Privacy Policy

1. Introduction and Scope

This Privacy Policy explains how Total Motor Care (“We,” “Us,” “Our”), an RMI/MIWA approved motor service provider in Cape Town, collects, uses, discloses, and protects your personal information in compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) of South Africa. This policy applies to all visitors and users of our website ([Your Website URL]), services, and mobile applications.

2. Information We Collect

We collect information directly from you, automatically through our website, and occasionally from third parties.

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

When you book a service, request a quote, or contact us, you may provide:

Identity Data: Name, surname, ID number (for certain transactions like finance/insurance claims).
Contact Data: Email address, phone number, physical address (Cape Town area).
Vehicle Data: Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), make, model, registration number, mileage, and service history.
Financial Data: Payment details (though payment processing is typically handled by secure third-party providers).

2.2 Information Collected Automatically (Cookies and Tracking)

By using our website, you agree that we use cookies, tracking pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about your browsing activity. This data is used for analytics and targeted advertising:

Usage Data: IP address, browser type, device type, operating system, time and date of visit, pages viewed, and links clicked.
Advertising Data: Information about the ads you view or interact with, which helps us measure the effectiveness of our campaigns on platforms like Google and Facebook.

3. How We Use Your Information (Purpose of Processing)

We process your personal information for the following legitimate business purposes:

Purpose	Rationale & Examples
Service Provision & Contract	To process service bookings, provide accurate quotes, perform repairs, order parts, and issue invoices.
Legal & Regulatory Compliance	To adhere to the POPIA, MIWA/RMI standards, and our financial/tax obligations.
Communication & Reminders	To send appointment confirmations, job completion notifications, and legally required service reminders.
Marketing & Advertising	To run targeted advertising campaigns on Google Ads (Remarketing) and Facebook Ads (Custom Audiences), showing you relevant offers based on your interest or past interaction with our business.
Security & Analytics	To monitor and protect the security of our website, and to analyze website traffic to improve our online experience.

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

4.1 What are Cookies?

Cookies are small data files placed on your device when you visit a website. They help the website remember your preferences, log-in details, and track your browsing.

4.2 Your Consent

By using this site, you accept the use of cookies. You will typically be prompted by a cookie banner upon your first visit.

4.3 Types of Cookies Used

Strictly Necessary Cookies: Essential for website functions (e.g., remembering service items in a quote basket).
Performance/Analytics Cookies: Used by tools like Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our site, helping us improve speed and content.
Targeting/Advertising Cookies: Used by Google Ads and Facebook Ads to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant Total Motor Care ads on other websites or social media platforms.

4.4 Managing Cookies

You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings. You can usually choose to block or delete cookies, but this may affect the functionality of our website.

5. Disclosure of Your Information (Sharing)

We only share your information when necessary and with trusted parties:

Service Providers: We may share data with secure, POPIA-compliant third parties who perform services on our behalf, such as IT hosting, secure payment processors, and email communication platforms.
MIWA/RMI: As an accredited workshop, information may be shared for quality assurance, compliance, and dispute resolution purposes.
Advertising Platforms: We share non-personally identifiable data with Google and Meta (Facebook/Instagram) to facilitate targeted advertising. These platforms act as processors under strict agreements.
Legal Requirement: We will disclose information when legally required to do so by a court order or regulatory body (e.g., SARS, SAPS).

6. Security and Protection of Information

We are committed to protecting the information we hold. We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to prevent loss, misuse, or unauthorised access to your personal information. These measures include:

Using secure servers and encryption (SSL/TLS).
Restricting access to your personal information to only employees who require it to perform their duties.
Securely disposing of physical and electronic documents containing personal data when they are no longer needed.

7. Your POPIA Rights

As a South African data subject, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

Right to Access: You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you.
Right to Correction/Deletion: You can request that we correct any inaccurate information or request the deletion of your personal information (subject to legal obligations).
Right to Object: You can object to the processing of your personal information for direct marketing purposes.
Right to Lodge a Complaint: You have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator if you believe your rights under POPIA have been infringed.

8. Contact Information

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, your rights, or wish to make a request, please contact us at: bookings@totalmotorcare.co.za