keep their vehicles properly documented. You can add every vehicle you have ever owned, create projects for each one, store photographs and receipts, and build a chronological record that outlasts any spreadsheet or photo album.

Question 2

How do I add a vehicle to my Garage?

Accepted Answer

Sign in and navigate to the Garage from the main navigation. Click "Add Vehicle" and fill in the details: make, model, year, VIN, and a photograph. The vehicle immediately appears in your Garage, and you can start adding projects, records, and media. You can add as many vehicles as you own, and there is no limit to the number of cars in your personal archive.

Question 3

Is my VIN safe in the Garage?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We mask the full VIN in the interface, showing only the first portion for identification. Your complete VIN is stored securely and used only for linking records to the correct vehicle. The last four characters are never displayed publicly, protecting your vehicle from being looked up through DMV or insurance records.

Question 4

How many photos can I store per vehicle?

Accepted Answer

There is no practical limit on the number of photographs you can attach to a vehicle or project. We store high-resolution images in a chronologically ordered gallery, and every photograph is tied to the date it was taken and the specific vehicle it belongs to. You can upload from your phone, your computer, or import from a cloud service.

Question 5

What are Projects and how do I create one?

Accepted Answer

Projects are chronological records of your restoration, modification, or maintenance journey. To create one, select a vehicle in your Garage and click "Start a Project." You can add updates, track progress, log parts purchases, upload before-and-after photographs, and document every decision you make along the way. Projects are private by default, and you can share them with the community when you are ready.

Question 6

Who can see my Garage and projects?

Accepted Answer

Your Garage is private by default. Only you can see the vehicles, projects, and records you create. You can choose to share individual projects or vehicles with the community by changing their visibility setting to "Public" or "Community Only." You retain full control over what is visible and what stays private.

Question 7

Does the Garage cost anything?

Accepted Answer

The Garage is completely free for all owners. There is no subscription, no storage limit, and no paywall for adding vehicles, creating projects, or uploading photographs. We believe every owner deserves a permanent record of their vehicles, regardless of budget. Premium features may be introduced in the future, but the core Garage will always remain free.

Question 8

How do I remove a vehicle or project?

Accepted Answer

Navigate to the vehicle or project you want to remove, open the settings menu, and select "Remove." You will be asked to confirm before anything is permanently deleted. Removing a vehicle also removes all its associated projects, records, and photographs, so we recommend exporting your data first if you want to keep a backup.

Question 9

What is the Vault?

Accepted Answer

The Vault is a managed service that stores every document, photograph, provenance record, and inspection note in a permanent, append-only archive keyed to your vehicle's VIN. Unlike the Garage, which is your personal workspace, the Vault is designed for evidence-grade preservation: every record is timestamped, every upload is logged, and the archive is built to outlast the platforms that came before it.

Question 10

How is the Vault different from the Garage?

Accepted Answer

The Garage is your personal workspace — free, flexible, and designed for active documentation. The Vault is a managed service for permanent preservation. The Garage is where you work on your projects in real time; the Vault is where the finished record lives forever. The Vault adds append-only integrity, timestamped entries, and a format designed to be accepted by insurers, auction houses, and concours judges.

Question 11

How do I start a Vault for my vehicle?

Accepted Answer

Navigate to the Vault from the main navigation and select "Start Your Vault." You will need your vehicle's VIN, and the system will create an empty archive ready for your documents. You can then upload build sheets, service records, inspection notes, photographs, and any other document that tells the story of your vehicle. Each entry is timestamped and cannot be altered once saved.

Question 12

What kinds of documents can I store in the Vault?

Accepted Answer

The Vault accepts any document that tells the story of your vehicle: build sheets, factory invoices, service records, inspection reports, insurance valuations, restoration receipts, photographs, video clips, and provenance documentation. Each document is tagged by category and date, and you can search by keyword, date range, or document type. The archive is designed to hold everything from a 1972 oil change receipt to a modern concours judging sheet.

Question 13

How do I find a document years later?

