Data Protection

General information

The following notes provide a simple overview of what happens to your personal data when you visit this website. Personal data is any data with which you can be personally identified. Detailed information on data protection can be found in our data protection declaration listed below this text.

Data collection on this website

Who is responsible for data collection on this website?

The data processing on this website is carried out by the website operator. You can find their contact details in the “Note on the responsible office” section of this data protection declaration.

How do we collect your data?

Your data is collected, on the one hand, by you providing it to us. This can be, for example, data that you enter in a contact form.
Other data is automatically collected by our IT systems when you visit the website. These are mainly technical data (e.g., internet browser, operating system, or time of page access). This data is collected automatically as soon as you enter this website.

What do we use your data for?

Some of the data is collected to ensure the error-free provision of the website. Other
data may be used to analyze your user behavior.

What rights do you have regarding your data?

You have the right to receive information about the origin, recipient, and purpose of your stored personal data free of charge at any time. You also have the right to request the correction or
deletion of this data. If you have given your consent to data processing, you can revoke this consent at any time for the future. You also have the right, under certain circumstances, to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data.

You also have a right of appeal to the competent supervisory authority.
For this purpose, as well as for further questions regarding data protection, you can contact us at any time.

Analysis tools and third-party tools

When you visit this website, your surfing behavior can be statistically evaluated. This is done primarily with so-called analysis programs.
Detailed information on these analysis programs can be found in the following data protection declaration.

2. Hosting

We host the content of our website with the following provider:
External hosting
This website is hosted externally. The personal data collected on this website
are stored on the servers of the host / hosts. These may include, in particular, IP addresses,
contact requests, meta and communication data, contract data, contact details, names, website access
and other data generated via a website.
External hosting is carried out for the purpose of fulfilling the contract with our potential and
existing customers (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b DSGVO) and in the interest of a secure, fast and efficient
provision of our online offer by a professional provider (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f DSGVO).
If a corresponding consent has been requested, the processing is carried out exclusively on
the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a DSGVO and § 25 para. 1 TTDSG, insofar as the consent includes the storage
of cookies or the access to information on the user’s terminal device (e.g., device fingerprinting) in
the sense of the TTDSG. The consent can be revoked at any time.
Our host(s) will only process your data to the extent necessary to fulfill their
performance obligations and will follow our instructions regarding this data.

We use the following host(s):
STRATO AG
Otto-Ostrowski-Straße 7
10249 Berlin
Contract data processing
We have concluded a contract for order processing (AVV) for the use of the above-mentioned service.
This is a contract required by data protection law, which ensures that this service processes the personal data of our website visitors only according to our instructions and in compliance with the DSGVO.

3. General notes and mandatory information

Data protection
The operators of these pages take the protection of your personal data very seriously. We treat your
personal data confidentially and in accordance with the statutory data protection regulations and this data protection declaration.

When you use this website, various personal data is collected.
Personal data is data with which you can be personally identified. This data protection declaration explains which data we collect and what we use it for. It also explains how and for what purpose this is done.

We would like to point out that data transmission over the Internet (e.g., communication by e-mail)
may have security gaps. A complete protection of data against access by third parties is not
possible.

Note on the responsible office
The responsible office for data processing on this website is:

Higher Cars GmbH
Welserstr. 10E
51149 Cologne
E-Mail: info@highercars.com
Responsible office is the natural or legal person who alone or together with others
decides on the purposes and means of processing personal data (e.g., names, e-mail addresses, etc.).

Revocation of your consent to data processing
Many data processing operations are only possible with your express consent. You can revoke consent you have already given at any time. An informal message by e-mail to us is sufficient for this purpose. The legality of the data processing carried out until the revocation remains unaffected by the revocation.

Right to object to data collection in special cases and direct marketing (Art. 21 DSGVO)
If data processing is carried out based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. e or f DSGVO, you have the right at any time to object to the processing of your personal data for reasons arising from your particular situation; this also applies to profiling based on these provisions. The respective legal basis on which processing is based can be found in this data protection declaration. If you object, we will no longer process your personal data unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing that outweigh your interests, rights and freedoms, or the processing serves to assert, exercise or defend legal claims (objection according to Art. 21 para. 1 DSGVO).

