Everything you need to know about a new or used car is on its window sticker. Many dealers typically align their window stickers differently, but each window sticker must always contain the same information. Here is the most important information you can find on window stickers.

• Vehicle Description: Basic vehicle information can be found in the initial section of the window sticker. This information includes make, model, year, configuration, VIN, interior and exterior color. Checking this section of window sticker is the best way to quickly make sure that the car in front of you has the engine and color configuration you are searching for.
• Standard and Optional equipment: This section showcases the many features and equipment of the vehicle. This section describes safety features such as airbags and backup cameras; interior features such as heated seats, touch screen displays, and satellite radio; and exterior features, including wheel types, side mirrors, and headlights. The items listed here should be consistent with any other vehicle in this trim level. Window decals also contain information on optional features or special packages related to the specific make and model you are interested in.
• Warranty information: Not only the duration/mileage of the automaker’s bumper-to-bumper warranty is listed here but additional coverage such as powertrain warranties, roadside assistance, and maintenance programs are also listed. Some new cars also come with a free maintenance program, and that coverage is also listed here. 
•  Pricing information: This section describes the base price of the vehicle along with a breakdown of options and fees. Other items shown here are the destination charge (the cost of transporting the car from the factory to the dealer) and any gas guzzler tax (imposed on cars with a total mpg of 22.5 or less). The total price of the vehicle is sometimes listed here but usually takes its own place.
• Parts Content Information: This section contains six pieces of information about the source of the auto parts. This includes how much vehicle content comes from the US. It will also disclose the names of all other countries supplying 15% or more of the equipment, the final assembly location, the country of origin for the engine and transmission, and state that parts content does not include final assembly, distribution, or other non-parts charges. For more information, see the NHTSA website, which shows the percentage breakdown of domestic and foreign content in vehicles from 2007-Present.
• Total price: This section displays the vehicle’s total MSRP. MSRP stands for Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price is the retail price at which a manufacturer recommends a dealer to sell a car. It is different from the price the dealer pays the manufacturer for the car, which is the invoice price. Dealers can choose to sell the car above or below the MSRP, but most buyers negotiate with the dealership to have them sell the car below the MSRP to keep costs as low as possible. Use the Edmunds Inventory page to determine fair prices.
• Safety ratings: This section presents the vehicle’s safety ratings, which are based on the performance of vehicles tested and rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in various crash scenarios. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration uses a five-star scale to rate vehicle safety, with five stars being the best. It performs frontal, side obstacle, and side pole crash tests and assigns rollover ratings. NHTSA doesn’t rate every car, but all cars must meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety standards. Because NHTSA doesn’t test every car on the market, the Safety rating section is sometimes blank. If so, consumers can check the IIHS website.
• Fuel-Economy Ratings: Beginning with the 2013 models, the Monroney label is required to include more comprehensive fuel economy information, displaying EPA-rated figures in miles per gallon (MPG and MPGe) in city/highway/combined format. This section shows estimates of annual fuel costs, vehicle fuel efficiency, and CO2 emissions. Relevant emissions information has also been added and a QR code can also be displayed here. Scanning the QR code with a QR reader on your smartphone will take you to the fueleconomy.gov mobile website, which will display comprehensive information about the scanned vehicle.