Accepted Answer

The Vault is built for retrieval. Every document is indexed by date, category, keyword, and vehicle VIN. You can search by any word in the document title or description, filter by date range, or browse by category. The system is designed to locate any record instantly, even decades after the original entry.

Question 14

How much does the Vault cost?

Accepted Answer

The Vault is a managed service with tiered pricing based on the number of vehicles and the volume of documents stored. Every owner receives a free tier that includes one vehicle and up to fifty documents. Premium tiers add unlimited vehicles, high-resolution media storage, and features like insurance valuation reports and exportable PDF archives. Visit the Vault pricing page for current rates.

Question 15

How secure is my Vault data?

Accepted Answer

All Vault records are stored with encryption at rest and in transit. The append-only architecture means that once a record is saved, it cannot be altered or deleted, ensuring the integrity of your vehicle's history. We maintain redundant backups across multiple geographic regions, and your data is never shared with third parties without your explicit consent.

Question 16

Who can see my Vault records?

Accepted Answer

Your Vault is private by default. Only you and anyone you explicitly invite can view your records. You can generate shareable links for individual documents or the entire vault, and you can revoke access at any time. For insurance or auction purposes, you can export a read-only PDF summary that contains only the records you choose to include.

Question 17

What counts as a vehicle record?

Accepted Answer

A vehicle record is any document, photograph, or note that captures a moment in your vehicle's life. This includes service receipts, inspection reports, modification invoices, insurance valuations, photographs of damage or restoration progress, and handwritten notes about decisions you made. The value of a record is not in the document itself but in the timeline it creates when joined with every other record.

Question 18

What types of records should I keep?

Accepted Answer

Keep everything that tells the story: oil change receipts, brake pad invoices, tyre replacement records, MOT or inspection certificates, insurance valuations, restoration photographs, paint work documentation, and any correspondence with specialists or dealers. The most valuable records are often the smallest — a handwritten note about a carburetor adjustment in 1985 can be the detail that proves originality.

Question 19

How should I organise my records?

Accepted Answer

AUTODYSSEY organises records chronologically by default, with each entry tied to the date it was created and the vehicle it belongs to. You can also tag records by category — Maintenance, Inspection, Modification, Restoration, Insurance, or Provenance — and add custom keywords for easy searching. The system is designed so that every record finds its place without manual filing.

Question 20

How do I find a specific record later?

Accepted Answer

Use the search bar in your Garage or Vault to filter by date, category, keyword, or vehicle. Every record is indexed by its title, description, tags, and the text extracted from uploaded documents. You can also browse by timeline, viewing all records for a specific vehicle in chronological order. The search is designed to work even if you only remember a fragment of the detail you are looking for.

Question 21

Why do records increase my vehicle's value?

Accepted Answer

The most valuable cars in the world are the ones with paperwork that traces back to the factory. A complete service history proves the car was cared for. A build sheet proves the original specification. A chain of ownership documents proves the provenance. Collectors, insurers, and auction houses all pay a premium for vehicles with documented histories, and the gap between a well-documented car and a mystery car can run into six figures.

Question 22

Should I photograph everything or just the important parts?

Accepted Answer

Photograph everything. The photograph you take of a corroded undertray today might be the only evidence of original condition in twenty years. Photograph before, during, and after every piece of work. Photograph the engine bay, the interior, the underside, and the details that nobody notices. The cost of storage is zero; the value of a missing photograph is impossible to calculate.

Question 23

How do I start a project?

Accepted Answer

Select a vehicle in your Garage and click "Start a Project." Give it a name — "Engine Rebuild 2024" or "Complete Restoration" — and set the start date. The project is now live, and you can add updates, photographs, parts lists, and timeline milestones at any time. Projects are private by default, and you can share them when you are ready.

Question 24

How do I add project updates?

Accepted Answer

Open your project and click "Add Update." Each update captures a moment in the project: a photograph of progress, a note about a decision, a list of parts received, or a milestone reached. Updates are timestamped automatically and appear in chronological order. You can add as many updates as you need, and there is no limit to the length of a description or the number of photographs attached.

