GGarageMate

GarageMate — Terms of Service

Last updated: July 4, 2026

1. Agreement

These Terms of Service ("Terms") are a binding agreement between you and GarageMate ("GarageMate", "we", "us"), operated by Henry Yao, an individual based in California, USA. By creating an account or using GarageMate (the "Service"), you agree to these Terms and to our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, do not use the Service.

These Terms are written in English; any translation is provided for convenience only, and the English version controls.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old and able to form a binding contract. The Service is intended for use in the United States; we make no claim that it is appropriate or available elsewhere.

3. The Service / beta

GarageMate is an AI-powered companion that helps vehicle owners track maintenance, diagnose possible issues, generate do-it-yourself ("DIY") repair and modification guidance, and keep a history of their vehicle. The Service is provided during a beta: it is under active development and may change, be interrupted, or contain errors, and features (and your data) may be modified or removed. We may begin, change, or stop charging for the Service in the future, with notice.

4. Not professional advice — read this carefully

GarageMate's outputs are generated by artificial intelligence and automated systems. They are provided for general informational and educational purposes only and may be inaccurate, incomplete, or out of date.

  • GarageMate is not a licensed mechanic, technician, or engineer, and using the Service does not create any professional or advisory relationship.
  • Vehicle specifications and procedures vary by year, make, model, trim, and market. Always verify critical information (for example torque specifications, fluid types, and part numbers) against your vehicle's official service information or owner's manual before relying on it.
  • The Service is not a substitute for inspection, diagnosis, or repair by a qualified professional. When in doubt, consult a professional.

5. Safety and assumption of risk

Working on motor vehicles is inherently dangerous and can result in serious injury, death, or property damage — including to third parties.

  • You assume all risk arising from your use of the Service and any work you choose to perform.
  • You are responsible for working safely: using proper tools, jack stands and supports, personal protective equipment, and all applicable safety precautions.
  • Safety-critical systems — including but not limited to brakes and brake hydraulics, airbags and supplemental restraint systems (SRS), steering, load-bearing suspension, fuel systems, and electric/hybrid high-voltage systems — should be serviced by a qualified professional. GarageMate may decline to provide DIY guidance for such work; do not attempt to work around these limitations.
  • You are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations, including emissions, inspection, and vehicle-modification laws. Some modifications may be illegal for street use in your jurisdiction.

6. Your responsibilities

You agree to: provide accurate information; keep your account credentials secure; use the Service only for lawful purposes and for vehicles you are authorized to work on; and exercise your own independent judgment before acting on any output.

7. Your content

You retain ownership of the information and files you submit (for example vehicle details, logs, notes, and photos) ("User Content"). You grant us a non-exclusive license to host, store, process, and display your User Content solely to operate and provide the Service to you, including sending it to the service providers described in our Privacy Policy. You represent that you have the right to submit your User Content.

8. Acceptable use

Do not misuse the Service, including by: violating any law; attempting to defeat the safety guardrails to obtain guidance on prohibited safety-critical work; uploading other people's personal or copyrighted material without the right to do so; reverse-engineering, scraping, or overloading the Service; or using it to build a competing product.

9. Third-party services

The Service relies on third parties, including AI processing (Anthropic), hosting (Vercel), database/file storage and authentication (Supabase), and product analytics. Your use may also be subject to those providers' terms. We are not responsible for third-party services.

10. Disclaimer of warranties

THE SERVICE AND ALL OUTPUTS ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE," WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ACCURACY, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE, OR THAT ANY OUTPUT IS ACCURATE, COMPLETE, OR RELIABLE.

11. Limitation of liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, GARAGEMATE AND ITS OPERATORS, OWNERS, AND SUPPLIERS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR FOR ANY PERSONAL INJURY, DEATH, PROPERTY DAMAGE, OR LOST DATA OR PROFITS, ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OF (OR INABILITY TO USE) THE SERVICE OR ANY OUTPUT, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY. OUR TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ALL CLAIMS WILL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF THE AMOUNT YOU PAID US IN THE 12 MONTHS BEFORE THE CLAIM OR USD $50. Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations, so some of the above may not apply to you.

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless GarageMate and its operators from any claims, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from your use of the Service, your User Content, any work you perform on a vehicle, or your violation of these Terms or any law.

13. Termination

You may stop using the Service and delete your account at any time. We may suspend or terminate access at our discretion, including for violation of these Terms or to discontinue the beta.

14. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms. Material changes will be indicated by updating the "Last updated" date and, where appropriate, by notice in the Service. Continued use after changes means you accept them.

15. Governing law and dispute resolution

PLEASE READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY — IT AFFECTS YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS. IT REQUIRES DISPUTES TO BE RESOLVED BY INDIVIDUAL ARBITRATION AND WAIVES JURY TRIALS AND CLASS ACTIONS.

15.1 Governing law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California, USA, without regard to its conflict-of-laws rules. The Federal Arbitration Act governs the interpretation and enforcement of Section 15.3.

15.2 Informal resolution first

Before filing any formal claim, you and we agree to first try to resolve the dispute informally: send a written notice describing the dispute to henryyaobusiness@gmail.com (we will send any notice to your account email). If the dispute is not resolved within 60 days of the notice, either party may proceed under Section 15.3.

15.3 Binding arbitration

Except for the matters in Section 15.4, any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Service will be resolved by final and binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") under its Consumer Arbitration Rules, as modified by this Section. The arbitration will be conducted in English by a single arbitrator, in Santa Clara County, California, by videoconference, or in the county where you reside — at your choice. Fees will be allocated as provided by the administrator's consumer rules. Judgment on the award may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction.

15.4 Exceptions

Either party may (a) bring an individual claim in small-claims court, and (b) seek injunctive or other equitable relief in court for infringement or misuse of intellectual property or unauthorized access to the Service. Nothing in this Section waives any right you may have to seek public injunctive relief where a waiver of that right is unenforceable under California law.

15.5 Class-action and jury-trial waiver

YOU AND GARAGEMATE EACH WAIVE THE RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL AND THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS, COLLECTIVE, CONSOLIDATED, OR REPRESENTATIVE ACTION. Claims may be brought only on an individual basis, and the arbitrator may award relief only in favor of the individual party seeking relief. If this class waiver is found unenforceable as to a particular claim, that claim (and only that claim) shall proceed in court, and the waiver remains in force for all other claims.

15.6 30-day opt-out

You may opt out of Sections 15.3–15.5 by emailing henryyaobusiness@gmail.com within 30 days of first accepting these Terms, stating your account email and that you opt out of arbitration. Opting out does not affect any other part of these Terms.

15.7 Severability; courts

If any part of this Section 15 is found unenforceable, the rest remains in effect (except as stated in Section 15.5). For any dispute not subject to arbitration, the state and federal courts located in Santa Clara County, California have exclusive jurisdiction, and you consent to personal jurisdiction and venue there.

16. Contact

Questions about these Terms: henryyaobusiness@gmail.com.