B
80–89 · Above average

Transparency Verdict

Johnstons Subaru earns a B.

Early read: mostly fair.

Based on a small number of verified deals so far, fees and pricing look fair. Read the out-the-door carefully and we'll update as we gather more.

Developing confidence — based on 4 verified out-the-door quotes · Middletown, NY
Collected Oct 14, 2025Jun 30, 2026 · Updated Aug 14, 2026

Location

Middletown, NY

8 rated dealers within 30 miles · Open full map →

The full story

Why Johnstons Subaru earned this grade

Between October 2025 and June 2026, CarEdge negotiated or logged 4 verified deals with this dealership. We pulled the doc fee, the add-ons, and the gap between advertised and out-the-door price from each one. Then we graded them the way a friend in the business would: on the things that actually cost you money.

What they do well

1 thing

The price you see is the price you get

Their quoted selling price almost exactly matches the advertised listing price. No mystery markup, no surprise "market adjustment."

! Where to push back

2 things

Doc fee exceeds the state cap

Their typical doc fee of $215 is above NY's legal cap of $175. This is a red flag — every dealer in the state must stay at or below this number.

TipTell them you expect the doc fee at $175 or lower. It's not optional; it's the law.

Add-ons are baked into almost every deal

75% of quotes include add-ons the buyer couldn't remove, averaging $600. This is their business model — inflate the OTD, then hope you don't line-item it.

TipDemand an itemized quote before signing anything, and ask them to justify every "required" charge in writing.

4 verified OTD quotes from Johnstons Subaru

Real out-the-door worksheets, not reviews. Click “View Quote” on any row to see the price breakdown.

Recent Quotes

Verified out-the-door prices from real transactions

3 vehicle transactions4 individual quotes

2024 Subaru Forester

SportUsed
$32,239
$231doc feeNo mandatory add-ons$600optional
View Quote →

2018 Subaru Crosstrek

2.0i
$17,843
$210doc fee$600mandatory
View Quote →

2025 Subaru Forester

Sport2 quotes
$43,064
$210doc fee$600mandatory
View 2 Quotes →

Most Common Add-ons

Optional — ask to remove
service contractavg $600
1 quote
Mandatory
service contractavg $600
2 quotes
protection planavg $600
1 quote

At a Glance

Doc fee ($215) is at or below average
Minimal dealer markup above listing price

Tips for Johnstons Subaru

  • Minor add-ons (~$450) may appear. Ask what's included and if they can be removed.
  • Doc fee ($215) is at or below national average. One less thing to negotiate.
  • Dealer markup is about 1% below listing (excluding taxes). This dealer keeps fees very low.
  • Limited data (4 quotes). Score may change as we collect more information.
Live inventory

On the lot right now

Separate from the grade above — this is what's currently listed. Useful for spotting aging stock with room to negotiate.

Frequently Asked Questions

What fees does Johnstons Subaru charge?

Based on 4 verified out-the-door quotes collected by CarEdge, Johnstons Subaru charges a $215 documentation fee and averages $450 in dealer add-ons when present. Johnstons Subaru earns Transparency Grade B (87/100).

What is Johnstons Subaru's doc fee?

Johnstons Subaru charges a typical documentation fee of $215. The NY average is $216. This is based on 4 verified OTD quotes in our database.

Does Johnstons Subaru add mandatory add-ons?

Johnstons Subaru adds an average of $450 in dealer add-ons when present. Ask for an itemized breakdown and negotiate to remove non-essential items like paint protection, nitrogen tire fill, or VIN etching.

Is Johnstons Subaru a good dealer?

Johnstons Subaru has a transparency score of 87/100, earning a Grade B. This score is based on their doc fees, add-on behavior, dealer markup, and data quality from 4 verified OTD quotes. This is a well-above-average score, indicating transparent pricing practices.

Explore Subaru and New York dealer data

How we know this

Every number on this page came from a real deal.

Most dealer review sites scrape star ratings and count angry posts. We do the opposite. CarEdge shops for cars alongside thousands of real buyers every week — and when we negotiate on their behalf, we capture the full out-the-door breakdown the dealer sends back.

For Johnstons Subaru in Middletown, NY, that has meant 4 verified OTD quotes logged into our database. Each one is a PDF, an email, or a screenshot showing the actual doc fee, the actual add-ons, and the actual final price — not a salesperson's promise.

Fee Transparency

30%

Is the doc fee reasonable, or is it just profit? We compare it against the state average — and the legal cap, where one exists.

Add-on Behavior

30%

How often does the dealer stick you with mandatory add-ons like paint protection or theft deterrent — the kind you can't say no to? Add-ons the dealer discloses as optional don't count against them.

Price Accuracy

30%

Does the advertised listing price match what you'd actually sign for? We flag dealers whose out-the-door diverges from the listing.

Data Quality

10%

More data = more trustworthy grade. Dealers with lots of recent, complete quotes score higher for consistency.

The four numbers behind the grade

Weighted Score

The raw component scores — the math that led to B.

Fee Transparency (30%)
100
Add-on Behavior (30%)
55
Price Accuracy (30%)
100
Data Quality (10%)
100

Doc Fee Comparison

This dealer$215
NY avg$216
National avg$400

Pulled 4 quote records · Grades update as new data comes in · Dealers cannot pay to change their score.

CarEdge

Let CarEdge handle this dealer

Our AI Buying Agent contacts the dealer for you, pushes for a real out-the-door price, and brings offers back for you to approve. Prefer a person? A Concierge runs the whole deal end to end.

Let CarEdge negotiate

*Information provided for general informational purposes only. Scores are independently calculated and do not imply endorsement of or affiliation with any dealer. Verify all information independently before making a purchase decision. See our Terms of Service.