Question 25

Can I track parts and purchases in a project?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every project has a dedicated Parts section where you can log parts purchased, parts needed, and parts sourced. Include the supplier, price, part number, and compatibility notes. The parts list becomes a permanent record of what went into the build, which is invaluable for future maintenance, resale, or insurance claims.

Question 26

How does the project timeline work?

Accepted Answer

The timeline is a chronological view of every update, photograph, and milestone in your project. It shows the progression from start to finish, with dates, descriptions, and visual evidence. You can scroll through the timeline to see how the project evolved, or jump to a specific date or milestone. The timeline is automatically generated from your updates and requires no manual arrangement.

Question 27

Can I share my project with the community?

Accepted Answer

Yes. When your project is ready to share, change its visibility from "Private" to "Community" or "Public." Community projects are visible to other AUTODYSSEY members and can receive comments, questions, and encouragement. Public projects are visible to anyone visiting the site. You retain full control and can change visibility or unpublish at any time.

Question 28

Can multiple people work on the same project?

Accepted Answer

Not yet. Projects are currently tied to a single owner. Multi-owner project collaboration is planned for a future release, including the ability to assign tasks, share parts lists, and co-manage a restoration. For now, you can share read-only links to your project with mechanics, restorers, or fellow enthusiasts.

Question 29

How do I create an account?

Accepted Answer

Click "Sign In" in the top navigation and select "Create Account." You will need an email address, a username, and a password. We do not require a phone number or any other personal information. Once registered, you can immediately start building your Garage and exploring the community.

Question 30

How do I delete my account?

Accepted Answer

Navigate to Account Settings, scroll to the bottom, and select "Delete Account." You will be asked to confirm, and we will send a verification email to prevent accidental deletion. Deleting your account permanently removes all your vehicles, projects, records, and community posts. If you have a Vault subscription, we recommend exporting your data before deletion.

Question 31

What information does AUTODYSSEY collect?

Accepted Answer

We collect only the information you provide: your email, username, and any vehicle or project data you choose to add. We do not track your browsing history outside AUTODYSSEY, we do not sell your data to third parties, and we do not use your content for advertising. Your vehicle photographs and records belong to you, and you control who can see them.

Question 32

Can I export my data?

Accepted Answer

Yes. From Account Settings, select "Export Data" to download a complete archive of your Garage, Vault, projects, and community posts in JSON format. For Vault subscribers, we also offer PDF export with formatted documentation suitable for insurance or auction submission. Your data is always portable, and you can request an export at any time.

Question 33

How do I change my password?

Accepted Answer

Go to Account Settings and select "Security." Enter your current password, then your new password twice. We require a minimum of twelve characters and recommend using a password manager. If you have forgotten your password, use the "Forgot Password" link on the sign-in page to receive a reset email.

Question 34

Can I make my profile public?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Your profile is private by default, but you can make it public from Account Settings. A public profile shows your username, avatar, bio, and any vehicles or projects you have marked as public. It does not show your private Garage, your Vault records, or any contact information. You can switch between public and private at any time.

Question 35

What is free and what costs money?

Accepted Answer

The Garage — adding vehicles, creating projects, uploading photographs, and community engagement — is completely free. The Vault, which provides permanent append-only records, document storage, and insurance-grade reporting, is available through subscription. Premium features like advanced analytics, custom domain linking, and white-glove import assistance are also part of paid plans.

Question 36

How much does the Vault cost?

Accepted Answer

The Vault offers a free tier with one vehicle and up to fifty documents. Premium tiers start at a monthly rate and scale based on the number of vehicles and document volume. All plans include encryption, redundant backups, and search functionality. Visit the Vault pricing page for current rates and a plan comparison.

Question 37

What plans are available?

