Last updated: 16 October 2026

Topgear Auto respects your privacy. This policy explains what personal information we collect when you use this website or contact us, why we collect it, who we share it with and the rights you have under the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (POPIA).

1. Who we are

This website is run by Topgear Auto. We are the “responsible party” for the personal information described in this policy.

• Topgear Auto Newcastle: 26A Hardwick Street, Newcastle, 2940. Phone 034 312 8205.
• Topgear Auto Edenvale: 142 Van Riebeeck Ave, Edenvale, Johannesburg, 1609. Phone 010 448 8420.
• Email: info@topgearauto.co.za

2. What we collect

Information you give us. When you fill in a form on this website, phone us, WhatsApp us or email us, we collect what you send, which can include:

• your name and surname, mobile number and email address;
• the branch you want to deal with;
• the vehicle you are interested in, whether you have a deposit or a trade-in, and anything else you tell us in your message;
• for service and parts requests: your vehicle’s make and model, registration number, mileage, VIN number and your preferred date.

We do not ask for your ID number, bank details or income on this website. If you go ahead with vehicle finance, the finance application is handled separately and you will be told at that point what is needed and who will receive it.

Information collected automatically. When you browse the site we collect technical information such as the pages you visit, how you arrived at the site (for example a Google search or an advert), the type of device and browser you use and your approximate location based on your IP address. This is collected with cookies and similar technologies (see section 6).

3. Why we use it

• to answer your enquiry and get back to you by phone, WhatsApp or email;
• to arrange test drives, quotes, service bookings and parts orders;
• to send your enquiry to the right branch and keep a record of it in our lead management system;
• to help you apply for vehicle finance, if you ask us to;
• to understand how the website is used, measure our advertising and improve the site;
• to meet our legal and regulatory obligations.

We process your information because you asked us to (to take steps you requested, such as answering an enquiry or preparing a quote), because we have a legitimate interest in running and improving our business, because the law requires it, or because you gave consent.

4. Marketing

We will only send you marketing messages (such as specials and new stock) if you have agreed to receive them, or if you are an existing customer and the messages are about vehicles or services similar to those you bought from us. Every marketing message will tell you how to unsubscribe. You can opt out at any time by using the unsubscribe option in the message or by emailing info@topgearauto.co.za.

5. Who we share it with

We do not sell your personal information. We share it only where needed for the purposes above, with:

• our staff at the branch handling your enquiry;
• service providers who host this website and run our email, lead management and communication systems for us;
• banks and finance houses, but only when you ask us to submit a finance application;
• vehicle manufacturers and their South African distributors, for warranty, service plan and recall purposes;
• analytics and advertising providers such as Google and Meta (Facebook and Instagram), as described in section 6;
• authorities, where the law requires it.

Everyone we share information with must keep it confidential and secure and may only use it for the purpose we gave it to them for.

6. Cookies, analytics and advertising

This website uses cookies and similar technologies, including Google Tag Manager, Google Analytics and the Meta pixel. These help us see which pages are visited, which adverts bring people to the site and whether someone sent an enquiry, so that we can measure and improve our marketing and show relevant adverts to people who visited the site.

You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings. You can also opt out of Google Analytics with Google’s browser add-on and manage the adverts you see on Facebook and Instagram in your Meta ad preferences. Blocking cookies does not stop the website from working.

7. Information sent outside South Africa

Some of our service providers, including Google and Meta, store information on servers outside South Africa. We only use providers that are bound by laws, binding rules or agreements that give your information a level of protection similar to POPIA.

8. How long we keep it

We keep enquiry records for as long as we need them to deal with your enquiry and any sale or service that follows, and for as long as the law requires us to keep records (for example tax and consumer protection laws). After that we delete the information or make it anonymous.

9. How we protect it

We use reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your information against loss, misuse and unauthorised access, including encrypted (HTTPS) connections on this website, password-protected systems and access limited to the staff who need it. If we believe your information has been accessed without permission, we will tell you and the Information Regulator as POPIA requires.

10. Your rights

Under POPIA you have the right to:

• ask whether we hold personal information about you and request a copy of it;
• ask us to correct or delete information that is wrong, out of date or that we are no longer allowed to keep;
• object to us using your information, including for direct marketing;
• withdraw consent you gave us at any time;
• lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator.

To use any of these rights, contact our Information Officer using the details in section 1. We may need to confirm your identity before we act on a request.

Information Regulator (South Africa): Woodmead North Office Park, 54 Maxwell Drive, Woodmead, Johannesburg, 2191. Email enquiries@inforegulator.org.za. Complaints can be lodged through the eService portal on inforegulator.org.za.

11. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The latest version will always be on this page, with the date it was last updated at the top.