Big car window stickers are glued on every vehicle for sale at a dealership. Learn about what information is put on a vehicle window sticker, how to read one, and why you need to keep it even after the sale is over.
Window stickers date back to the 1950s when an Oklahoma senator, fed up with dealers charging arbitrary prices for new cars, sponsored a congressional act that somewhat standardized some basic information for consumers.
Many dealers refer to vehicle window stickers as Monroney labels after the senator, Mike Monroney. Read on.
What Information Do You Find on Car Window Stickers?
The layout of the Monroney sticker has changed dramatically over the years, though a few basics have remained in place.
Window stickers list some standard equipment,optional features fitted to the car, thedestination charge, federal safety information,and fuel economy or electric vehicle numbers mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Window stickers are a little like mattress labels. Consumers should be the ones who remove them from a vehicle. However, this rarely happens in practice. Most new car owners prefer a freshly detailed car to one with paper still clinging to the glass.
By law, dealers must hand over a car window sticker. So be sure to ask to see the one included with your car. Ensure the vehicle identification number (VIN), as well as the options listed, match the car you’re about to take home.
TIP: Don’t throw away your Monroney sticker. It’s a reference point so you know what you paid for the vehicle and having a list of the standard and optional equipment will be helpful when it comes time to trade in or sell your car. And it’ll be just as important for the vehicle’s next owner as it was for you.
Here’s a quick look at the information you’ll find on a car window sticker.
1. Model Information and Standard Equipment
More than half of dealer window sticker real estate is typically taken up by lists of standard equipment, as well as the make/model, the VIN number, and the interior and exterior colors.
Look closely at this information to make sure it matches up with the car you’re about to buy — if you’re looking at a red car and the window sticker says it’s blue, that’s cause for immediate concern.
2. Optional Equipment
Optional equipment lists how much the automaker suggests the dealer charges for the features installed on the vehicle. Suggest is an important term here as most new cars are discounted, while high-demand vehicles may command more than the MSRP, or manufacturer’s suggested retail price. More on that in a moment.
Review the listed optional equipment and confirm everything is present in your new car. You can’t miss big items like a moonroof, but smaller features, such as floor mats, may have disappeared. You’re paying for them, so make sure they’re there.
Some dealerships will also add additional accessories to vehicles. Dealers must affix a separate column to list features and add-ons that range from window tint to upgraded wheels and tires. Don’t feel compelled to buy a car with these features unless you want them and feel that the price being charged is fair. Most items can be removed, or you can take your business to another dealer.
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3. MSRP
The manufacturer’s suggested retail price, or MSRP, is the price the manufacturer suggests that the dealer asks for a car. It’s like the price tag on a pair of pants. MSRP is the dollar amount that the dealer should be asking for the car, according to the automaker. But that doesn’t mean you pay that price on the vehicle, given dealer incentives and other discounts you might request.
Although the MSRP is the suggested price, dealers can ask for more if a vehicle is in high demand or be willing to take less than this figure if the car has been sitting on the lot for a long time.
What is Sticker Price for a Car?
A car’s sticker price is the MSRP plus any preparation costs, dealer-installed options, or dealer-imposed fees. The difference between MSRP and sticker price is that MSRP is what the automaker thinks is a fair price, while sticker price is what the dealership would like you to pay for the vehicle. You can negotiate the car’s cost and potentially save hundreds or even thousands of dollars, whether the asking price is the MSRP or a higher sticker price in the window.
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4. Fuel Economy and Environment
The upper right corner shows you the EPA’s estimated fuel economy as well as other data such as how many gallons the car is expected to use per mile as well as annual fuel cost estimates and a greenhouse gas rating.
Hybrids and electric vehicles display separate data to provide estimates of charging costs, the vehicle’s miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe), estimated charging times, and more.
It’s important to note that any figure in the fuel economy and environment section is an estimate based on a barrage of EPA tests that may not be achievable for some drivers.
5. Warranty Information
All new car window stickers list warranty information. Manufacturers typically provide warranties for a set timeframe on new cars, including a bumper-to-bumper warranty, powertrain, and sometimes roadside assistance becomes part of a warranty.
Oftentimes, used cars too, come with warranties, even if limited.
6. Safety Ratings
Another major component of a modern window sticker is safety ratings. The federal government’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NTSHA, rates vehicles in frontal, side, and rollover categories. All safety ratings will be displayed on a window sticker.
Above those ratings is the vehicle’s “overall” rating, which is essentially an average of all three.
Use these figures to compare cars, but also note that more detailed information is available on the NHTSA’s website. Additionally, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety testing, is not noted on window stickers. Experts consider the insurance industry-funded tests more stringent than those employed by the federal government.
7. Manufacturing and Shipping Data
Window stickers also contain information showing where a car was assembled as well as where some of its major components were built.
Additionally, the window sticker shows the dealership where the car was delivered initially, which may not match the selling dealership since dealers will often trade new cars with one another if they don’t have the car in stock that a customer wants.
8. Parts Content Information
The last major item on car window stickers is a section entitled “Parts Content Information.”
This section informs potential buyers precisely how much of the car’s content comes from the United States and lists the country of origin for most parts if it isn’t the U.S.
Finally, it shows the car’s final point of assembly — helpful information for shoppers interested in buying an American-made car.
9. Addendums
The price for high-demand cars is sometimes marked up, a practice dealers generally call “market adjustment.” Additional charges became common when dealers faced stock shortages stemming from supply shortages following the pandemic.
This controversial practice needs to be noted in the addendum. Make sure you review any additional fees and charges in the list.
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Editor’s Note: This article has been updated since its initial publication.