Accepted Answer

We offer three tiers: Starter (free, one vehicle, fifty documents), Enthusiast (multiple vehicles, unlimited documents, high-resolution media), and Collector (unlimited everything, insurance reports, exportable PDF archives, priority support). All paid plans include a fourteen-day free trial, and you can upgrade or downgrade at any time.

Question 38

How do I cancel or change my plan?

Accepted Answer

Go to Account Settings, select "Billing," and choose "Change Plan" or "Cancel Subscription." Changes take effect at the end of your current billing period. If you cancel, your Vault data remains accessible in read-only mode for thirty days, after which you can export it or reactivate your subscription. We do not offer refunds for partial billing periods.

Question 39

What payment methods do you accept?

Accepted Answer

We accept all major credit and debit cards through our secure payment processor. We do not store your card details on our servers. In some regions, we also support PayPal and direct bank transfer for annual plans. All payments are processed in your local currency where possible.

Question 40

How do I share a story or project?

Accepted Answer

Create a project in your Garage, add updates and photographs, and when you are ready to share, change the visibility to "Community" or "Public." Community stories are visible to all AUTODYSSEY members and appear in the Chronicle feed. Public stories are visible to anyone visiting the site. You can add a cover image, write a narrative, and tag the story with categories like Restoration, Modification, or Road Trip.

Question 41

Can people comment on my stories?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Community and public stories can receive comments from other members. You can reply to comments, and you can delete any comment on your own stories. Comments are moderated by our community guidelines, which prohibit abuse, spam, and off-topic discussion. You can disable comments on any story if you prefer.

Question 42

Can I follow other members?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Click "Follow" on any member's profile to see their public stories and projects in your personal feed. You will receive notifications when they publish new content. Following is mutual: you can see their public work, and they can see yours, but neither of you can see private Garage or Vault data.

Question 43

What are the community guidelines?

Accepted Answer

Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful, stay on topic, credit sources, and do not spam. We welcome disagreement and debate about cars, but personal attacks, harassment, and off-topic advertising are not allowed. Stories should be genuine and original. Photographs should be your own or properly credited. Violations can result in content removal, temporary suspension, or permanent banning.

Question 44

Are there community events or meetups?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We organise online and in-person events including virtual garage tours, restoration workshops, and regional meetups. Members can also create their own events and invite other members. Events are announced in the Chronicle and through email notifications. Follow the Events page to see what is coming up in your area.

Question 45

What file formats are supported for uploads?

Accepted Answer

Photographs: JPEG, PNG, WebP, HEIC (automatically converted). Documents: PDF, DOC, DOCX, TXT, RTF. Videos: MP4, MOV, WebM (up to 500MB per file). Scans and diagrams: PDF, PNG, TIFF. We automatically optimise images for web display while preserving the original file for download.

Question 46

Are there upload limits?

Accepted Answer

Free accounts: up to 100 photographs per vehicle and 10 documents per project. Vault subscribers: unlimited photographs and documents up to the storage limit of their plan. Individual file limits: photographs 20MB, documents 50MB, videos 500MB. These limits are generous enough for high-resolution photography and detailed documentation.

Question 47

Can I use AUTODYSSEY on my phone?

Accepted Answer

Yes. AUTODYSSEY is fully responsive and works on any modern smartphone or tablet. You can add vehicles, upload photographs, create projects, and read stories from your phone. For the best experience when uploading photographs, use the mobile browser or save the site to your home screen as a web app. A native mobile app is planned for a future release.

Question 48

Which browsers are supported?

Accepted Answer

AUTODYSSEY works on all modern browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Brave. We recommend keeping your browser up to date for the best performance and security. Internet Explorer is not supported. If you experience issues, try disabling browser extensions or clearing your cache.

Question 49

Something is not working. What should I do?

Accepted Answer

First, try refreshing the page. If the issue persists, clear your browser cache and try again. Check that your browser is up to date and that you are not using any extensions that might block scripts or cookies. If you still have problems, contact our support team through the Contact page and include: what you were trying to do, what happened instead, and what browser you are using.

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