Legal
Privacy Policy
Last updated: 14 March 2024
This policy explains how Express Import collects, uses and protects your personal data when you use this website or enquire about importing a vehicle. We are committed to handling your information in accordance with the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
1. Who we are
Express Import (“we”, “us”, “our”) is the data controller responsible for your personal data. We are a vehicle import business based at 123 Bell Yard, London, United Kingdom.
If you have any questions about this policy or how we handle your data, contact us at sales@expressimport.co.uk.
2. Information we collect
We may collect and process the following categories of information:
- Contact details — your first and last name and email address.
- Enquiry details — the subject of your enquiry, the vehicle or specification you are interested in, and the content of any message you send us.
- Transaction information — where you proceed with an import, the details needed to fulfil the order, including delivery address, identification and registration documents required for customs clearance, type approval and vehicle registration.
- Correspondence — records of emails, calls and messages between us.
- Technical data — limited information provided by your browser when you visit the site, such as IP address, browser type and pages viewed, typically recorded in standard server logs.
We do not knowingly collect special category data, and we do not collect payment card details through this website.
3. How we collect your information
- Directly from you, when you complete an enquiry form or email us.
- Automatically, through your use of this website (see our Cookie Policy).
- From third parties where necessary to complete an import, such as shipping agents, customs brokers or approval and registration authorities.
4. Why we use your information and our lawful basis
| Purpose | Lawful basis |
|---|---|
| Responding to your enquiry and providing a quotation | Legitimate interests, and steps taken at your request prior to entering a contract |
| Sourcing, importing, clearing, approving and registering a vehicle for you | Performance of a contract |
| Aftersales support, warranty administration and servicing arrangements | Performance of a contract, and legitimate interests |
| Meeting customs, tax, approval and registration obligations | Compliance with a legal obligation |
| Keeping records, preventing fraud and protecting our business | Legitimate interests |
| Sending marketing information, where you have asked to receive it | Consent |
Where we rely on legitimate interests, we have considered whether those interests are overridden by your rights and freedoms. You may object to this processing at any time (see section 9).
5. Sharing your information
We may share your personal data with:
- Suppliers, manufacturers and export agents in the country of origin, to source and release your vehicle.
- Shipping lines, freight forwarders and customs brokers, to transport and clear your vehicle.
- Approval and registration authorities, including the DVLA and testing centres.
- Warranty providers, insurers and approved service partners.
- Professional advisers, such as accountants and solicitors.
- IT and hosting providers who support this website and our email.
- Law enforcement, regulators or other authorities, where we are legally required to do so.
We do not sell your personal data, and we do not share it with third parties for their own marketing purposes.
6. International transfers
Because we import vehicles from outside the UK, some of your information may be transferred to suppliers, agents and shipping partners located in countries outside the UK, including China. Where we transfer personal data internationally, we take steps to ensure an appropriate level of protection, such as relying on UK adequacy regulations or putting in place the International Data Transfer Agreement or Addendum approved for use in the UK.
7. How long we keep your information
- Enquiries that do not proceed — normally retained for up to 24 months, so we can pick up the conversation if you come back to us.
- Completed imports — retained for at least six years from the end of the transaction, to meet tax, customs, warranty and legal record-keeping requirements.
- Marketing preferences — retained until you withdraw consent, plus a record of that withdrawal.
8. Security
We use appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data, including encrypted connections to this website, access controls and limiting access to those who need it. No transmission over the internet can be guaranteed as completely secure, but we take the security of your data seriously and will notify you and the relevant authority where we are required to do so following a breach.
9. Your rights
Under UK data protection law you have the right to:
- Be informed about how your data is used.
- Request access to a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
- Request that inaccurate or incomplete data is corrected.
- Request erasure of your data, where there is no ongoing lawful reason for us to keep it.
- Request that we restrict processing in certain circumstances.
- Object to processing based on our legitimate interests, and to direct marketing at any time.
- Request the transfer of your data to you or another provider, where technically feasible.
- Withdraw consent at any time, where we rely on consent.
To exercise any of these rights, email sales@expressimport.co.uk. We will respond within one month. There is normally no fee, though we may charge a reasonable fee or refuse a request that is clearly unfounded or excessive.
10. Cookies
Information about the cookies and similar technologies used on this website is set out in our Cookie Policy.
11. Other websites
This website may link to third-party websites. This policy applies only to our website, and we are not responsible for the privacy practices of other operators.
12. Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with a revised “last updated” date. Please check back periodically.
13. Complaints
If you are unhappy with how we have handled your personal data, please contact us first at sales@expressimport.co.uk so we can try to put it right. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office, the UK supervisory authority for data protection, at ico.org.uk.