When you purchase a vehicle, it will have a VIN. That abbreviation stands for “Vehicle Identification Number.”
The VIN provides information about the make and model. It can show you the key features included during the manufacturing process, explain the window sticker, and other crucial factors.
If you use an online lookup tool for your VIN, it is possible to see the Monroney Label for a Ford vehicle. This technique lets you see the original window sticker so that you can have more information about it.
The window stickers provide key information about the model’s original history.
Using Your VIN Number to Get Ford Window Sticker
When you have the VIN information from your Ford vehicle, you can use third-party tools to look up the Monroney Label. This window sticker is on display on most cars when offered for sale at a dealership. It contains information about the model year, production, number, engine, and more
You’ll need to get your VIN before you can use a third-party tool to access the original window sticker for the vehicle.
If you’re not sure when the number is located for your Ford vehicle, you can check in several places to get this information.
- It is on a sticker located on the driver or passenger door jamb.
- Another location is underneath the car’s hood on the engine block.
- It could be printed on the underside of the steering column.
- A small metal strip has the VIN printed under the windshield on the driver’s side.
- It would be found on your car’s title or insurance paperwork.
- The VIN could be printed on your registration documents.
When you want to see the Monroney Label for your Ford vehicle, it is essential to use a tool that looks up the window sticker instead of downloading a VIN decoder.
When you use a VIN decoder, you’ll have a tool that lets you interpret the information from the number.
A vehicle identification number contains information about the model year, production number, and manufacturing plant. Dealerships use this information to track warranty claims, recalls, and odometer readings.
Law enforcement uses VIN information to track theft reports.
If you see the original window sticker from your Ford vehicle, you’ll have access to more information about the car. It includes the optional equipment, engine specs, transmission info, and the original MSRP.
There’s an entire section dedicated to the fuel economy ratings, including the expected miles per gallon.
What Information Does the Window Sticker Offer?
Although we typically call them “window stickers” today, Monroney Labels are named after Senator Almer Stillwell Monroney. He sponsored the Automobile Information Disclosure Act of 1958 to make the industry more transparent. The requirements of what gets displayed on this label were updated in 2013.
The newest additions to the window sticker include a QR code, smog emissions ratings, and greenhouse gas information.
When you scan the QR code on the window sticker, it lets you see how the different models compare on fuel economy, electricity consumption, gas prices, and other energy or environmental factors. It allows for a more precise estimate of the vehicle’s ongoing costs.
Each window sticker has a similar structure, where it is for a Ford vehicle or other makes and models. It reveals the original condition when manufactured so that you know what to expect from the investment.
When you look at the information after punching in the VIN, these are the elements that you’ll see about your vehicle in each section.
| Top Left Side: | • Year of the vehicle’s creation • Model (Ford Mustang) • Trim (4WD XLT, GT) • Engine size and specs • Transmission information • Final assembly data • Paint color for the exterior • Interior color |
| Middle Left Side: | • Standard equipment for the vehicle after the manufacturing process, including additional features for the interior and exterior • Safety and warranty information |
| Middle: | • The base price MSRP for the make and model • Warranty coverages that are currently available for the vehicle • Additional package options included • Total recommended price with everything added together |
| Lower Middle Section: | • Port of entry information • VIN • Route code • Vehicle weight |
| Middle Right Side: | • Government safety ratings for the vehicle • Parts origin • Safety score • NHTSA information about safety testing on front, side, and rollover |
| Top Right Side: | • Fuel economy rating in miles per gallon as reflected by the current EPA methods at the time • Smog rating (not always available for vehicles before the model year 2013) • Greenhouse gas rating (not available for vehicles before 2013) • Average annual fuel costs |
If you have any questions about the information that appears on the window sticker, you can verify the data in the owner’s manual or supplemental guides for warranties, engines, and transmissions.
History of the Monroney Label and Window Stickers on Vehicles
Can you imagine walking into a car dealership not knowing what you were paying for when you wanted a new set of wheels?
What would it be like not to see the price for each vehicle in the showroom? What if there wasn’t any information about destination charges or the list price?
Although that seems a bit crazy, that’s what life was like for shoppers until 1958. Buyers were expected to pay for vehicles without understanding the math behind the asking price. That meant it was impossible to know if you were getting a decent deal on the car.
Senator Monroney was born in 1902. He served in the Senate, representing Oklahoma from 1951 to 1969. He was responsible for vehicle and aircraft safety in 1958, sponsoring the Federal Aviation Act and the Automobile Information Disclosure Act.
The outcome has helped customers for decades understand what they are buying from a dealer. Many people don’t realize that the legislation also protected dealerships from unscrupulous automakers who charged massive franchising costs.
By creating the required window sticker, the fuzzy math was no longer part of the industry.
