Privacy Policy

Effective Date: February 28, 2026 | Last Updated: February 28, 2026

The LK Auto Inc. ("we," "us," or "our") operates the website thelkautoinc.com and provides auto body repair and detailing services at our shop located in Scarborough, Ontario. We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information in accordance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and all applicable Canadian and Ontario privacy legislation.

This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, why we collect it, how we use and protect it, and your rights regarding your information.

1. Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of personal information when you interact with us, whether through our website, by phone, by email, or in person at our shop:

Information You Provide Directly

Contact information: name, phone number, email address, and mailing address
Vehicle information: make, model, year, colour, VIN, licence plate number, and photos of vehicle damage
Insurance information: policy number, insurance company name, adjuster contact details, and claim numbers
Payment information: credit card or debit card details processed at the time of payment (we do not store full card numbers)
Estimate request details: descriptions of damage and photos submitted through our online forms
Communications: messages, emails, and any other correspondence you send to us

Information Collected Automatically

Website usage data: pages visited, time spent on pages, referring websites, and click patterns
Device information: browser type, operating system, screen resolution, and device type
IP address and approximate geographic location
Cookies and similar technologies (see Section 7 below)

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

Providing, scheduling, and completing auto body repair and detailing services
Preparing and delivering repair estimates
Communicating with you about your vehicle, appointments, and service status
Processing insurance claims on your behalf, with your consent
Processing payments for services rendered
Responding to your inquiries and providing customer support
Sending service reminders or follow-up communications (with your consent where required)
Improving our website, services, and customer experience
Complying with legal and regulatory obligations
Protecting our legal rights and preventing fraud

3. Legal Basis for Processing

Under PIPEDA, we collect and process your personal information based on one or more of the following:

Consent: You provide consent when you submit information through our website forms, contact us, or authorize us to work with your insurance company.
Contractual necessity: We need certain information to perform the repair services you have requested.
Legal obligation: We may be required to retain certain records for tax, regulatory, or legal purposes.
Legitimate interest: We use limited information to improve our services and maintain business operations, provided this does not override your privacy rights.

4. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share your information only in the following limited circumstances:

Insurance companies: When you authorize us to process an insurance claim on your behalf, we share relevant vehicle and repair information with your insurer and any designated adjusters.
Parts suppliers: We may share vehicle details (make, model, year) with parts suppliers solely to source necessary repair components. We do not share your personal contact information with suppliers.
Service providers: We use third-party tools for website hosting, form processing (Jotform), and analytics. These providers access data only as necessary to perform their functions and are contractually obligated to protect your information.
Legal requirements: We may disclose your information if required by law, regulation, legal process, or enforceable governmental request.
Business transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of business assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to the same privacy protections described here.

5. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law. General guidelines include:

Customer and vehicle records: Retained for the duration of our business relationship, plus up to 7 years thereafter for warranty and legal purposes.
Insurance claim records: Retained for a minimum of 7 years, or longer if required by applicable regulations.
Financial and tax records: Retained for a minimum of 7 years as required by the Canada Revenue Agency.
Website analytics data: Retained in aggregate form. Individual-level data is deleted or anonymised within 26 months.
Estimate requests (no service performed): Retained for up to 12 months, then deleted.

When personal information is no longer required, we securely delete or anonymise it.

6. Data Security

We take reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, loss, misuse, or alteration. These measures include:

Secure, encrypted connections (HTTPS/SSL) on our website
Restricted access to personal information on a need-to-know basis
Secure payment processing through PCI-compliant third-party processors
Physical security measures at our shop to protect paper records

While we strive to protect your personal information, no method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to improve your browsing experience and to understand how visitors use our site. These may include:

Essential cookies: Required for the website to function properly (e.g., page navigation, form functionality).
Analytics cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with our website so we can improve it (e.g., Google Analytics).
Third-party cookies: Set by services we use, such as embedded maps (Google Maps) and form tools (Jotform).

You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings. Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our website.

8. Third-Party Links and Services

Our website may contain links to third-party websites or services (e.g., Google Maps, insurance company websites, review platforms). We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these external sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing them with any personal information.

9. Your Rights

Under PIPEDA and applicable Canadian privacy legislation, you have the right to:

Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
Correction: Request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete personal information.
Withdrawal of consent: Withdraw your consent for us to collect, use, or disclose your personal information, subject to legal or contractual restrictions. Withdrawing consent may affect our ability to provide you with certain services.
Complaint: File a complaint with us or with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided below.

10. Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed at individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected information from a minor, we will take steps to delete it promptly.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, services, or legal requirements. When we make changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Your continued use of our website or services after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal information, please contact us:

The LK Auto Inc.
773 Warden Avenue, Unit 7
Scarborough, ON M1L 4C2
Phone: (647) 607-7294
Email: info@thelkautoinc.com

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada at www.priv.gc.ca or by calling 1-800-282-1376.