Have you ever been to a North American car dealership? If you have, you may have noticed a detailed document stuck on all of the vehicle inventory.
These labels are a Monroney vehicle window stickers. There is a lot of data on this one label and it can get pretty confusing for the average consumer. This handy label full of information can be broken down into different sections to make it easier to understand.
For clarification, there is no difference between a Monroney label and a Window Sticker. They are the same.
What You Should Know About Monroney Stickers?
Monroney stickers include lots of information regarding the new vehicle that it’s attached to, such as MSRP price, fuel economy, standard equipment, and much more.
The Monroney sticker is named after Oklahoma U.S. Senator Mike Monroney. It was made after the Senator sponsored a bill which became a federal law passed in 1958, the Automobile Information Disclosure Act.
It was signed into law by then President Dwight Eisenhower. This law prohibits the Monroney label from being removed or altered before the sale of a consumer. It is designed for your protection and it also includes specific details about the vehicle that may or may not be relevant to you.
Before the days of Monroney Stickers, consumers had to trust the salesperson at the dealership to inform them about all the details of the vehicle and also the price. The Monroney sticker provides all the information and makes it accessible and mandatory for all new vehicles.
Overall, Mr. Monroney was a major pioneer for consumer safety. He also sponsored the bill that would eventually create the Federal Aviation Administration(FAA). What can you find out about the vehicle from the Window Sticker? Below you will find the following information:
- Standard equipment: Find out the safety features, technology, engine specs, and interior and exterior features.
- Optional equipment: You will find this on the left side of the window sticker, a comprehensive breakdown of each model’s standard features is listed and incorporated in the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) for drivers to consider. This list highlights everything from drivetrain and engine type, to essential and advanced security frameworks.
- Manufacturer’s suggested retail price(MSRP): This number is one of the most valuable and important pieces of information. You can locate it in its column close to the end of the standard equipment listing. Please note that the base price listed on that particular vehicle doesn’t include the taxes and registration fees. This number can assist you in negotiating.
- Warranty information: This section shows the specific warranty data for the vehicle, including powertrain and bumper-to-bumper warranties, emergency aides bundles, and some other manufacturer’s offers.
- Destination charge: This is a fee for delivering the car to the dealership, which is then transferred to the buyer. This is a charge from the manufacturer.
- Fuel economy and emissions estimates: This shows the estimated gas mileage of the car, as well as the Greenhouse Gas Rating. It is required for manufacturers to include these estimates, and the cost of fuel annually is often provided as well
- Government safety ratings: Ratings from the government on safety.
- Parts Content Information: The right bottom segment of the window sticker accurately reveals how much of the vehicle’s content comes from the United States. It will also present the country of origin for most of the parts if it is not the U.S. It will also state where the vehicle was assembled; this is specifically useful for customers searching for an American-made car.
It is not common to find the original Monroney Window Sticker on the dealership lot for pre-owned vehicles.
So how do you find and access this vital label? Let’s take a look below.
How To Get a Monroney Window Sticker?
A window sticker can be generated by finding and using the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). It is very easy to get a window sticker by using the VIN.
The initial step is to locate the VIN number also known as the serial number or chassis number in some positions on the car. You can find it on the vehicle dashboard as well as on a door jamb, on the DMV registration papers, on the title, and the insurance card.
Once located, enter the VIN number in our unique PremiumVIN Window sticker lookup tool to generate an original window sticker for your vehicle. It is that quick and easy.
To learn more about your vehicle’s past history that will not be shown on the window sticker, you can easily check the VIN of the vehicle using a VIN Decoder.
