Owner guide · Elgin CDJR · Streamwood, IL
Monroney Sticker Explained: How to Read a New-Car Window Sticker
The window sticker on a new car is not a dealer ad. It is a label that federal law requires the manufacturer to put on the vehicle, and regulators call it the Monroney label. Here is what it must show and how to read each part.
Manufactureraffixes the label before delivery to the dealer
Windshieldor side window placement
Federal lawthe Automobile Information Disclosure Act
Until deliverywillfully removing it before the buyer takes delivery is illegal
The short answer
A Monroney sticker is the window label that the Automobile Information Disclosure Act (15 U.S.C. 1232) requires on new automobiles. The manufacturer must affix it to the windshield or a side window before the vehicle is delivered to the dealer. It lists the make, model and identification number, where the vehicle was assembled and delivered, the manufacturer's suggested retail price and the price of factory-installed options, the transportation charge, and NHTSA safety ratings or a statement that the vehicle has not been rated. Federal rules also put the EPA/DOT Fuel Economy and Environment label and the Government 5-Star Safety Ratings label on new vehicles.
What federal law requires on the window sticker
Under 15 U.S.C. 1232, the manufacturer must clearly and legibly list these entries:
| Entry | What it means |
|---|---|
| Make, model and identification number | The vehicle's make and model and its serial or identification number(s). |
| Final assembly point | Where the vehicle was finally assembled. |
| Dealer and delivery city | The name and location of the dealer it is delivered to, and the city or town of delivery. |
| Delivery method | How the vehicle got there, if it was driven or towed from the final assembly point. |
| Suggested retail price | The retail price of the vehicle suggested by the manufacturer. |
| Options | The manufacturer's suggested retail delivered price for each accessory or optional item physically attached to the vehicle when it was delivered to the dealer and not included in the base price. |
| Transportation charge | The amount, if any, charged to the dealer for transporting the vehicle to the dealer. |
| Total | The total of the suggested retail price, the options and the transportation charge. |
| Safety ratings | NHTSA New Car Assessment Program ratings if any have been published, or a statement that the vehicle has not been tested or rated in one or more categories. |
From 15 U.S.C. 1232, Label and entry requirements (Automobile Information Disclosure Act), subsections (a)-(h), read November 9, 2026.
The fuel economy and environment label
EPA rules (40 CFR 600.302-12) set out a rectangular label headed EPA/DOT "Fuel Economy and Environment." The top border names the fuel type, such as Gasoline Vehicle, Diesel Vehicle, Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle or Electric Vehicle.
For gas and diesel vehicles without plug-in capability, the top field shows the combined city/highway MPG, the separate city and highway MPG, and the fuel consumption rate in gallons per 100 miles. It also states the MPG range for the vehicle's class and how much you save or spend in fuel costs over 5 years compared with the average new vehicle.
Lower on the label are an annual fuel cost and two slider ratings, Fuel Economy and Greenhouse Gas Rating (tailpipe only) and Smog Rating (tailpipe only), plus a QR code and a pointer to fueleconomy.gov, where you can calculate personalized estimates and compare vehicles. The label itself notes that actual results will vary with driving conditions and how you drive and maintain the vehicle.
From 40 CFR 600.302-12, Fuel economy label: general provisions, paragraphs (a)-(e), read November 9, 2026. Vehicles that use other fuels, such as plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles, use alternate content under 40 CFR 600.303-600.310.
The Government 5-Star Safety Ratings label
Federal rule 49 CFR 575.302 makes the safety rating label part of the Monroney label on automobiles with a GVWR of 10,000 lb or less that are model year 2012 or later and built on or after January 31, 2012:
| Part | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Heading | The words Government 5-Star Safety Ratings in bold capital letters. |
| Overall Vehicle Score | The overall star rating the vehicle achieved. |
| Frontal Crash | Separate ratings for the driver and passenger. |
| Side Crash | Separate ratings for the front seat and rear seat. |
| Rollover | The rollover resistance rating. |
| Not Rated or To Be Rated | Not Rated is shown for a category without a rating. To Be Rated may be used when NHTSA notifies the manufacturer in writing that the vehicle has been chosen for testing or that an approved optional test will cover that category. |
From 49 CFR 575.302, Vehicle labeling of safety rating information, paragraphs (a)-(e), read November 9, 2026.
