Privacy Policy

Last Updated: November 6, 2025

We take your privacy seriously

Introduction

Look, we get it - privacy policies can be a real drag to read through. But here at Luminar Voidgate, we're committed to being straight-up honest about what we do with your info. We're not just some faceless corporation; we're a local shop that cares about the folks who trust us with their vehicles.

This policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you visit our shop, use our website, or interact with us. We've tried to keep the legalese to a minimum and just tell it like it is.

Key Point: We only collect what we actually need to serve you better and keep your ride running smoothly. No sketchy stuff here.

Information We Collect

When you book a service or reach out to us, we'll ask for basics like:

  • Your name (gotta know who we're talking to!)
  • Phone number (so we can give you updates on your vehicle)
  • Email address (for confirmations and receipts)
  • Mailing address (mainly for invoicing purposes)

Nothing too invasive - just the standard stuff any repair shop needs to do their job right.

Since we're working on your car, truck, or EV, we need to keep track of:

  • Make, model, and year
  • VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)
  • License plate number
  • Mileage and service history
  • Diagnostic trouble codes and ECU data
  • Any modifications or aftermarket parts

This helps us provide accurate diagnostics and maintain proper service records. Plus, it means we remember what we worked on last time you came in.

When it's time to settle up, we process:

  • Credit or debit card information (processed securely through our payment processor)
  • Billing address
  • Transaction history

Important: We don't actually store your full credit card numbers on our systems. That's all handled by our PCI-compliant payment processor, so your financial info stays secure.

Like pretty much every website out there, we automatically collect some technical stuff:

  • IP address and browser type
  • Pages you visit on our site
  • How long you hang out on each page
  • Where you came from (referral source)
  • Device information

This helps us figure out what's working on our site and what needs improvement. Nobody's sitting there watching you browse - it's just aggregate data.

How We Use Your Information

Alright, so what do we actually DO with all this info? Here's the breakdown:

Service Delivery

Schedule appointments, perform diagnostics, keep service records, communicate about repairs, and send you reminders for maintenance.

Billing & Payment

Process transactions, send invoices, handle warranty claims, and maintain financial records as required by law.

Communication

Send you updates about your vehicle, respond to inquiries, notify you about recalls or safety issues, and occasionally share service specials (only if you've opted in).

Improvements

Analyze trends to improve our services, train our techs better, optimize our website, and understand what our customers actually need.

Promise: We'll never sell your personal info to third parties for their marketing purposes. That's just not how we roll.

When We Share Your Data

We're pretty protective of your info, but there are a few situations where we might need to share it:

Service Providers & Partners

Sometimes we work with other companies to get the job done - like parts suppliers, payment processors, or software vendors. They only get access to what they need to do their specific job, and they're contractually obligated to keep it confidential.

Legal Requirements

If we're legally required to hand over info (like a court order or subpoena), we've gotta comply. We'll notify you when possible unless we're prohibited from doing so.

Vehicle Manufacturers

For warranty work or recalls, we might need to share vehicle data with the manufacturer. This is standard practice in the auto repair industry.

Business Transfers

If we ever sell the business or merge with another company (not planning on it, but you never know), your information would be transferred as part of that transaction.

How We Protect Your Data

Security's not just about fancy tech - it's about having the right mindset and practices in place. Here's what we do:

Technical Safeguards

SSL encryption for our website, secure servers with firewalls, regular software updates, and encrypted backups of critical data.

Access Controls

Only employees who actually need access to customer data get it. Everyone's trained on privacy best practices and signs confidentiality agreements.

Physical Security

Our shop and office areas are secured. Paper records are locked up, and we shred documents when they're no longer needed.

Regular Audits

We periodically review our security practices and update them as needed. Technology changes fast, and we try to stay on top of it.

Real Talk: No security system is 100% perfect. We do our absolute best, but if there's ever a data breach, we'll notify you promptly and work to fix the problem ASAP.

Your Privacy Rights

Under Canadian privacy law (specifically PIPEDA), you've got some solid rights when it comes to your personal information:

Right to Access

You can ask to see what personal info we have on file about you. Just shoot us an email or give us a call, and we'll get that to you within 30 days.

Right to Correction

If something's wrong or outdated, let us know and we'll fix it. Accurate records are important to us too.

Right to Deletion

Want us to delete your data? We can do that, but keep in mind we're legally required to keep some records (like tax documents) for a certain period. We'll delete what we can and let you know what has to stick around.

Right to Opt-Out

Don't want marketing emails or texts? No problem - just click unsubscribe or tell us directly. You'll still get essential service-related communications though.

Right to Data Portability

Need your service records for another shop or insurance? We can provide that in a commonly used format.

How to Exercise Your Rights: Email us at service@luminarvoidgate.info or call (416) 555-0947. We'll verify your identity and process your request as quickly as possible.

Cookies & Tracking

Yeah, we use cookies - but not the edible kind (though we do keep some Tim Hortons in the break room). Here's the deal with website cookies:

Cookie Type What It Does Can You Opt Out?
Essential Cookies Make the website actually work - like keeping you logged in or remembering your appointment info as you navigate. No - needed for basic functionality
Analytics Cookies Help us understand how people use our site so we can make it better. We use tools like Google Analytics. Yes - adjust browser settings
Preference Cookies Remember your choices like language preferences or whether you dismissed certain notifications. Yes - but your preferences won't be saved

Managing Cookies: Most browsers let you control cookies through their settings. You can block or delete cookies, but some parts of our website might not work properly if you do.

Data Retention

We don't keep your information forever - that'd be creepy and unnecessary. Here's our general approach:

  • Service Records: Kept for 7 years (required for warranty and legal purposes)
  • Financial Records: Kept for 7 years (Canadian tax law requirement)
  • Marketing Lists: Updated regularly; inactive contacts removed after 2 years
  • Website Data: Analytics data kept in aggregate form; individual session data deleted after 26 months

Once the retention period's up and we don't have a legitimate reason to keep the info, we securely delete or anonymize it.

Third-Party Links

Our website might have links to other sites - like parts manufacturers, industry resources, or social media platforms. Just so you know, we're not responsible for their privacy practices. Once you click away from our site, their rules apply, not ours.

Always check out the privacy policy of any site you visit. Don't just assume everyone's as careful with your data as we try to be!

Children's Privacy

Our services aren't directed at kids under 16, and we don't knowingly collect information from them. If you're under 16, please get your parent or guardian to handle any interactions with us.

If we somehow find out we've collected info from a child under 16, we'll delete it as soon as we can. If you're a parent and think we might have your kid's info, reach out to us right away.

Changes to This Policy

We might update this privacy policy from time to time - especially if laws change or we add new services. When we make changes, we'll:

  • Update the "Last Updated" date at the top
  • Post the new version on our website
  • If it's a major change, we'll email you or post a notice on our site

It's a good idea to check back here occasionally. We're not gonna make significant changes without letting you know, though