Valvoline.com

Window Stickers Demystified

More than just a price tag, the Monroni is like a car's ingredients list

Every car shopper knows to look at the window sticker for a vehicle's price. But that's just the beginning of what the sticker can tell you. For the savvy shopper who knows what to look for, the window sticker contains a wealth of information that, at a glance, can give you a quick profile of the entire car.

Vehicle Description

Generally, the top of the sticker has basic information about the vehicle, including its model year, color, number of doors and/or passengers, engine and transmission, and the all-important Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The VIN should be the same as that displayed on top of the dash, at the base of the windshield.

Standard Equipment

This is a list of the features that come with the vehicle at no extra charge. Reading this carefully can give you information about the vehicle's drivetrain, suspension, steering, brakes, wheels, tires, safety equipment, and comfort and convenience features. Some of these items can be substituted for optional ones. Warranty information is also sometimes included in the standard equipment list.

Pricing

This is a breakdown of the vehicle's total price. Included are the following:

> Manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP): This is the base price without options or destination charge. The key word here is "suggested." As independent businesses, dealerships are free to sell cars either lower or higher than this price.

> Optional equipment: This is a good place to do a reality check. If a vehicle is loaded with options, its total price can swell dramatically. Ask yourself if you really need all the listed options, and if they're worth the additional price. Often a number of items will be packaged together as a single option group. Compared with buying the items separately, an option package usually offers you attractive savings. This is a value, however, only if you want all of the items in the group. If not, you could end up paying extra for the one or two features that you do want.

> Destination charge: This is the cost of shipping the vehicle to the dealership. The destination charge is the same for all models made by a manufacturer; in other words, a vehicle sold in one state will carry the same shipping charge as those sold in all other states.

> Total price: This figure is the combined price for all of the above. In addition to this, a buyer will also need to cover such expenses as registration, insurance, and taxes.

Dealer Markups

Occasionally, if a model is very popular—and particularly if it's in short supply—the dealer may add an extra charge onto the total price, called a market value adjustment (MVA). This lets him earn extra profit from the sale, and is usually printed on an additional sticker called an ADM (for additional dealer markup). Other items that can be included on an MVA are such dealer extras as paint treatments, interior dressings, and so on.

Fuel Economy

The gas mileage numbers printed on the window sticker are based on tests performed in compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These are estimated figures for city and highway driving, although they tend to be fairly conservative and can vary widely depending on the vehicle's condition and options, the driving conditions, and your own driving style. To get a more realistic perspective on what kind of fuel economy you may get, read the paragraph about "actual mileage." This section of the window sticker also provides an estimate of annual fuel costs, although, like the fuel economy figures, this can range by quite a bit depending on your personal circumstances. For comparative purposes, the sticker shows a range of mileage ratings for other cars within the vehicle's size class. Finally, in addition to fuel economy information, this part of the sticker also includes details about the vehicle's engine and transmission.

Parts Content and Assembly Point

For the last few years, many window stickers also include information about where the vehicle was built and a percentage breakdown of domestic and imported parts that are used in the vehicle. This includes such information as the location of the final assembly plant and the country of origin for engine and transmission parts. Parts that come from the U.S. and Canada are considered domestic, while parts from all other countries are considered import. This may or may not be important in your choice of cars, but the information clearly illustrates the global nature of today's automotive industry. It's not unusual, for instance, for "American" vehicles to be built outside of the country, and for "import" vehicles to be built in the U.S. In addition, virtually every car sold today includes parts from other countries.