If your personal data are processed for direct marketing purposes, you have the right to object at any time to the processing of personal data concerning you for the purpose of such advertising; this also applies to profiling insofar as it is associated with such direct marketing. If you object, your personal data will then no longer be used for the purpose of direct marketing (objection according to Art. 21 para. 2 DSGVO).

Right of appeal to the competent supervisory authority
In the event of violations of the DSGVO, the data subjects have a right of appeal to a supervisory authority, in particular in the member state of their habitual residence, their place of work or the place of the alleged violation. The right of appeal is without prejudice to other administrative or judicial remedies.

Right to data portability
You have the right to have data that we process automatically on the basis of your consent or in fulfillment of a contract handed over to you or to a third party in a common, machine-readable format. If you request the direct transfer of the data to another responsible party, this will only be done to the extent technically feasible.

SSL or TLS encryption
This site uses SSL or TLS encryption for security reasons and to protect the transmission of confidential content, such as orders or requests that you send to us as the site operator. You can recognize an encrypted connection by the fact that the address line of the browser changes from “http://” to “https://” and by the lock symbol in your browser line.

If SSL or TLS encryption is activated, the data you transmit to us cannot be read by third parties.

Information, deletion and correction
Within the framework of the applicable legal provisions, you have the right to obtain information free of charge at any time about your stored personal data, its origin and recipients and the purpose of the data processing and, if applicable, a right to correct or delete this data. For this purpose, as well as for further questions regarding personal data, you can contact us at any time at the address given in the imprint.

Right to restrict processing
You have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data. You can contact us at any time at the address given in the imprint. The right to restrict processing exists in the following cases:

If you dispute the accuracy of your personal data stored by us, we usually need time to verify this. For the duration of the review, you have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data.

If the processing of your personal data happened/is happening unlawfully, you can request the restriction of data processing instead of deletion.

If we no longer need your personal data, but you need it to exercise, defend or assert legal claims, you have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data instead of deletion.

If you have lodged an objection under Art. 21 para. 1 DSGVO, a balance must be struck between your interests and ours. As long as it is not yet clear whose interests outweigh the interests of the parties involved, you have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data.

If you have restricted the processing of your personal data, this data – apart from its storage – may only be processed with your consent or for the assertion, exercise or defense of legal claims or for the protection of the rights of another natural or legal person or for reasons of important public interest of the European Union or a member state.

4. Data collection on this website

Cookies
Our website uses cookies. Cookies are small text files that are stored on your terminal device and saved by your browser. They are used to make our website more user-friendly, effective and secure. Cookies do not contain any viruses or malware.

Most of the cookies we use are so-called “session cookies.” They are automatically deleted at the end of your visit. Other cookies remain stored on your terminal device until you delete them. These cookies enable us to recognize your browser the next time you visit our website.

You can configure your browser to inform you about the use of cookies so that you can decide on a case-by-case basis whether to accept or reject a cookie. Alternatively, your browser can be configured to automatically accept cookies under certain conditions or to always reject them, or to automatically delete cookies when closing your browser. Disabling cookies may limit the functionality of this website.

Cookies that are required to carry out the electronic communication process or to provide certain functions that you have requested (e.g., shopping cart function) are stored on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f DSGVO. The website operator has a legitimate interest in storing cookies for the technically error-free and optimized provision of its services. If other cookies (e.g., cookies for analyzing your browsing behavior) are stored, they will be treated separately in this data protection declaration.

Contact form
If you send us inquiries via the contact form, your details from the inquiry form, including the contact details you provided there, will be stored by us for the purpose of processing the inquiry and in case of follow-up questions. We will not pass on this data without your consent.

The processing of the data entered in the contact form is therefore carried out exclusively based on your consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a DSGVO). You can revoke this consent at any time. An informal message by e-mail to us is sufficient for this purpose. The legality of the data processing operations carried out until the revocation remains unaffected by the revocation.

