Free Window Sticker Search
Click to view Sample
What Is a Window Sticker and What Information Is On It?
Let's take a look at the origin of window stickers, what information they contain, and how that information can help you before finalizing a vehicle purchase.What Is A Window Sticker On a Car?
Car window or Monroney stickers are labels that are fixed to vehicles for sale. A car dealership places these stickers on the windows, and they contain various details, including specifications, pricing, and optional features. Also referred to as "Monroney stickers", they are named for the U.S. senator who helped craft the law that created them.
These labels were first made in the 1950s as a way to combat arbitrary price changes among car dealers. Oklahoma Senator Mike Monroney sponsored the legislation known as the Automobile Information Disclosure Act of 1958, which set out the requirements for what information these stickers would display.
In the most recent update to the Act, legislators mandated in 2013 that all cars made after that year would need Monroney labels specifying whether the vehicle had alternative fuel options. Any electronic vehicles, plug-in hybrids, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, flexible-fuel vehicles, and natural gas vehicles would require this updated label.
What Information Can You Find From A Car Window Sticker?
Car window stickers show several essential pieces of information, including:
Optional additions can also include more traditional equipment, like new tires, window tint, or upgraded rims. Accessories like these will likely be placed in a separate column on the Monroney label so you can confirm them item by item. Check this column carefully and make sure that the car only comes with the equipment you require; dealers will often add extraneous items to raise the price artificially.
Part of the window sticker will be taken up by a section detailing safety ratings. Created by the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA), these ratings cover the safety capabilities of the vehicle in three impact categories: frontal, side, and rollover. Each category will have its own individual rating, and the overall average of the three will be displayed in another section.
Check to see that the car has the proper safety rating for your needs. Those with families likely want a car with better safety ratings so that they can be protected in case of an accident. Ensuring the sticker matches the vehicle and that the safety ratings are accurate is vital to guaranteeing your safety and that of your loved ones.
The destination charge is the buyer's part of the cost incurred by delivering a vehicle to a dealership. Transporting the car from its manufacturer or assembly plant costs money, and you will share that equally with the dealer. This will be listed separately on the Monroney label from the manufacturer's suggested retail price.
The manufacturer's suggested retail price, or MSRP, is the cost assigned by the manufacturer to the car. The MSRP is what manufacturers recommend dealers sell the vehicle for, but some dealers will charge more or less depending on incentives, discounts, equipment, and other factors. For example, if the car model in question is in high demand, dealers will charge extra to balance the supply and demand.
In the upper right corner of the window sticker, you should see the environmental protection agency's estimation for the vehicle's fuel economy. The fuel economy is a value referring to the number of miles a car can travel on a given amount of fuel. This number is usually represented by miles per gallon, or MPG, in gas-powered vehicles and miles per gallon gas equivalent, or MPGe, for electric cars.
This section will also show the greenhouse gas rating and annual fuel cost estimates. If the car is an electric vehicle, there will be information about charging costs, estimated charge times, and anything else related to EVs.
Every Monroney sticker should have the car warranty information clearly listed. A car warranty is a vehicle service contract where the manufacturer agrees to fix broken or defective parts caused by the factory. Depending on the defect, you should be able to get these parts repaired or replaced for free.
This section will show the location where the vehicle was manufactured and where its central components were shipped from. This part of the Monroney label will also feature location data about different places the car has been delivered to. You'll want to check this section for abnormalities, but you don't need to worry too much. If the delivery info and dealership don't match, that isn't necessarily a red flag; dealerships often trade new cars amongst themselves to match customer demand.
This section is designed to let you know how many of the car parts were manufactured in the United States. If the parts were made outside the U.S., this area of the Monroney sticker would show the countries from which those parts originated. It will also show the vehicle's final assembly point. The addendum section is for any markups, also known as a dealer market adjustment.
A dealer market adjustment is an addendum that some dealerships add to increase the price of a car based on demand. This label section will also show any other additional charges, which can be added for various reasons. The reason additional charges were added must be listed by law, so check this area if you think you are being charged unnecessarily. All the relevant information contained on a window sticker can be derived from the VIN using a VIN decoder tool.
Run a Free Search Now!
What is a VIN?
A VIN, or vehicle identification number, is a 17-character combination of numbers and letters that serves as your vehicle's serial number. The VIN provides information on the vehicle model, optional features, and original equipment-similar to what you'd find on a window sticker.
No two vehicles in the same circulation may have the same VIN in a multi-decade era. Much like a window sticker, a VIN will contain numerous important details about your vehicle, including:
The VIN number is typically found on the driver's side of the dashboard in the form of a small engraved metal plate. It may also be on the inside of the driver's door, near where the door latches closed. The issue comes when you haven't purchased the vehicle yet; some dealers may not allow you to get in the car to find the VIN, which may prevent you from using it to look up the window sticker information.
