hejauto.pl

What It Is

HejAuto is a Polish mobile app positioned as a way to “message a driver via their license plate number.” It lets users contact a vehicle owner about issues such as lights left on, parking problems, vehicle damage, or breakdowns—without exposing a phone number or leaving a note on the windshield. The app is available for Android and iOS, and its service statement indicates that it is mainly provided within the Republic of Poland.

Core Features and AI Angle

Based on the available materials, HejAuto is not a typical generative AI tool. Its clearly disclosed AI/automation capability is OCR verification of vehicle registration document photos, using Google Cloud Vision API to automatically identify and confirm license plate ownership. If automatic recognition fails, the case goes to manual review. Other core features include account registration, linking up to 3 license plates, creating message conversations, push notifications, reporting, blocking, and automatic bans.

Pricing and Limits

The terms clearly state that the service is free, and no subscriptions, in-app purchases, or enterprise plans were found. Free use is not unlimited: users with an unverified email address cannot start new conversations; users with a verified email address can start 3 new conversations per day; and users with a verified email plus at least 1 verified license plate can start 5 per day. Undelivered conversations are capped at 5 per day as an anti-abuse measure.

Privacy, Security, and Limitations

The product’s privacy design is a strong point: users do not need to reveal their phone number, communications use HTTPS/TLS, and passwords are handled by Firebase Authentication, which the provider says it cannot access. Photos of vehicle registration documents are deleted immediately after automatic verification, and are also deleted after a decision is made in manual review. Conversations have automatic expiry rules: undelivered conversations are deleted after 24 hours, while delivered conversations expire on a rolling 72-hour basis with a maximum retention period of 14 days. The limitations are also clear: it is not an emergency reporting channel and does not guarantee instant delivery; if a plate is not linked to an active account, the message may not arrive; and OCR accuracy may be affected by photo quality.

Who It’s For and Access from China

HejAuto is best suited to local vehicle owners in Poland, people who need temporary communication in parking scenarios, and drivers who care about keeping their phone number private. It is not suitable as an emergency rescue tool, law-enforcement reporting channel, or general-purpose social app. Access from China cannot be determined from the text alone; given its reliance on Google Play, Firebase, Google Cloud Vision, and related services, there may be uncertainty around network access and app store availability in mainland China. Alternatives include local car-moving QR codes, phone/SMS contact, property-management channels, or traffic-management services.