Community rules

A My Ride or Build Update post is about a car you own or are building. If you photographed someone else's car at a show or in a car park, post it as Car Spotting. Claiming a car you do not own is the fastest way to lose your account.

Ownership badges on Auto Collective say “self-declared” because that is what they are. Do not treat them as verification, and do not try to game them.

If you are showing or selling a car, do not hide a rebuilt title, a replacement engine, a re-body or accident damage. Replicas and tributes are welcome here, but they must be labelled as replicas and tributes.

• Never post the address where a car is kept. City or region is enough, and it is all the app asks for.
• Think before posting a plate. We strip location data from photos, but the plate is still in the picture.
• Do not post other people's personal information, including their address, phone number or workplace.

Disagree about engines all day. Do not go after the person. No harassment, no slurs, no threats, no pile-ons, no impersonation. Brand loyalty is not a licence to be cruel.

No fake listings, no deposit scams, no fake reviews of shops or parts suppliers, no bought followers, no engagement rings. If you have a commercial interest in something you are recommending, say so in the post.

Businesses are welcome. Claim your listing in the Directory and post as yourself rather than pretending to be a happy customer.

Credit photographers. Do not repost someone's build photos as your own. Link to articles rather than copying them wholesale; the source deserves the traffic.

Share what worked on your car, but do not present it as professional instruction. Brakes, fuel, steering, suspension and structural work deserve a qualified pair of eyes. Encourage inspection rather than guessing from a photo.

Depending on how serious it is, we may hide a post, remove it, issue a warning, or suspend the account. Every action is recorded along with the reason, and you can appeal from your account. Repeat or deliberate breaches, and anything involving fraud or threats, go straight to suspension.

Report anything that breaks these rules with the report button on the post, comment or profile. Blocking someone cuts you off from each other everywhere: feeds, comments, mentions and notifications.