Privacy Policy

Who we are

Grote Auto Service Center, 1949 S Bell School Rd, Rockford, IL 61112 ("Grote Auto Service," "we," "us"). This policy covers this website and the ways we communicate with you. Questions or requests: call (779) 888-5000, email [email protected], or write to us at the address above.

What we collect

• Information you give us — when you request an appointment or contact us: name, phone number, email, vehicle details, and whatever you write in the message field. When you call or text, we receive your number and the content of the conversation.
• Service records — if you become a customer: vehicle identification, service history, inspection findings and photos, invoices, and payment records (card processing is handled by our payment processor; we do not store full card numbers).
• Technical & usage data — collected automatically through cookies and similar technologies: IP address, device and browser type, pages viewed, referring links, and general location (city/region). Server logs (IP, pages requested, timestamps) are kept briefly for security and troubleshooting.
• Advertising & analytics identifiers — cookie IDs and online identifiers set by the analytics and advertising services described below, used to measure our site and show relevant ads.
• Consent records — when you opt into texts or set cookie preferences, we keep a record of what you agreed to and when.

We do not knowingly collect biometric information of any kind (see the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act — nothing on this site uses it), and we don't ask for Social Security numbers or precise GPS location through this website.

How we use it

• Scheduling, performing, and documenting vehicle service;
• Responding to your requests and quotes, by phone, text, or email;
• Service reminders and follow-ups you'd reasonably expect (you can opt out any time);
• Marketing and promotions — only where you've consented (texts) or as allowed by law (email, with an unsubscribe link);
• Measuring and improving the site, and measuring our advertising, using analytics — only with your consent where required;
• Showing you relevant ads on other sites and platforms (retargeting) — only with your consent where required;
• Security, fraud prevention, and legal, safety, and record-keeping obligations (e.g., warranty documentation).

Calls, texts & marketing

When you provide your phone number, you agree we may contact you about your request, appointment, or vehicle — including by automatic telephone dialing system, prerecorded or artificial voice, and text message. Promotional texts are a separate, optional opt-in (the marketing checkbox on our form) and are never a condition of service. Message frequency varies; message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to cancel and HELP for help. We do not share your mobile opt-in or consent with third parties for their own marketing. Full details are in our SMS Terms.

Cookies & tracking technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies for essential site function, analytics, and advertising. You control the optional ones. Depending on your location, optional cookies either wait for your consent or run until you opt out — and we honor the Global Privacy Control (GPC) browser signal automatically. For the full list of cookies, the specific services we use, and how the location-based rules work, see our Cookie Policy, or open your cookie preferences now.

Advertising & retargeting

We use advertising services to measure our marketing and show you relevant ads after you leave our site (retargeting). These partners set cookies or receive online identifiers and may use them to build advertising profiles. The services we use include:

• Google — Google Analytics (GA4) and Google Ads, including remarketing and conversion tags;
• Meta — the Meta Pixel for advertising on Facebook and Instagram;
• Microsoft Advertising — the Microsoft (Bing) UET tag;
• and similar analytics or advertising partners we may add, which we'll reflect here and in the Cookie Policy.

These only load according to your choices. Because sharing identifiers with advertising partners for targeted advertising can be considered a "sale" or "share" of personal information under some state laws (even though no money changes hands and we never sell your information), we treat turning off advertising cookies as your opt-out of that sharing — see Do Not Sell or Share below.

What we share — and don't

We do not sell your personal information for money, and we never share your contact details, service records, or SMS consent with third parties for their own marketing. We share information only with:

• Service providers who help us operate — appointment scheduling, payment processing, hosting, texting/calling platforms, email delivery — under contracts that limit them to working on our behalf;
• Analytics & advertising partners (Google, Meta, Microsoft) as described above, which activate only with your consent and can be turned off;
• Professional advisors and authorities when required by law, to enforce our terms, to protect people's safety, or in connection with a business transfer.

Your choices & rights

• Turn analytics and advertising cookies on or off — per category — in the cookie preferences panel or the banner; the site works identically either way;
• Use a browser or extension that sends the Global Privacy Control — we detect it and treat it as an opt-out of advertising cookies automatically;
• Reply STOP to any text, or use the unsubscribe link in any marketing email;
• Ask us to access, correct, or delete the personal information we hold (subject to records we must keep for warranty, tax, and legal reasons) — call or email and we'll handle it like humans;
• We won't discriminate against you for exercising any of these rights.

State privacy rights

Depending on where you live (including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Virginia, Texas, and other states with comprehensive privacy laws), you may have the right to: know and access the personal information we hold about you; correct it; delete it; obtain a portable copy; and opt out of targeted advertising and of any "sale" or "sharing" of your personal information. We do not sell personal information for money and do not use sensitive personal information to infer characteristics or for cross-context behavioral advertising.

California (CCPA/CPRA)

You have the rights above, including the right to limit certain uses and to be free from discrimination for exercising them. Our advertising cookies may constitute a "sale" or "share" as those terms are defined in California; you can opt out via Do Not Sell or Share or by sending the Global Privacy Control signal.

How to exercise your rights

Use your cookie preferences for advertising/analytics opt-outs, or contact us at [email protected] or (779) 888-5000 for access, correction, or deletion. We'll verify your request (usually by confirming details we already have) and respond within the timeframe your state's law requires. You may use an authorized agent, and if we deny a request you may ask us to reconsider by replying to our response.

Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

We do not sell your personal information for money. We do use advertising cookies that some state laws classify as a "sale" or "share" for targeted advertising. To opt out, turn off Advertising & personalization in your preferences, or send the Global Privacy Control signal from your browser and we'll apply it automatically.

Retention & security

Appointment requests that don't become jobs are kept briefly, then deleted. Customer service records are retained as long as needed for warranty, tax, and legal purposes. Consent records are kept as long as needed to document your choices. We use reasonable administrative and technical safeguards; if a breach affecting Illinois residents' personal information ever occurred, we would notify you as required by the Illinois Personal Information Protection Act.

Children

This site is for general audiences and not directed to children under 13; we don't knowingly collect their information, and we don't knowingly sell or share the information of anyone under 16.

Illinois notes

We are based in Illinois. We do not collect biometric identifiers or biometric information as defined by the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) — no fingerprint, face, or voiceprint scanning happens on this site. In the event of a data breach, we follow the notification requirements of the Illinois Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).

Changes & contact

If this policy changes materially, we'll update the date above and note it here. The current version always lives at this address. Reach us anytime at [email protected] · (779) 888-5000 · 1949 S Bell School Rd, Rockford, IL 61112.