Almer Monroney, who went by Mike, may be the best friend you have never met. He was, in fact, a politician. It was Monroney, a Senator from Oklahoma, who in 1958 authored the Automobile Information Disclosure Act. From this action, it became a law that certain vehicle information must be affixed to the window of all new cars. It was the beginning of what we now know as the “window sticker” on new vehicles. This sheet of paper can be very helpful in your final choice of vehicles. They are required by law for NEW vehicles, but did you know you may be able to get one for a used vehicle? I'll talk about used car vehicle stickers below as well.
New Vehicle Monroney Stickers
Most consumers who walk up to a new vehicle to look at the window sticker go straight to the bottom line price. When I attend auto shows, or walk into dealerships, I do the same thing. It is what we are all most interested in and curious about, but the truth is, there is a lot more information you should be looking at as well.
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✅ 1 . Mileage and Fuel Costs
For instance, a car’s window sticker will not only tell you the EPA fuel economy estimates, but you can learn the estimated annual fuel costs, and how the car you are looking at stacks up against the average of all cars regarding your annual cost of fuel. You get the city, highway, and combined mileage of the vehicle, except in the case of three-quarter ton and larger trucks which are exempt from the EPA rules. It will tell you how many gallons of gas it will take to travel 100 miles, and of course, it will tell you that your actual mileage may vary.
✅ 2. Crash Ratings
If the vehicle has been crash rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, those important ratings are on the window sticker too, with 5 Star being the top rating.
✅ 3. Parts and Assembly
For those people worried about where the car was built and how many of the parts are made in America, that information is on the window sticker. For example, on the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Final Edition I reviewed recently, the sticker told me that 64% of the parts used came from the U.S. and Canada, while 18% of them came from Mexico. I can also see the engine was made in Mexico, and the transmission in Germany. The entire vehicle was assembled in Toledo, OH. I also see it emits 633 grams of CO2 per mile and it rates a 2 on a scale of 10 for fuel economy and Greenhouse gases.
✅ 4. Warranty Info
On every window sticker there are details of the different coverage of the factory warranty, including the bumper-to-bumper warranty, the powertrain coverage, how long you have roadside assistance, and emission coverage.
✅ 5. Vehicle Safety Features
The Monroney will also list for you all the safety features that come as standard equipment. This is extremely helpful when comparing brands.
✅ 6. Standard and Optional Equipment
Other important things to note are the standard and optional equipment that is listed. You want to make sure that all the options are there that are listed on the window sticker, especially things that are easily removed. For instance, if the window sticker calls for 20” chrome wheels, you want to make sure the vehicle has those on there, or the window sticker price is invalid and you are not getting what you are paying for.
✅ 7. Rear Axle Ratios
You hear me talk about rear axle ratios on the CarPro Show all the time when talking to pickup buyers. The axle ratio will be on the window sticker, which is the time to ask questions about whether the rear axle ratio is better for towing or fuel economy. All the automakers that sell pickups and SUVs will have towing capacity or a towing guide on their website.
New: QR Codes
One new feature of window stickers is they have a QR Code on them you can read with your Smart phone, if you have a free app to read the codes. QR stands for quick response. Perhaps most helpful is that this code allows shoppers to instantaneously customize the information for their situation. QR apps are available for free and most are easy to operate.
As a savvy car shopper, you will want to spend time studying the Monroney sticker of any vehicle which you get really interested in. Often, you can find window stickers online at the auto manufacturer’s website, and many dealership websites have the actual window sticker available to you, either on their website or it can be emailed to you. Study the window sticker: it will give you all the info you need for a good buying decision.
Used Car Window Stickers
While having a window sticker is legally required for new cars, can buyers get a window sticker for a used car, and even if you have access to the original window sticker, does it offer any value in the used car market?
The answer to both questions is yes. Several sources, including iSeeCars.com, will let you buy a high-quality window sticker for a used car. All you need is the car’s vehicle identification number (VIN) to generate a digital copy of the car’s new vehicle window sticker. The window sticker will list the car’s original equipment, including drivetrain specifications, standard equipment, rear axle ratio if you are towing, optional equipment along with each option’s MSRP and safety ratings. It will also list exterior and interior colors, fuel economy ratings, and warranty information.
This information can verify how a used car was originally configured and help identify any changes to the vehicle after it left the new car dealership. As with a vehicle history report, a window sticker is another critical document in verifying a car’s identity and condition as consumers move through the used car buying process.
If you’re a used car buyer, look into your options for acquiring a window sticker. While they are not available for every used car, most vehicles sold in the past 15 years should have an available window sticker.
Window stickers can also benefit used car sellers because they quickly validate a car’s identity and original equipment. This is particularly helpful for cars that still retain their original equipment, as a window sticker confirms both what the car was sold with when new and that it likely hasn’t been modified after its initial sale.
