Privacy Policy

Markt Online (Pty) Ltd ("we", "us", or "our") operates Automarkt.co.za alongside our sister platform Adzmarkt. We are fully committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring your personal information is handled in strict compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) of South Africa.

1. Information We Collect

To provide a secure and functional automotive marketplace, we must collect and process certain information when you use Automarkt:

• Account Information: When you register as an individual or a dealership, we collect your name, email address, physical address, and telephone number. Dealerships may also be required to provide business registration numbers and VAT numbers for invoicing purposes.
• Listing Data: Information you upload regarding vehicles, including Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs), license plate numbers (if visible in photos), descriptions, and location data (Province and City).
• Communication Data: Records of messages sent between buyers and sellers through our internal platform routing, as well as support tickets raised with our administration team.
• Technical Data: IP addresses, browser types, device information, and usage analytics (via tools like Google Analytics and Facebook Pixel) to help us optimize platform performance.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the data we collect exclusively for the following operational purposes:

• Service Delivery: To create your account, display your vehicle listings, and facilitate direct connections between buyers and sellers.
• Automated Administration: To generate automated PDF tax invoices for dealership subscriptions or premium ad placements.
• Security & Trust: To verify dealership credentials, monitor for fraudulent vehicle listings (e.g., stolen vehicles or mileage tampering), and enforce our Terms and Conditions.
• Communication: To send transactional emails (e.g., account verification, lead notifications, password resets) and important platform updates.

3. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell your personal data to third parties. We only share information under the following necessary circumstances:

• With Other Users: When you list a vehicle, your chosen contact details (e.g., phone number or email routing) and location are made public to allow buyers to contact you.
• Service Providers: We share necessary data with trusted third-party providers who perform services on our behalf. Most notably, payment information is processed securely by PayFast. Markt Online (Pty) Ltd does not store your credit card or bank account details on our servers.
• Legal Obligations: We will disclose information if required to do so by South African law, a subpoena, or if requested by the South African Police Service (SAPS) to investigate allegations of fraud or stolen vehicles.

4. Data Security

We implement robust, industry-standard technical and organizational security measures to protect your data. This includes secure database architectures, SSL encryption for data transmission, and restricted administrative access portals. However, no internet transmission is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

5. Your Rights Under POPIA

In accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act, you have the right to:

• Access: Request a record of the personal information we hold about you.
• Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information via your user dashboard.
• Deletion ("Right to be Forgotten"): Request the permanent deletion of your account and associated personal data, provided there are no outstanding billing obligations or legal requirements for us to retain it.
• Objection: Object to the processing of your personal information for direct marketing purposes.

6. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Automarkt uses cookies to maintain user sessions (keeping you logged in), remember your search filters (Makes, Models, Provinces), and gather anonymized analytics. You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings, though disabling core cookies may prevent you from logging in or posting ads.

7. Cross-Platform Data (The Markt Online Network)

Please note that if you hold accounts across multiple platforms owned by Markt Online (Pty) Ltd (such as Automarkt and Adzmarkt), your underlying user profile data may be securely centralized to provide a seamless login and management experience across our digital ecosystem.

8. Changes to this Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in legal requirements or platform functionality. We will notify users of significant changes via email or a prominent notice on the website.