The data you enter in the contact form will remain with us until you request us to delete it, revoke your consent to its storage, or the purpose for which it was stored no longer applies (e.g., after your inquiry has been processed). Mandatory legal provisions – in particular retention periods – remain unaffected.

5. Analysis tools and advertising

Google Analytics
This website uses functions of the web analytics service Google Analytics. The provider is Google Ireland Limited (“Google”), Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.

Google Analytics uses so-called “cookies.” These are text files that are stored on your computer and enable an analysis of your use of the website. The information generated by the cookie about your use of this website is usually transmitted to a Google server in the USA and stored there.

The storage of Google Analytics cookies is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f DSGVO. The website operator has a legitimate interest in analyzing user behavior in order to optimize both its website and its advertising.

IP anonymization
We have activated the IP anonymization function on this website. This means that your IP address will be truncated by Google within member states of the European Union or in other states that are parties to the Agreement on the European Economic Area before it is transmitted to the USA. Only in exceptional cases will the full IP address be transferred to a Google server in the USA and truncated there. On behalf of the operator of this website, Google will use this information to evaluate your use of the website, to compile reports on website activity, and to provide other services related to website activity and internet usage to the website operator. The IP address transmitted by your browser as part of Google Analytics is not combined with other data from Google.

Browser plugin
You can prevent the storage of cookies by setting your browser software accordingly; however, please note that if you do this, you may not be able to use all the features of this website to their full extent. You can also prevent Google from collecting the data generated by the cookie and relating to your use of the website (including your IP address) and from processing this data by Google by downloading and installing the browser plugin available under the following link: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=en.

Objection to data collection
You can prevent Google Analytics from collecting your data by clicking on the following link. An opt-out cookie will be set to prevent your information from being collected on future visits to this site: Disable Google Analytics.

For more information on how Google Analytics handles user data, please see Google’s privacy policy: https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/6004245?hl=en.

Order processing
We have concluded an order processing agreement with Google and fully implement the strict requirements of the German data protection authorities when using Google Analytics.

Demographic characteristics in Google Analytics
This website uses the “demographic characteristics” function of Google Analytics. This allows reports to be generated that contain information about the age, gender, and interests of the site visitors. This data comes from interest-related advertising by Google as well as from visitor data from third-party providers. This data cannot be assigned to a specific person. You can deactivate this function at any time via the ad settings in your Google account or generally prohibit Google Analytics from collecting your data as described under “Objection to data collection.”

Google Analytics Remarketing
Our websites use the functions of Google Analytics Remarketing in combination with the functions of Google AdWords and Google DoubleClick, which work on all devices. The provider is Google Ireland Limited (“Google”), Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.

This function enables the advertising target groups created with Google Analytics Remarketing to be linked with the functions of Google AdWords and Google DoubleClick, which work on all devices. In this way, interest-based, personalized advertising messages that have been adapted to you depending on your previous usage and surfing behavior on one device (e.g., cell phone) can also be displayed on another of your devices (e.g., tablet or PC).

If you have given your consent, Google will link your web and app browsing history to your Google Account for this purpose. In this way, the same personalized advertising messages can be displayed on every device on which you sign in with your Google Account.

To support this function, Google Analytics collects Google-authenticated user IDs that are temporarily linked to our Google Analytics data to define and create target groups for cross-device advertising.

You can permanently opt out of cross-device remarketing/targeting by disabling personalized advertising in your Google Account; follow this link: https://www.google.com/settings/ads/onweb/.

The aggregation of the collected data in your Google Account is based solely on your consent, which you can give to Google or revoke (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a DSGVO). In the case of data collection processes that are not merged into your Google Account (e.g., because you do not have a Google Account or have objected to the merging), the collection of data is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f DSGVO. The legitimate interest arises from the fact that the website operator has an interest in the anonymous analysis of website visitors for advertising purposes.

For more information and the privacy policy, please refer to Google’s privacy policy at: https://www.google.com/policies/technologies/ads/.

