Customer Vehicle Care and Risk Acknowledgement

« Back to BlogPosted: 13 Apr 2025 

Customer Acknowledgement – Vehicle Liability, Handling, and Risk Notice

While your vehicle is in our care, please note the following important terms and conditions:

1. General Liability
   We are not liable for any mechanical, electrical, or cosmetic issues that may arise while your vehicle is with us. Vehicles, especially those that are older or have been previously modified or repaired, can develop faults at any time. The occurrence of a fault while a vehicle is in our possession does not imply negligence on our part.
2. Normal Operation
   Starting, idling, and moving a vehicle is a normal and expected use of any vehicle. If a mechanical or electrical failure occurs during such normal operation, it is considered a result of either maintenance issues, age, prior repair history, or inherent faults — and not due to our actions.
   For example: if an engine misfire, a snapped crankshaft, or electrical faults occur while in our custody, it would be considered an unfortunate mechanical failure and not a direct result of negligence.
3. Vehicle Movement
   We will move your vehicle only within our own secure premises, typically a few metres at a time. In some cases, if necessary, we may drive the vehicle around our private car park to assist with battery maintenance.
4. Part Removal Risks
   When parts need to be removed, there is an inherent risk that clips, plastics, trims, or other components may break due to age, prior repairs, materials fatigue, or design weaknesses.
   We exercise extreme care and caution when removing and refitting parts, but we will not accept liability for any breakages that occur as a normal risk associated with disassembly and reassembly work.
5. Insurance Responsibilities
   Your vehicle remains your asset and must be insured under your own policy while in our care. In the event of loss due to theft or fire, our insurance will only respond if we are found to have been negligent. Otherwise, your own insurance is responsible for any losses or damages.
6. Belongings and CCTV
   We take reasonable steps to protect your vehicle and its contents. Your vehicle is generally within view of CCTV while inside our premises; however, obstructions by other vehicles or limitations in coverage are outside of our control.
   We recommend you remove all valuables from the vehicle prior to leaving it with us.
7. Acceptance of Terms
   By leaving your vehicle with us, you acknowledge and accept these terms, and understand that we act with the utmost care but cannot guarantee against mechanical, electrical, or cosmetic issues developing while your vehicle is in our possession.

Vehicle Security, CCTV Monitoring, and Privacy Policy

1. On-Site Security Measures
   Our premises are monitored by CCTV cameras both inside the workshop and externally across the shared strata car park.
   The strata complex maintains CCTV surveillance that captures footage of all vehicle movements from the main entrance through to our workshop.

In addition to CCTV, we have installed fixed bollards inside our workshop to physically prevent unauthorised vehicle removal.
Our premises are also monitored 24/7 by a licensed local security company.

2. Use of CCTV Footage
   We reserve the right to review and use CCTV footage for:

• Security monitoring,
• Investigating incidents involving vehicles or property,
• Evidence in insurance claims or legal matters if necessary.

Use and disclosure of CCTV footage will be conducted strictly in accordance with applicable Australian privacy laws.

3. Vehicle-Mounted Dash Cameras / CCTV Systems
   For the privacy and protection of our staff, customers, and other vehicles on site:

• All in-vehicle recording devices (dash cameras, CCTV recorders, or monitoring equipment) must be turned off or covered while your vehicle is in our care.
• By leaving your vehicle with us, you consent to us temporarily disabling, covering, or turning off any recording devices during the period of our custody.

This ensures that internal workshop operations, staff, and other customer vehicles are not improperly recorded without consent, maintaining a secure and private environment for all.

4. Customer Acknowledgement of Security Practices
   By leaving your vehicle with us, you acknowledge and accept our security measures and CCTV monitoring practices.

✍🏼 Quick Legal Explanation

• Surveillance Devices Act (WA): It is illegal to record private conversations or activities without consent, especially inside private property not open to the general public.
• Common law trespass principles: When entering or parking on someone’s private property (even by invitation for business), you are bound by their terms for access.
• Privacy Act (Cth) and state-based privacy laws: If footage captures personal information without consent, it can breach privacy obligations.