Window Sticker Lookup By VIN
Verify a car's original equipment, factory installed options, and pricing

Why do new cars have a window sticker?

A car's window sticker, also known as a "Monroney window sticker" or "Monroney Label," has been produced for every new car since 1958. That was the year Mike Monroney, a senator from Oklahoma, sponsored and passed a bill called the Automobile Information Disclosure Act of 1958, which required every new vehicle to display standard information about the vehicle. Senator Monroney had seen enough evidence of questionable automaker and car dealer pricing practices to want standardized window sticker information that consumers could rely on for all automotive purchases.

What information was included on a car's original window sticker in 1958?

The information that was originally required on a car's window sticker included these items:

• The vehicle's make, model and trim
• Vehicle description, including exterior and interior colors
• Serial number, also known as the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)
• The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP)
• Basic drivetrain specs (typically engine size and transmission gear count)
• Standard equipment included in the base model
• Optional equipment and its pricing
• Transportation and dealer prep costs, often referred to as the "destination charge"
• The car's total price (standard features plus optional upgrades plus destination charge) as it was originally equipped
• Warranty information

What information do today's window stickers include?

The required information on a new car's window sticker has evolved over time, with city and highway fuel economy ratings from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) added in the 1970s and crash test ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) added in 2007.

Today's new car window stickers include the following:

• The information originally required in 1958
• EPA city and highway fuel economy ratings
• NHTSA crash test ratings
• Information on greenhouse gas emissions
• Estimated gallons of fuel needed to travel 100 miles
• Estimated annual and 5-year fuel (or electricity) costs
• A QR code that can be scanned with a smartphone to get updated information

Are window stickers available for used cars?

While an original window sticker is required for every new vehicle before it's sold, used cars, whether privately owned or sold through a car dealership, are not required to have one. This means used car shoppers have to either research all of the information on their own or buy a used car without confirmation of its drivetrain specifications, standard and optional equipment, fuel economy estimates and safety ratings.

But a Monroney sticker, or new car window sticker, can be reproduced for used cars by using the car's vehicle identification number (VIN). The VIN is unique to every car and it contains the information necessary to know what equipment a vehicle came with when new.

How does a window sticker help used car buyers and sellers?

During the used car buying process, a window sticker can verify what equipment a car had when it was new. If a car has been modified after it was sold new, the window sticker will make it easier to identify those changes. The window sticker can also help potential buyers understand what kind of fuel economy or electric range a used car will deliver, and how much it will cost to operate.

For car owners looking to sell their vehicle, having a window sticker can improve the confidence of potential buyers by letting them know exactly how the car was originally equipped. It can be a valuable piece of documentation combined with a vehicle history or CARFAX report and maintenance records.