10 Essential Elements Of A New Car’s Window Sticker

On the left-hand side of every new-vehicle window sticker is a comprehensive list of the features included for that particular model and trim level. This details mechanical items including the engine’s size, configuration and number of cylinders, the transmission type and number of forward gears, the vehicle’s drive system (front- or rear-drive, four-wheel-drive, or all-wheel drive), and its tire/wheel sizes. You’ll also find a list of the vehicle’s standard audio hardware, climate control, seating, lighting, power accessories, and so on.

Following or adjacent to a vehicle’s standard features will be a list of its optional equipment and bundled option packages, with each item or group’s MSRP noted. With new vehicles offering fewer standalone options these days the only way to obtain many upgrades is to either choose an option package or upgrade to a higher trim level; either way you may be required to take items you may not otherwise want or need in the process.

Either listed with a vehicle’s standard features or presented in a separate box you’ll find information on the manufacturer’s warranty coverage, which is always expressed in years/thousands of miles (36/36,000, for example), and is typically broken down into comprehensive (full) coverage; powertrain coverage for major mechanical components; corrosion (rust) coverage; and, where included, complimentary maintenance and roadside assistance programs. You’ll want to check with the dealer for specific information about what’s covered.

Also on the window sticker you’ll also find the name and location of the dealership to which the vehicle was delivered, the final-assembly plant and, if it’s been imported, the point of entry into the U.S.

Automakers are also required to list the percentage of domestic and imported parts and labor that went into the car or truck on its Monroney sticker, and it surprises many buyers to learn how much of a "domestic" car’s content comes from other nations, and vice-versa with many import-brand models.

A large box on every new-car’s price sticker contains information regarding the vehicle’s fuel economy, as estimated by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Trucks having a gross vehicle weight ratio over 8,500 pounds, such as heavy-duty pickups, are exempt from this rule, however, and they’re not usually rated for fuel economy. In addition to ratings for city, highway, and combined city/highway fuel economy (the latter based upon a formula of 55% city, and 45% highway driving), this section of the sticker includes the projected annual fuel costs for the vehicle, and gives the range of how it compares in this regard to other vehicles in its class.

Passenger cars that receive a combined city/highway rating of 22.5 mpg or less are assessed a “gas-guzzler” tax of at least $1,000, which will also be noted on the window sticker (pickups, vans and SUVs remain exempt from gas-guzzler taxes, however).

Related to a vehicle’s fuel economy is its environmental impact rating, which is likewise assessed by the EPA. A car’s “smog rating” notes the relative amount of health-damaging and smog-forming airborne pollutants the vehicle is estimated to emit, while its “greenhouse gas rating” refers to the volume of CO2 and related emissions each vehicle is estimated to generate; scoring for both is based on a 10-point system, with higher numbers better.

A separate box on a new-car’s window sticker details the vehicle’s safety ratings for occupant protection in frontal and side-impact crashes and for rollover protection, as determined by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) crash tests. Vehicles are rated on a five-star basis, with more stars indicating better performance in this regard. However, be aware that frontal crash test results can only be accurately compared among same-size vehicles; this means a top-rated compact car will not necessarily offer the same level of occupant protection as a larger sedan or SUV in a given collision. Generally, only high-volume makes and models are tested, and the newest vehicles to hit the market may yet to get NHTSA’s once over, so there’s a good chance this information could remain blank.

Usually at the end of the standard and optional equipment lists you’ll find the vehicle’s MSRP for the vehicle and options, along with the manufacturer’s mandatory delivery charge, which is uniform whether you live two blocks or 2,000 miles from the factory. But be aware that a new vehicle’s price is almost always negotiable; most dealers will sell a vehicle for somewhere between MSRP and its invoice price (as noted in many online car pricing sites), which is usually a few percent higher than the dealer’s actual cost for the car or truck. The negotiated price of a particular model may be reduced further by any applicable manufacturer’s rebates and/or factory-to-dealer incentives passed on to the customer.

But beware of a second sticker you may find affixed to next to the Monroney sticker that details charges for high profit dealer-installed equipment like an upgraded audio system, luggage rack, brush guard, or mud flaps, and/or add-ons like extended service contracts, rust proofing, undercoating, paint sealant and upholstery treatments. And if a vehicle is brand new and in particular demand you might see an additional charge noted on a supplementary sticker called "ADM," which is a clever way of collecting "additional dealer markup."