A VIN check can provide all the essential details about your potential purchase. Without these details, you may not be able to verify some aspects of the car's paperwork. This makes you vulnerable to scammers, and you could end up purchasing a damaged or stolen vehicle.
How to Get a Window Sticker From a VIN Number?
You may get a window sticker from a VIN Number in the following way:
Locate Your VIN: To get started, you must have your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) handy. The VIN serial is typically printed on the driver's side dashboard and is visible through the windshield. The VIN may also be printed on the driver's side door jamb or in your vehicle's registration and insurance documents.
Use the Manufacturer's Online Tool: Many vehicle manufacturers, such as Ford, Toyota, and Honda, provide online tools that car owners may use to pull their window sticker information from their databases.
Enter Your VIN and Retrieve the Sticker: Regardless of the car manufacturer, online tools for retrieving window sticker information function similarly. To use any of the tools:
- Visit the appropriate website of the car manufacturer
- Navigate to the VIN search or Window sticker search tool page of the car manufacturer's website
- Enter your VIN in the designated field.
- Review the details of your vehicle’s window sticker.
- Download or print the sticker for your records.
If the original sticker is unavailable via the official channel, it is possible to use GoodCar’s tool to create a Monroney-style sticker using the VIN. The system compiles relevant details, including specifications, optional features, and the rate to build a replica that resembles the factory label. That said, the window sticker is a recreated document made from available data. It is not an official label given by the carmaker. It may be an excellent feature reference, but it does not carry the same official designation as the original sticker obtained from the manufacturer. However, you should check with the automaker or an authorized dealership for verified documentation types.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
What Is A Window Sticker On a Car?
A car window sticker, also known as a Monroney label, is a sticker placed on the window of cars put up for sale. These labels contain data related to the vehicle, including information about the model, equipment, fuel economy, safety, warranty, manufacturing, and price.
-
Why Are Window Stickers Called "Monroney Labels"?
Car window stickers are sometimes referred to as "Monroney Labels" due to the man responsible for creating them, Oklahoma state senator Mike Monroney. Monroney sponsored the legislation known as the Information Disclosure Act of 1958, which required dealers to include these stickers and regulate which information the labels would contain.
-
Why Do Cars Have Window Stickers?
Vehicles sold in the United States are required to have window stickers by law. This is due to the Information Disclosure Act of 1958, which was passed to combat the rising frequency of fraud in the automobile sales industry. The stickers serve as a way to combat arbitrary price changes placed by car dealers, ensuring citizens could get a fair deal on their automobile.
-
How Do I Remove The Sticker From The Window?
While some car window stickers will come right off or be placed in a plastic protective coating, some tips to remove any adhesive sticker from your car window include: Try a window cleaner spray to loosen up the adhesive material, and use a sharp blade like a razor to slowly chip away at the sticker. Rubbing alcohol can also help melt the glue, as well as ice or WD-40. Be careful when scraping at the sticker, as this could damage your windshield.
-
Where Do You Find A Car Window Sticker?
A window sticker should be displayed prominently in a car's window. There is no regulation to where the sticker can be placed, so it may be in the driver's side or passenger side window. If you don't see the sticker displayed clearly, ask a staff member at the car dealership where you can find it.
-
How To Get the Original Window Sticker?
To get the original window sticker for a vehicle, one may use a vehicle identification number to retrieve it from the manufacturer. Automakers like Dodge, Jeep, RAM, and Toyota also offer online platforms to use the VIN to access the original window sticker for free. Ford owners can utilize VIN lookup measures to pull the sticker, though brands like Jeep and Ram typically provide these services via their official sites.
Not all vehicles are supported, though, as older models or particular brands might not have digital records if the original stickers cannot be accessed. If the manufacturer does not provide this service, one may contact a dealership that sells the same brand.
On the other hand, third-party services like GoodCar can provide or recreate the sticker for a fee, but they are not always the original documentation. It is advisable to verify the authenticity of the sticker because some services may reconstruct data instead of pulling it from the records.
-
Can the Factory Window Sticker Be Reproduced?
Factory window stickers may be reproduced, but these are not official unless generated directly from the manufacturer. A sticker that is reproduced may be a copy of the original if based on accurate vehicle data, pulled from the VIN through the car maker's database or GoodCar. These services may allow users to create a replica of the window sticker by inputting the VIN and setting information like standard attributes and pricing.
These are often made using archived vehicle specifications rather than the original file, which means they might not have the same authenticity as stickers obtained from the manufacturer. One should also note that reproduced stickers are only for informational purposes, so they cannot be accepted as official documents. Requesters who need verified original options can check the manufacturer or authorized dealerships.