Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

MyCarSelect.ie ("we", "our", "us") is committed to protecting your personal data and respecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information when you use our website located at www.mycarselect.ie ("the Website").

We are a data controller under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (EU) 2016/679 and the Data Protection Acts 1988–2018. By using our Website, you consent to the collection and use of your personal data as described in this policy.

2. Who We Are

MyCarSelect.ie is operated in Ireland. For any queries regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please contact us at:

3. What Personal Data We Collect

3.1 Information You Provide Directly

We may collect the following personal data when you use our Website or contact us:

• Full name
• Email address
• Phone number
• Postal address
• Enquiry details and messages submitted via contact forms
• Vehicle preferences and search criteria
• Any other information you choose to provide

3.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our Website, we may automatically collect:

• IP address and browser type
• Pages viewed and time spent on the Website
• Referring website addresses
• Device type and operating system
• Cookie data (see Section 8 below)

4. How We Use Your Personal Data

We use your personal data for the following purposes, relying on the legal bases indicated:

• To respond to enquiries and provide customer support (Legitimate Interest / Contract)
• To provide vehicle listings and matching services (Contract / Legitimate Interest)
• To send you updates, newsletters, or marketing communications where you have opted in (Consent)
• To improve our Website and services through analytics (Legitimate Interest)
• To comply with legal obligations under Irish and EU law (Legal Obligation)
• To prevent fraud and ensure Website security (Legitimate Interest / Legal Obligation)

5. Legal Basis for Processing

Under GDPR, we process your personal data under the following lawful bases:

• Consent: Where you have given clear consent for us to process your data for a specific purpose.
• Contract: Where processing is necessary to perform a contract with you or to take steps at your request before entering a contract.
• Legitimate Interests: Where processing is necessary for our legitimate interests or those of a third party, provided your interests or fundamental rights do not override those interests.
• Legal Obligation: Where processing is necessary to comply with a legal obligation.

6. How We Share Your Data

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data. We may share your data with:

• Trusted service providers who assist in operating the Website (e.g., hosting providers, analytics tools), bound by data processing agreements.
• Car dealers or sellers, where you have submitted an enquiry or expressed interest in a specific vehicle.
• Legal or regulatory authorities, where required to do so by law or court order.
• Professional advisors such as solicitors or accountants, where necessary.

All third parties are required to respect the security of your data and treat it in accordance with GDPR.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law. Typically:

• Enquiry and contact data: up to 2 years from last interaction.
• Transaction and contractual records: up to 7 years in line with Irish tax and accounting requirements.
• Website analytics data: up to 26 months.

After the retention period, data is securely deleted or anonymised.

8. Cookies

Our Website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience. Cookies are small text files stored on your device. We use:

• Essential cookies: required for the Website to function correctly.
• Analytics cookies: to understand how visitors use our Website (e.g., Google Analytics).
• Preference cookies: to remember your settings and preferences.
• Marketing cookies: used where you have consented to receive tailored advertising.

You can control and manage cookies through your browser settings. Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect Website functionality. For more detail, please refer to our Cookie Policy available on the Website.

9. Your Rights Under GDPR

As a data subject, you have the following rights:

• Right of Access: to request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Right to Rectification: to request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Right to Erasure ("Right to be Forgotten"): to request deletion of your data in certain circumstances.
• Right to Restriction of Processing: to request we limit how we use your data.
• Right to Data Portability: to receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
• Right to Object: to object to processing based on legitimate interests or for direct marketing.
• Rights related to Automated Decision-Making: to not be subject to solely automated decisions that significantly affect you.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at info@mycarselect.ie. We will respond within one month. There is no charge for exercising your rights unless requests are manifestly unfounded or excessive.

10. International Data Transfers

We aim to keep your data within the European Economic Area (EEA). Where data is transferred outside the EEA, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission.

11. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, loss, destruction, or alteration. These include encrypted connections (HTTPS), restricted access controls, and regular security reviews.

While we take all reasonable steps to protect your data, no transmission over the internet is entirely secure. You provide data at your own risk.

12. Children's Privacy

Our Website is not intended for individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected data from a child, we will delete it promptly.

13. Links to Third-Party Websites

Our Website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites and encourage you to review their privacy policies independently.

14. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

15. How to Complain

If you have concerns about how we handle your personal data and are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Data Protection Commission (DPC), the Irish supervisory authority for data protection: