PortAuto, a division of the Portland Group, respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information we hold about you. This Privacy Policy explains what we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and the rights you have under the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (POPIA).
About this Policy
This Policy applies to personal information we collect through:
- Our website at portauto.co.za;
- Quote requests, contact forms, and service bookings;
- Phone calls and emails to our team;
- Workshop bookings and account applications.
By using our website or services, you consent to the collection and use of your personal information as described in this Policy.
Information We Collect
Information you give us
- Contact details: name, company, phone number, email address, postal address;
- Vehicle information: registration, make, model, VIN, mileage, service history;
- Account information: company registration number, VAT number, banking details (for account customers);
- Communication content: messages, quote requests, booking notes, complaints.
Information collected automatically
- Technical data: IP address, browser type, device information, time zone, operating system;
- Usage data: pages visited, links clicked, time on site, referring URL;
- Cookie data: see Cookies & Analytics below.
How We Use Information
We use your personal information for the following purposes:
- To respond to quote requests, bookings, and enquiries;
- To supply Goods and Services and fulfil our contractual obligations;
- To process payments, issue invoices, and manage accounts;
- To communicate about your order, service, or account;
- To send you marketing communications (only with your consent — you can unsubscribe at any time);
- To improve our website, services, and customer experience;
- To comply with legal, tax, and regulatory obligations;
- To detect and prevent fraud or unauthorised use of our systems.
Data Retention
We retain personal information only for as long as is necessary for the purposes set out in this Policy or to comply with legal, accounting, or reporting requirements.
Specifically:
- Quote and order records: minimum 5 years (tax/audit retention);
- Workshop service records: minimum 5 years;
- Marketing contact lists: until you unsubscribe;
- Website analytics: typically 26 months.
Data Security
We implement reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against unauthorised access, loss, or disclosure. These include:
- HTTPS encryption on all website traffic;
- Access controls and authentication on internal systems;
- Staff training on data handling and confidentiality;
- Regular review of our security practices.
While we take reasonable steps, no system is perfectly secure. If you become aware of a security incident, please contact our Information Officer immediately.
Your Rights (POPIA)
Under POPIA, you have the right to:
- Access the personal information we hold about you;
- Correct information that is inaccurate or out of date;
- Object to processing for direct marketing purposes;
- Request deletion of your information, subject to retention obligations;
- Withdraw consent at any time, where consent was the basis for processing;
- Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator (South Africa) at inforegulator.org.za.
To exercise any of these rights, contact our Information Officer (details below).
Children’s Privacy
Our website and services are intended for businesses and adults. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If you believe we have collected information from a minor, please contact us and we will delete it.
Changes to this Policy
We may update this Policy from time to time. The version published on this page at the time of your interaction with us is the version that applies. Material changes will be flagged on the site or notified to active customers by email.
Contact & Information Officer
For any privacy-related question, request, or complaint, please contact our Information Officer:
- Email: privacy@portauto.co.za
- Phone: 021 970 1390
- Post: Information Officer, PortAuto, Unit 3, Rio Park, Viro Cres, Stikland Industrial, 7530, South Africa
We aim to respond to all privacy enquiries within 30 days.