Reading a New Car Window Sticker

“Window shopping” is the best way to find out a lot about a particular vehicle, both new and used.  A “Monroney,” an informational sticker named for the congressman who introduced the legislation that mandated its appearance on most vehicles for sale. It must be posted on a side window of all new and used cars sold in the U.S. This law currently does not apply to any light trucks, including passenger vans and also most sport-utility vehicles, although  most car companies and dealers voluntarily put price stickers on their trucks.  This is done regardless of whether the car was bought for cash or using vehicle finance.

The Monroney lists key information about the exact vehicle that is in front of you, whether it’s brand new or 10 years old. Window Stickers for New Cars-At a new car dealership, the Monroney states: •The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) for the vehicle and all of its factory-installed options,  •A destination charge for shipping from the final assembly point or port of importation to your local dealership, which is added to the MSRP to produce a total price,  •EPA fuel economy estimates,  •Parts content information and  •Additional information, such as lists of standard and optional equipment, is also generally listed.