When purchasing an expensive item such as a new automobile, you likely want to know precisely what you’re getting for your money. The window sticker is greatly helpful when you are on the dealership lot. The window sticker is a white label that must be placed on the windshield or side window of all new automobiles sold in the United States. It is known in the auto industry as the Monroney sticker.
WHAT IS A STICKER BY MONRONEY?
On the window of every new car is a Monroney sticker, including information on the pricing, engine and gearbox specifications, other technical and performance characteristics, fuel efficiency and emissions ratings, safety ratings, and standard and optional equipment. The good news is that you can create reliable Monroney labels for your car dealership business with a few clicks. Yes, click here to know more about how the Simple Dealer Monroney label helps you win customers and reduce expenses.
DEEPER DEFINITION
The Monroney sticker is named after A.S. “Mike” Monroney, a veteran Oklahoma congressman who authored the 1958 Automobile Information Disclosure Act, the federal legislation mandating the Monroney sticker. The manufacturer’s recommended retail price (MSRP), sometimes known as the “sticker price,” is one of the most prominent characteristics of the Monroney sticker. This is the manufacturer’s suggested selling price for the automobile. The final pricing will depend on the buyer’s selection of optional features, any reductions the dealer may give, and any agreements between the dealer and customer.
The Monroney sticker specifies all standard equipment of the car. This may include airbags, anti-lock brakes, a radio and CD or MP3 player, and any warranties or extra services, such as roadside help. On the sticker is also a part titled “the EPA sticker.” The Environmental Protection Agency portion of the decal indicates the highway and city sticker per gallon. The EPA label gives miles-per-gallon equivalent (MPGe) values for electric and hybrid automobiles to enable buyers to compare the fuel economy of these vehicles to that of gasoline and diesel vehicles. The EPA section will describe the vehicle’s greenhouse gas emissions and their possible environmental effect.
If available, safety information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA is provided. There may be ratings for the vehicle’s performance in frontal, side, and rollover collisions and an overall safety rating.
The Monroney sticker also includes the MSRP for each extra piece of equipment, such as a navigation system or a premium trim package.
How to interpret a Monroney sticker
A NEW-CAR WINDOW STICKER OFFERS THE FOLLOWING CRITICAL BITS OF INFORMATION TO ASSIST CAR CONSUMERS QUICKLY ASSESSING A PARTICULAR VEHICLE:
MSRP – THE “STICKER PRICE.”
As its name implies, this is the price that the manufacturer suggests the car be sold for. It differs from the factory invoice price, which is the amount paid by the dealer to the manufacturer for the car. The dealer may sell the vehicle at a price more or lower than the MSRP.
SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE ENGINE AND GEARBOX
These include the size of the engine and the number of cylinders, the transmission type, and the number of gears. For instance, the Monroney sticker on a brand-new Ford Explorer can read a 3.5-litre V6, six-speed automatic.
STANDARD FEATURES AND GUARANTEE
This section specifies what comes standard on the specific car to which the sticker is affixed. It will contain technical and performance information, such as whether or not the vehicle has power steering and the kind of wheels. In addition, it will describe inside amenities, such as an audio system with a touch-screen and six speakers, and external features, such as power-folding side mirrors. Additionally, safety equipment like airbags will be noted.
In addition to noting the kind of warranty granted, such as a primary, powertrain, unlimited, or roadside assistance warranty, the window sticker may provide other information, such as if a loaner vehicle is supplied during servicing.
OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT AND PRICE
You can see the manufacturer-recommended prices for each of the optional additions. Optional equipment may include a navigation system and a premium trim package. The options and pricing section also displays the price of the car, including the possibilities and the destination fee, representing the cost of getting the vehicle from the manufacturer to the dealership.
THE EPA STICKER PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT FUEL EFFICIENCY AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
The area titled “Fuel economy and environment,” sometimes known as the EPA sticker, is a critical component of the Monroney bumper sticker. It was created by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to assist customers cut fuel expenses and hazardous emissions and to make it easier for them to compare automobiles. The revised window sticker became mandatory for 2013-model-year vehicles.
The fuel economy information displays combined city and highway miles per gallon (MPG) figures, the annual fuel cost, how much you will save or spend on fuel over five years compared to the average new vehicle, fuel economy, and vehicle emissions ratings (where a higher rating indicates a cleaner car), and a quick response (QR) code that shoppers can scan with their smartphones to learn more and use tools to generate personalized estimates.
The EPA label gives miles-per-gallon equivalent (MPGe) values for electric and hybrid automobiles to assist customers in comparing the fuel efficiency of these vehicles with gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles.
SECURITY RATINGS
NHTSA safety ratings on a five-star scale will be shown where data is available. In addition to an overall vehicle safety rating, performance in the frontal, side, and rollover collisions are rated. The government does not assess all automobiles in this manner. Thus the box on the sticker may be empty. Rest assured, however, that all cars must adhere to official safety requirements.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
In addition to basic information such as the make, model, and vehicle identification number, a new-car window sticker may also contain information about where the vehicle was produced and its components.
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