Privacy Policy for Flat Four Garage
Effective Date: October, 2026
Flat Four Garage ("we," "us," or "our") operates the website flatfourgarage.com (the "Site"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and being transparent about how we collect, use, and safeguard your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains our practices regarding data collection and your rights as a visitor to our Site.
Information We Collect
Personal Information You Provide
When you interact with Flat Four Garage, we may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us, including:
Name and email address when you subscribe to our newsletter or contact us
Vehicle information (make, model, year, VIN) when you request guidance or submit questions
Repair history, symptoms, or diagnostic trouble codes you share when seeking advice
Payment information if you purchase consultation services or digital products
Any other information you choose to provide in correspondence or forms
Automatically Collected Information
When you visit flatfourgarage.com, we automatically collect certain technical information through cookies and similar technologies:
IP address and general geographic location
Browser type, operating system, and device information
Pages visited, time spent on pages, and navigation patterns
Referring website or search terms that brought you to our Site
Date and time stamps of your visits
Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Flat Four Garage uses cookies—small text files stored on your device—to enhance your browsing experience and analyze Site usage. We use both session cookies (which expire when you close your browser) and persistent cookies (which remain until deleted or expired). You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings, though disabling cookies may limit certain Site functionality.
Analytics and Third-Party Tools
We use analytics services such as Google Analytics to understand how visitors use flatfourgarage.com. These services collect information about your interactions with our Site and may use cookies to track your activity across different websites. Analytics data helps us improve content, identify popular topics, and optimize the user experience for Subaru owners seeking practical guidance.
How We Use Your Information
Flat Four Garage uses the information we collect for the following purposes:
Providing Services: To respond to your questions about Subaru maintenance, repairs, recalls, and purchasing decisions
Communication: To send newsletters, updates, and educational content about Subaru ownership (only if you've subscribed)
Site Improvement: To analyze usage patterns, identify technical issues, and enhance content based on visitor interests
Personalization: To tailor recommendations and content to your specific Subaru model or concerns
Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws, respond to legal requests, or protect our rights and safety
Transaction Processing: To process payments and deliver purchased services or products
We base our data processing on legitimate interests in operating our business, providing requested services, and improving the experience for Subaru owners visiting our Site.
Third-Party Sharing and Disclosure
Flat Four Garage does not sell your personal information to third parties. We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:
Service Providers
We work with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating flatfourgarage.com, including:
Email marketing platforms (for newsletter delivery)
Payment processors (for secure transaction handling)
Web hosting and infrastructure providers
Analytics and performance monitoring services
These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the specific services they perform on our behalf.
Legal Requirements
We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or government regulation, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of Flat Four Garage, our users, or others.
Business Transfers
If Flat Four Garage is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you via email or prominent notice on our Site before your information becomes subject to a different privacy policy.
Data Retention
We retain your personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy or as required by law. Specifically:
Email addresses for newsletter subscribers are retained until you unsubscribe
Correspondence and consultation records are kept for up to three years for reference and quality assurance
Analytics data is typically retained for 26 months in accordance with Google Analytics default settings
Payment transaction records are retained as required by tax and accounting regulations
When information is no longer needed, we securely delete or anonymize it to prevent unauthorized access or use.
Your Privacy Rights
As a visitor to flatfourgarage.com, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:
Access and Portability
You have the right to request a copy of the personal information we hold about you. We will provide this information in a structured, commonly used format within 30 days of your request.
Correction and Update
If any personal information we have about you is inaccurate or incomplete, you may request that we correct or update it.
Deletion
You may request that we delete your personal information, subject to certain legal exceptions (such as records we must retain for tax or legal compliance purposes). We will honor deletion requests within 30 days unless a legal obligation requires retention.
Opt-Out and Unsubscribe
You can opt out of marketing communications at any time by clicking the "unsubscribe" link in any email from Flat Four Garage or by contacting us directly. You may also opt out of certain analytics tracking by using browser settings or tools like the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
Do Not Track Signals
Some browsers offer "Do Not Track" signals. Currently, flatfourgarage.com does not respond to Do Not Track signals, but you can control tracking through cookie settings and opt-out mechanisms described above.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided at the end of this Privacy Policy.
Children's Privacy
Flat Four Garage does not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13. Our Site and services are directed toward adult Subaru owners and automotive enthusiasts. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected information from a child under 13, we will promptly delete that information from our systems. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately.
International Data Transfers
Flat Four Garage is based in Bend, Oregon, United States. If you access flatfourgarage.com from outside the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States, where data protection laws may differ from those in your country of residence. By using our Site, you consent to the transfer of your information to the United States and our processing of that information as described in this Privacy Policy.
For visitors from the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom, or other jurisdictions with comprehensive data protection laws, we take steps to ensure adequate safeguards are in place for international transfers, including relying on standard contractual clauses or other approved transfer mechanisms where applicable.
Security Measures
We take the security of your personal information seriously and implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect it from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include:
Encryption of data in transit using SSL/TLS protocols (HTTPS)
Secure storage of personal information on protected servers
Access controls limiting who can view or process personal data
Regular security assessments and updates to our systems
Use of reputable third-party service providers with strong security practices
However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is completely secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any passwords or account credentials you use to access our services.
Links to Third-Party Websites
The Flat Four Garage website may contain links to third-party websites, resources, or services that are not operated by us. This Privacy Policy applies only to flatfourgarage.com. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of external sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or Site functionality. When we make material changes, we will notify you by:
Posting the updated Privacy Policy on this page with a new "Effective Date"
Sending an email notification to subscribers (for significant changes)
Displaying a prominent notice on flatfourgarage.com
We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information. Your continued use of our Site after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.
Contact Information
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact Flat Four Garage:
Email: [email protected]
Mailing Address:
Flat Four Garage
Bend, Oregon 97702
United States
We will respond to your inquiry within 30 days. For data subject access requests or deletion requests, please include sufficient information to verify your identity and specify the nature of your request.
Thank you for trusting Flat Four Garage with your information. We are committed to helping Subaru owners make informed decisions while respecting and protecting your privacy.