A new vehicle's window sticker can tell you a lot more than just it's price.

By Jim Gorzelany

Think of it as a new car or truck's birth certificate. The "Monroney" window sticker, as it's known in the auto business, verifies a vehicle's make, model and year, and provides a wealth of additional information for its proud new owners.

It's named for Sen. Almer Monroney, who was the chief sponsor of the 1958 law that mandates such stickers to be affixed to every new car sold in the U.S. The sticker is a rich source of essential data about a new car or truck, and lets you know exactly what's included with any particular vehicle you're considering.

Along the top of each Monroney sticker, along with the year, make, model and its so-called "trim level," you'll find a listing of the vehicle's essential characteristics. This includes its color and vehicle identification number, along with the engine's size, configuration and number of cylinders (i.e. a 2.4-liter I-4 or a 3.0-liter V-6), the transmission type and number of forward gears and its drive system (whether it offers front or rear-wheel drive, a part- or full-time four-wheel-drive or all-wheel drive).

On the left-hand side of every new-vehicle window sticker, you'll find a comprehensive list of the standard features included by the manufacturer for that particular model and its particular trim level. Most models come in two or more different trim levels, with higher-priced versions having progressively more features, sometimes with upgraded engines and/or suspensions, larger wheels and tires and so on.

Among the myriad miscellaneous features included with the vehicle, this list will include information on its tire size and wheel type, braking system (whether it's a front disc/rear drum or a superior four-wheel-disc setup and whether it includes antilock brakes) and included safety features like airbags and stability control. Also detailed will be information on the model's standard audio hardware, climate control (dual-zone air conditioning, air-filtration system, and so on), seating (60/40 split-folding rear seat, power/heated front seats, cloth or leather upholstery), lighting (auto-on headlamps, theatre-dimming interior lights, and/or high-intensity headlamps) and power accessories (windows, locks, mirrors, moonroof, and such).

The standard equipment section also details the terms of the manufacturer's warranty coverage for that model, which is always expressed in years/thousands of miles (36 months/36,000 miles, for example). This typically includes: comprehensive coverage, which applies to parts and labor costs for most repairs; powertrain coverage, which applies to major mechanical components; corrosion coverage, which applies to body panels that are rusted through; and roadside assistance, which approximates an auto-club membership.

Along the right-hand side of the Monroney sticker you'll find the vehicle's MSRP (manufacturer's suggested retail price), along with a complete list of all the optional equipment and option packages included, with their individual MSRPs. Often, but not always, the aggregate cost of all items in an options package will be offered at a discounted price. If this is the case, the applicable discount will be noted on the sticker.

A large box at the left 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 and the largest SUVs like the Hummer H2, are exempt from this rule, however, and they're not usually rated for fuel economy.

In addition to ratings for city and highway fuel economy, 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. Use this information for comparison purposes only because, as car ads always say, "your mileage may vary" from these posted figures.

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).

You'll usually 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. The percentage of domestic and imported parts and labor that went into the car or truck will also be documented, and it amazes many buyers to learn how much of a "domestic" car's content comes from other nations, and vice-versa with many import-brand models.

It's a good idea to keep a copy of the Monroney sticker for your files-like a baby's birth certificate it provides a valuable historical record of your vehicle. It can, for example, confirm which engine, transmission and equipment configuration your car or truck came equipped with (which may come in handy down the road when repairs need to be made), and can also document for a future buyer the list of accessories that originally came with the vehicle.

 
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