There is a story that suggests Senator Monroney got conned by a dealer, and that’s why he pursued this legislation. The truth isn’t quite that existing. He saw an opportunity to protect consumers and took it. By reducing the risk of fraud within each transaction, the auto industry had more opportunities to thrive.
If you purchase a Ford vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GBWR) of more than 8,500 pounds, the legislation doesn’t apply to those models. A fine of up to $1,000 is possible per vehicle if the sticker is missing. When the Monroney label is illegally altered, the individuals involved can even face jail time.
What to Know About the Information Ford Releases on Window Stickers
Although knowing what information is on a Ford window sticker is helpful, that’s not quite the same as understanding it.
You might see that a 2020 Ford Explorer XLT with a four-wheel drive comes with an initial MSRP of under $39,000. Once you add the additional options, destination fees, and other costs, the final price might be closer to $47,000.
If you’re not sure what the information means on the Monroney Label, you could end up paying more for something than necessary.
The Ford Motor Company offers several different trims on each model. This structure allows people who want a base unit to have an affordable car while others can have a more luxurious experience.
You’ll find that the primary distinction between each set is the number of accessories that the trim provides. The window sticker provides the information for that particular option, but it won’t give you comparison points to use.
You’ll find most vehicles use a combination of letters to identify what trim you’re purchasing. The most common options are S, SE, and SES. Some cars have an SEL, sport hybrid designation, or an ST.
You need to be careful when shopping for the “titanium” trim with Ford. Although it’s usually the top option for most models, that rule isn’t always followed. If you purchase the Ford Edge, the ST is considered a better investment.
If you buy a Ford Fusion, the “platinum” is a higher rating than the “titanium” model when pulling the original window sticker.
You might also see XL, XLT, GT, or RS as the trim designation. Each one has specific indicators for you to review to determine if you want to pay for those various additions.
What If I’m Buying a Limited-Edition Vehicle?
The Ford F-150 has been in production since 1948. It’s been the highest-selling overall vehicle in the American market since 1981. It’s also been the best-selling pickup truck in the United States since 1977.
This truck also holds those distinctions in Canada. During the 2018 model year, the Ford F-Series pickups generated over $41 billion in revenue for the Ford Motor Company.
One way to give drivers a special experience is to produce limited-edition models with exclusive features. You’ll see this information on the window sticker when using the VIN to pull up that data.
For the F-150, some of the limited-edition designations are the Lariat, King Range, Raptor, and Limited.
Several of those trim options are also available with the Ford Super Duty.
If you purchase the Ford Mustang, you’ll discover several different trims and packages to get the design you want for this sports car. The most popular are the Shelby GT350 and GT350R. There’s also the BULLITT, a GT Fastback, a convertible, and the EcoBoost line.
The different features available in the special edition will get outlined in the appropriate spot on the Monroney Label.
What Are the Packages on the Window Sticker?
When you purchase a Ford vehicle, the window sticker follows a simple structure when documenting the specific package included with that particular model.
Most vehicles give you four choices: 0, 1, 2, or 3.
The first package (designated with a “0” or “no package”) has no added options for the vehicle. It’s essentially a base unit, although it might include different trim features from the base unit.
If you select option No. 1, you’ll get some different upgrades. Ford includes a panoramic roof, floor liners, a cargo package, and a few other items when choosing it for the Expedition.
When you use option No. 2, you’ll see an upgrade to the wheels. In the first package, you might receive polished aluminum. If you choose the second one, the window sticker might say that you’re getting nickel-painted aluminum instead.
There might be information about individualized packages for some vehicles, including technology, carbon fiber, chrome, or sport appearance. If you have any questions about this info, you can speak with your dealership about what might be appropriate for your needs.
What Won’t the Window Sticker Tell Me Today?
When you use the VIN to get your Ford window sticker, you’ll discover that some information won’t be included with the Monroney Label.
That’s because the information on the window sticker only provides the original vehicle condition after it came out of Ford’s manufacturing process. It won’t reflect any improvements, repairs, or accidents that happened. You’ll need to use the VIN through other checkpoint services, such as Carfax, to get that data.
If you purchase a used Ford vehicle, the window sticker won’t accurately represent the car’s condition. Any installments after the manufacturing date are not reflected in this decal.
You might encounter problems when using a VIN decoder or window sticker finder in some situations. If the number has fewer than 17 digits, the older model information might not be uploaded into the database.
Some VINs might contain illegal characters or fail to pass the checksum test. It could be outside of the data provider’s coverage, or your new Ford might be too new to show up in the system.
The benefit you’ll receive with this effort is a look at the original package information. If you encounter a maintenance problem in the future, this data can let your mechanic know the vehicle’s baseline to pursue a repair.