The ratings section must cover at least 8 percent of the whole label or an area at least 4 1/2 inches long by 3 1/2 inches high, whichever is larger. When NHTSA gives a manufacturer a new rating, it must appear on vehicles built from 30 days after the manufacturer receives it.
Can the window sticker be removed?
Not before you take delivery. Under 15 U.S.C. 1233, anyone who willfully removes, alters or makes illegible the label, or any entry on it, before the vehicle is delivered to the actual custody and possession of the ultimate purchaser can be fined up to 1,000 dollars, imprisoned up to one year, or both, with each vehicle a separate offense. The law makes an exception when the manufacturer relabels a vehicle that was rerouted, repurchased or reacquired.
Manufacturers face penalties too: willfully failing to affix the label, failing to fill it in clearly, or making a false entry can each bring a fine of up to 1,000 dollars per vehicle.
From 15 U.S.C. 1233, Violations and penalties, subsections (a)-(c), read November 9, 2026.
How to read a window sticker when you shop
Start with the identification number on the label and make sure it matches the VIN on the vehicle itself. Then read the options list to see what is installed on that vehicle and what each item adds to the manufacturer's suggested price, and check the transportation charge and the total.
Use the fuel economy label to compare vehicles in the same class: the combined MPG, the 5-year fuel cost compared with the average new vehicle, and the slider ratings follow the same federal layout on every gasoline or diesel label. Look at the safety label for the overall score and the frontal, side and rollover ratings, and note any category marked Not Rated.
General guidance based on the label contents above.
Shopping or servicing at Elgin CDJR
Browse our new Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram inventory or see our sales specials. Already own one? Schedule service or see our service specials.
Our service department is open Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and is closed Sunday. Elgin CDJR is at 1500 W. Lake St. in Streamwood. Get directions.
Window sticker FAQ
What is a Monroney sticker?
It is the window label federal law requires the manufacturer to put on a new automobile before delivery to the dealer, listing the vehicle, its suggested retail price and options, the transportation charge, and NHTSA safety ratings or a not-rated statement.
Is the window sticker price the MSRP?
The label lists the retail price suggested by the manufacturer, plus the manufacturer's suggested price for each installed option, the transportation charge and the total.
Who puts the window sticker on a new car?
The manufacturer. The law requires it to be affixed to the windshield or a side window before the vehicle is delivered to the dealer.
Is it illegal to remove a window sticker?
Before the vehicle is delivered to the buyer, yes. Willfully removing or altering it before then can bring a fine of up to 1,000 dollars, up to a year in prison, or both.
Where is the MPG on a window sticker?
On the EPA/DOT Fuel Economy and Environment label: combined MPG, with city and highway MPG, gallons per 100 miles, 5-year fuel cost comparison and annual fuel cost.
What safety ratings are on the window sticker?
The Government 5-Star Safety Ratings: an overall vehicle score plus frontal crash, side crash and rollover ratings, or Not Rated where NHTSA has not rated a category.
What are your service hours?
Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. We are closed Sunday.
Looking at a new Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep or Ram?
Visit us at 1500 W. Lake St. in Streamwood.
Sources
Label requirements are from the Automobile Information Disclosure Act (15 U.S.C. 1232-1233) and the federal labeling rules at 40 CFR 600.302-12 and 49 CFR 575.302, all read November 9, 2026. This page explains the label; it does not quote prices for any vehicle. Our address and service hours are from our own website, checked the same day.
- 15 U.S.C. 1232, Label and entry requirements (Automobile Information Disclosure Act), U.S. Government Publishing Office (govinfo), read November 9, 2026
- 15 U.S.C. 1233, Violations and penalties, U.S. Government Publishing Office (govinfo), read November 9, 2026
- 40 CFR 600.302-12, Fuel economy label: general provisions, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), read November 9, 2026
- 49 CFR 575.302, Vehicle labeling of safety rating information, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), read November 9, 2026
- Homepage: address and service department hours, Elgin CDJR, read November 9, 2026