Google AdWords and Google Conversion Tracking
This website uses Google AdWords. AdWords is an online advertising program of Google Ireland Limited (“Google”), Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.

As part of Google AdWords, we use so-called conversion tracking. When you click on an ad served by Google, a conversion tracking cookie is set. Cookies are small text files that the internet browser places on the user’s computer. These cookies expire after 30 days and are not used to personally identify users. If the user visits certain pages of this website and the cookie has not yet expired, Google and we can recognize that the user clicked on the ad and was directed to that page.

Each Google AdWords customer receives a different cookie. The cookies cannot be tracked through the websites of AdWords customers. The information collected using the conversion cookie is used to generate conversion statistics for AdWords customers who have opted for conversion tracking. Customers see the total number of users who clicked on their ad and were redirected to a page with a conversion tracking tag. However, they will not receive any information that personally identifies users.

If you do not wish to participate in tracking, you can refuse the setting of a cookie required for this – for example, by changing your browser settings to generally disable the automatic setting of cookies or by setting your browser to block cookies from the domain “googleleadservices.com”.

Please note that you must not delete the opt-out cookies as long as you do not want measurement data to be recorded. If you have deleted all your cookies in the browser, you must set the respective opt-out cookie again.

6. Newsletter

Newsletter data
If you would like to receive the newsletter offered on the website, we require an e-mail address from you as well as information that allows us to verify that you are the owner of the e-mail address provided and that you agree to receive the newsletter. Further data will not be collected or will only be collected on a voluntary basis. We use these data exclusively for sending the requested information and do not pass them on to third parties.

The data entered in the newsletter registration form will be processed exclusively on the basis of your consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a DSGVO). You can revoke your consent to the storage of the data, the e-mail address, and their use for sending the newsletter at any time, for example via the “unsubscribe” link in the newsletter. The legality of the data processing operations already carried out remains unaffected by the revocation.

The data you have provided us with for the purpose of subscribing to the newsletter will be stored by us until you unsubscribe from the newsletter and will be deleted after you unsubscribe from the newsletter. Data stored by us for other purposes (e.g., e-mail addresses for the member area) remain unaffected by this.

7. Plugins and tools

YouTube
Our website uses plugins from YouTube, which is operated by Google. The operator of the pages is YouTube, LLC, 901 Cherry Ave., San Bruno, CA 94066, USA.

If you visit one of our pages equipped with a YouTube plugin, a connection to the YouTube servers is established. This tells the YouTube server which of our pages you have visited.

If you are logged into your YouTube account, you allow YouTube to assign your surfing behavior directly to your personal profile. You can prevent this by logging out of your YouTube account.

YouTube is used in the interest of an appealing presentation of our online offers. This represents a legitimate interest within the meaning of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f DSGVO.

Further information on the handling of user data can be found in YouTube’s privacy policy at: https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy.

Google Web Fonts
This page uses so-called web fonts provided by Google for the uniform display of fonts. When you call up a page, your browser loads the required web fonts into its browser cache in order to display texts and fonts correctly.

For this purpose, the browser you are using must connect to Google’s servers. This enables Google to know that our website has been accessed via your IP address. The use of Google Web Fonts is in the interest of a uniform and appealing presentation of our online offers. This represents a legitimate interest within the meaning of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f DSGVO.

If your browser does not support web fonts, a standard font from your computer will be used.

Further information about Google Web Fonts can be found at https://developers.google.com/fonts/faq and in Google’s privacy policy: https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/.

Google Maps
This site uses the map service Google Maps via an API. The provider is Google Ireland Limited (“Google”), Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.

To use the functions of Google Maps, it is necessary to store your IP address. This information is usually transferred to a Google server in the USA and stored there. The provider of this site has no influence on this data transmission.

The use of Google Maps is in the interest of an appealing presentation of our online offers and an easy location of the places we have indicated on the website. This represents a legitimate interest within the meaning of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f DSGVO.

You can find more information on the handling of user data in Google’s privacy policy: https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy/.