What Information Is on the New Car Window Sticker?

February 19th, 2025 by

Sticker Price of Car on Windshield

We offer crystal-clear pricing on every vehicle we sell, and we have something for everyone here. Whether you prefer a family-friendly Buick SUV, a rugged GMC pickup, or a premium GMC SUV, you will get an excellent new vehicle in your garage.

There are several elements that go into pricing a new vehicle. The most important information you need to know is on the window sticker. Keep reading our guide to learn more.

What Is the New Car Window Sticker?

The sticker you see on every new car, truck, or SUV on our lot is required by federal law. It’s called the Monroney sticker, after the U.S. senator, Almer Stillwell “Mike” Monroney from Oklahoma, who sponsored the Automobile Information Disclosure Act of 1958. 

The law required (and continues to require) that all new automobiles carry a sticker on a window containing important information about the vehicle. It was the beginning of many consumer protections added to American law during this time.

How to Read a New Car Window Sticker

There are six main sections of a new car window sticker, all of which are clearly marked. If you have questions about any information on the sticker of the vehicle you’re interested in, we are more than happy to answer them for you. The goal of the new car window sticker is to summarize what you get with the new vehicle.

The following sections outline what you can expect to find on a Monroney sticker as you see if the new vehicle pricing is worth the value:

Model Info

The very top part of the sticker lists basic information about the car, truck, or SUV. You’ll see the make of the vehicle, like GMC, Buick, or Cadillac. Then, the year, model, powertrain, and trim of the vehicle. So, for example, a 2024 Yukon 4WD Denali. 

Next to that, you will see the exterior color and interior color. You will also see the engine type and transmission, like a 6.2L ECOTEC3 V8 with a 10-speed automatic transmission.

You might see a website to go to for more information, like gmc.com or buick.com, in this top section.

Cars for Sale on a Lot

 

Standard Equipment

Below the top section will be a list of standard and optional equipment. They come with a disclaimer. The standard equipment says the items provided below are what you get for the standard vehicle price shown. Then, each of the options has a price attached to it that will add to the standard price. After that, you see the subtotal of the options, the total vehicle price, including the options, and the destination charge. Finally, you see the total vehicle price.

Standard options have a few categories of information:

Performance and mechanical, which list other features that affect the performance of the vehicle aside from the engine and transmission. Think of the suspension system, stability control, and traction control.

Connectivity and technology, a section that lists wireless charging, touchscreen sizes, head-up display dimensions, the speaker system, and any online services included with your purchase.

Interior features include top features like heated/ventilated seats, automatic HVAC, a heated steering wheel, folding seats, and how many rows of seating there are.

Exterior features, like LEDs, a hands-free power liftgate, and exhaust type.

Safety and security, such as driver-assist features, HD surround cameras, safety alert seats, theft deterrent system, auto-high beams, and more.

Warranty Information

One part of the standard equipment is the owner benefits section. This includes the warranty length (in miles and length of time.

The General Motors bumper-to-bumper limited warranty lasts for 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. 

The General Motors powertrain limited warranty, with roadside assistance and courtesy transportation, lasts 5 years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first, for some models.

You will also get your first maintenance visit for free, and that typically happens at the 7,500-mile mark.

The dealership or the manufacturer’s website has specific information about these benefits for each vehicle on our lot.

Optional Equipment

Optional equipment includes add-ons from the standard trim. The sticker shows the price of each optional add-on, which typically means a specific package. Packages offer a series of similar features that combine to make your driving experience easier.

Think of heated seats and a heated steering wheel if you prefer a warmer vehicle during winter driving, advanced technology features, or a towing package that includes better hitches and a hitch-view camera. 

When looking at new vehicle pricing, packages often have their own prices and are installed at the factory. For example, an advanced technology package might be $3,500 and includes Super Cruise technology, automatic emergency braking, and a rear camera mirror.

Pricing

You’ll see the final price you pay for the features you get, including the base (standard) features, optional equipment, and the destination charge. Then, it adds it up before savings. If there are any discounts, dealer incentives, or manufacturer incentives, those are listed on the sticker, too. 

For example, you could see a 2025 GMC Sierra 1500 PRO trim with these prices:

    • Standard vehicle price: $47,300
    • Total options: $2,555
    • Total vehicle and options: $49,855
    • Destination charge: $1,995
    • Total before savings: $51,850
    • Pro Value Package and TurboMax Engine Credit: -$1,850
  • Total Vehicle Price: $50,000

Parts Content/Assembly

Parts content and assembly information highlight the countries of origin of major components. For example, a 2025 GMC Sierra 1500 PRO pickup truck contains 37% U.S./Canadian parts and 37% parts content from Mexico. The final assembly point was Roanoke, Indiana, with the engine assembled in Mexico and the transmission made in the United States.

While a majority of auto parts from General Motors come from North America, some auto parts could be made in other countries in Asia, Europe, and South America.

Fuel Economy

The fuel economy ratings come from government figures. You’ll see the city, highway, and combined mpg figures, as well as how many gallons of fuel the vehicle expends for every 100 miles. This portion of the new vehicle sticker also shows you how much money you’ll spend on fuel compared to the average new vehicle, the projected annual fuel cost, greenhouse gas rating, and smog rating.

This is an example of the types of numbers you’ll see for a 2025 GMC Sierra 1500 PRO trim. Keep in mind a pickup truck is known for its towing capabilities and not fuel efficiency:

  • 17 mpg city
  • 19 mpg city
  • 18 mpg combined
  • Standard pickup trucks range from 12 to 84 mpg, with the best vehicle rates at 140 MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent, used for plug-in hybrids or electric vehicles)
  • You spend $5,000 more in fuel costs over 5 years compared to the average new vehicle.
  • Annual fuel cost of $2,900
  • Fuel Economy & Greenhouse Gas Rating of 4 (1 is the worst, 10 is the best)
  • Smog Rating of 6 (1 is the worst, 10 is the best)

Safety Ratings

The government 5-star safety ratings are from the NHTSA. The label showcases the overall vehicle score based on the combined ratings of frontal, side, and rollover crash tests.

The frontal crash ratings are based on the risk of injury for the driver and passenger with a frontal impact. Side crash ratings are also based on the risk of injury, but this time for front or rear passengers. The rollover is based on the risk of rollover in a single-vehicle crash. Star ratings go from 1 to 5 stars.

Where to Go for Additional Information

If you want additional information, the team at Thompson Sales has more details about the vehicle you’re interested in.

Other official sources of information include:

Test-Drive Our New Vehicles for Sale at Thompson Sales

Ready to see your next new vehicle? Contact us,  call (417) 763-6811, or schedule a test drive with our team. We’re happy to help in any way we can!

Posted in New Vehicles