Privacy Policy

1. Who We Are & Contact Details

AuctionMyPlate.co.uk is an online marketplace that allows users to list and bid on personalised registration plates. We are not affiliated, authorised, endorsed or associated with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) or any UK government organisation.

For the purposes of the UK GDPR and EU GDPR, AuctionMyPlate.co.uk is the data controller for the personal data we collect about you via this website.

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how your data is handled, you can contact us at:

support@auctionmyplate.co.uk

2. Data We Collect

We may collect and process the following types of data:

• Account information: name, email address, password (encrypted), phone number, and postal address.
• Listing information: registration marks, plate type (vehicle or retention), reserve price, starting price, Buy Now price, expiry dates, description, and related auction details.
• Transaction-related information: winning bids, sale amounts, settlement breakdowns (commission, DVLA fee, etc.) and payout-related data. We do not store full card numbers or CVV codes on our own servers; these are processed securely by our payment provider, currently Stripe.
• Documents you upload: such as scans/photos of DVLA paperwork (e.g. V5C, V750, V778, retention certificates), and where necessary, identity or vehicle documents to help complete the transfer.
• Usage data: pages visited, links clicked, time on site, device type, browser type, approximate location (based on IP address) and basic analytics/cookie data.
• Communication data: messages and notifications we send to you (e.g. bid updates, sale notifications, document requests) and your replies.

3. How We Use Your Data

We use your personal data for the following purposes:

• To create and manage your account and login security.
• To list plates for sale, run auctions, process bids and handle Buy Now purchases.
• To communicate with you about your account, listings, bids, purchases, documents and support queries.
• To calculate fees, handle payments, and process payouts to sellers.
• To prevent fraud, protect the platform, investigate suspicious activity and enforce our Terms & Conditions.
• To analyse site usage so we can improve performance, layout and user experience.
• To comply with legal and regulatory obligations, including record keeping and responding to lawful requests from authorities.

4. Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal data under one or more of the following legal bases under UK / EU GDPR:

• Contract: to provide the services you register for (e.g. running auctions, managing your listings, and completing transactions).
• Legitimate interests: to keep the platform secure, prevent fraud, improve our services, and send certain service-related communications.
• Legal obligation: to comply with applicable laws, regulations or court orders (for example, accounting and tax rules).
• Consent: where required for non-essential cookies, analytics and marketing. You can manage these via our Cookie Policy.

5. Payments & Stripe

We use Stripe to process card payments securely. When you add a card or when we take payment for a winning bid or Buy Now purchase, your payment details are handled directly by Stripe and are not stored in full on AuctionMyPlate's servers.

We receive limited information from Stripe (for example, the last four digits of your card, card brand and expiry date, and the status of the payment) so we can identify your payment, prevent fraud and manage payouts.

Stripe acts as a data processor for us when it processes payments on our behalf. Stripe may process data in countries outside the UK/EEA. For details on how Stripe handles your data, please see Stripe's Privacy Policy.

6. Cookies & Similar Technologies

We use essential cookies and similar technologies to keep you logged in, remember your preferences and keep the site secure. We may also use optional analytics and advertising cookies (for example, to understand how the site is used and to measure marketing campaigns).

Where required, we rely on your consent for non-essential cookies. You can manage your cookie preferences through the cookie banner on the site and in your browser settings.

For full details of the cookies we use and how to control them, please see our Cookie Policy.

7. Who We Share Your Data With

We do not sell your personal data. We may share limited data with:

• Service providers / processors: for example, hosting and infrastructure providers (such as Vercel), database and backend services (such as Appwrite), email providers, and payment providers (such as Stripe).
• Professional advisers: such as accountants, lawyers or auditors where necessary.
• Law enforcement or authorities: where required by law or to help prevent fraud, crime or abuse of our platform.
• Other users: where necessary to complete a sale or resolve a dispute related to a listing or transaction (for example, sharing limited contact or transaction details between a buyer and seller where appropriate).

8. International Data Transfers

Some of our service providers (including hosting, email and payment processors such as Stripe) may process data in countries outside the UK and European Economic Area (EEA).

Where this happens, we aim to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place, such as standard contractual clauses or equivalent protections recognised under the UK GDPR/EU GDPR, so that your data remains protected.

9. How Long We Keep Your Data

We keep your data for as long as is reasonably necessary to:

• Maintain your account and transaction records.
• Resolve disputes, answer queries, and prevent fraud and abuse.
• Meet legal, accounting or reporting obligations (for example, where certain records must be retained for a number of years).

Where data is no longer required, we will delete it or anonymise it so that it can no longer be linked back to you.

10. How We Protect Your Data

We use reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, loss or misuse. This includes secure hosting, access controls and encrypting passwords.

No system is 100% secure, but we work to keep your information safe and review our safeguards regularly.

11. Your Rights

Under UK GDPR/EU GDPR, you may have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you.
• Request corrections to inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Request deletion of certain data, subject to legal and contractual limits.
• Object to or restrict certain types of processing in some circumstances.
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on your consent (e.g. non-essential cookies or marketing).

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at support@auctionmyplate.co.uk. We may need to verify your identity before responding.

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority. In the UK, this is the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Effective Date" at the top of the page. Your continued use of the site after any changes means you accept the updated policy.

This Privacy Policy is provided for general information and should not be taken as formal legal advice. If you need specific legal guidance on GDPR compliance, you should consult a qualified legal professional.