1. Who We Are
German Auto Repair (“we,” “us,” “our”) is an independent automotive repair dealer located at 275 Orange Ave, Unit C, Goleta, CA 93117, reachable at (805) 967-1551. This policy applies to the website germanautorepairsb.com and to information you submit through it. It does not apply to information you give us in person or over the phone, which we handle under the same principles described here.
2. Information You Provide
If you submit an appointment request, we collect your name, email address, and phone number; your vehicle’s year, make, and model; the service you are requesting; your preferred date; and anything you choose to write in the notes field. We collect only what you type. Using the form is entirely optional — you are always welcome to call us instead. Please do not enter payment card numbers, driver’s license numbers, Social Security numbers, or other sensitive details into the notes field; we do not need them and do not want to receive them that way.
3. Information Collected Automatically
This site uses Google Analytics 4. It collects the pages you view, approximate location at the city or region level derived from your IP address, device and browser type, and the source that referred you. We also record when a visitor taps our phone number, requests driving directions, taps a booking button, or submits the appointment form, so we can tell which parts of the site are useful. This is done with cookies and similar technologies. We do not use it to identify you by name.
4. Do Not Track Signals
Some browsers offer a “Do Not Track” (DNT) setting. There is no industry-accepted standard for how websites must respond to it. We do not currently respond to Do Not Track signals. You can still limit collection using the cookie and opt-out options in Section 8.
5. How We Use Your Information
We use the information you submit to respond to your request, schedule and perform your service, contact you about your vehicle, and keep accurate repair records. We use analytics data to understand and improve the website. We do not use your information for automated decision-making or profiling.
6. How We Share Your Information
We do not sell your personal information, and we do not share it with third parties for their own direct marketing purposes. We share it only with service providers who help us operate, and only so they can perform that function:
- Cloudflare — hosts this website and delivers its pages
- Resend — delivers appointment requests to our shop inbox
- Google Analytics — website measurement
We may also disclose information where we are required to by law, subpoena, or valid legal process, or where necessary to establish or defend legal claims, protect our rights or property, or protect someone’s safety. If our business is ever sold or transferred, customer records may transfer as part of that transaction.
7. Text Messages and Email
If you give us your phone number, you agree that we may contact you about your appointment and your vehicle by phone call or text message, including automated messages, at that number. Consent to receive service-related texts is not a condition of purchasing any goods or services. Message and data rates may apply, and message frequency varies. You may opt out of texts at any time by replying STOP, or by telling us directly; you may reply HELP for assistance. Opting out of texts does not prevent us from reaching you by phone about a vehicle currently in our care. If we send any promotional email, every message will include a way to unsubscribe.
8. Cookies and Your Choices
The cookies on this site are used for the analytics described in Section 3. You can block or delete cookies at any time in your browser settings, and the site will continue to work. You can also install Google’s opt-out browser add-on to stop Google Analytics from collecting your activity.
9. How Long We Keep Information
As a licensed California automotive repair dealer, we are required to retain records relating to repair transactions — including estimates, invoices, work orders, and the emails or texts used to obtain your authorization — for a minimum of three years, and to make them available for inspection by the Bureau of Automotive Repair (Cal. Code Regs. tit. 16, § 3358). We keep customer and vehicle service history beyond that period where it is useful for warranty coverage and future diagnosis. Appointment requests that do not become work orders are kept only as long as needed to respond. Analytics data is retained according to our Google Analytics retention setting.
10. Your Privacy Rights
Based on our size, we do not currently meet the thresholds that make a business subject to the California Consumer Privacy Act. Regardless, as a matter of practice we will honor the following requests from any customer:
- Ask what personal information we hold about you
- Ask us to correct information that is wrong
- Ask us to delete information, except records we are legally required to keep under Section 9
- Ask us to stop contacting you for marketing
We will not treat you differently for making a request. To make one, call (805) 967-1551 or ask for the shop manager in person. We may need to verify your identity before acting, and we aim to respond within 45 days.
Separately, California Civil Code § 1798.83 (the “Shine the Light” law) allows California residents to request information about personal information shared with third parties for those parties’ direct marketing. We do not share personal information for that purpose.
11. Links to Other Sites
This site links to third-party websites and services, including Google Maps and our social media pages. We do not control those sites and are not responsible for their content or their privacy practices. Review their policies before providing information to them.
12. Children’s Privacy
This site is intended for adults arranging vehicle service. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us information, contact us and we will delete it.
13. Security
This site is served over an encrypted HTTPS connection, and appointment requests are transmitted over encrypted channels. We restrict access to customer records to staff who need them. No website or method of electronic transmission is completely secure, however, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. You submit information at your own risk.
14. Out-of-State and International Visitors
We serve customers on California’s Central Coast, and our systems are operated in the United States. If you access this site from outside the United States, understand that your information will be processed in the United States, where privacy laws may differ from those where you live. This site is not directed to residents of the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom.
15. Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy as our practices or the law change. Revisions are posted on this page with a new “last updated” date and take effect when posted. Material changes will be reflected in the effective date above. Continuing to use the site after a change means you accept the updated policy.
16. Governing Law
This policy is governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to its conflict-of-laws rules. Any dispute arising out of it is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Santa Barbara County, California.
17. Contact Us
Questions or privacy requests: call (805) 967-1551, or visit us at 275 Orange Ave, Unit C, Goleta, CA 93117, open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.