What is a window sticker?

A window sticker — officially the "Monroney label" — is the printed sheet the factory attaches to the window of every new vehicle. It has been federally required on new cars in the United States since the Monroney Act of 1958, and decades later it remains the single most authoritative summary of how a particular vehicle left the assembly line.

It lays out the standard equipment, the optional equipment and packages the original buyer selected, the EPA fuel-economy ratings, the warranty terms, the percentage of U.S./Canadian parts content, and the full price breakdown — base MSRP, each individual option, the destination charge, and the grand total. That original data is exactly what lets you confirm, years later, how a used vehicle was really configured.

Window sticker vs. build sheet

The two documents describe the same factory configuration in different ways. A window sticker is written for the buyer: plain equipment descriptions, fuel-economy ratings, warranty details, and a price breakdown right down to the destination charge.

A build sheet is the factory's own assembly record — the complete list of option codes a vehicle was built with, without pricing. WindowStickerVin.com returns the window sticker whenever one is on file, and automatically falls back to the build sheet when it isn't, so you always come away with the underlying factory data either way. For a deeper comparison, see our guide on window sticker vs. build sheet.

Why check your window sticker or build sheet?

Whether you're buying a used car, selling one, arranging insurance, or just settling a curiosity, the factory record is the most reliable way to confirm exactly how a vehicle was equipped the day it was built — far more dependable than a listing description or a faded memory.

It lets you verify the trim level, the engine and drivetrain, the option packages, and individual features, and it makes it easy to tell factory-installed equipment apart from anything a dealer or previous owner added afterward. For buyers especially, it's a quick way to make sure a seller's claims actually match how the vehicle left the line.

Why do two build sheets show different codes for similar equipment?

Interior & Comfort · 2026 Buick Encore GX · 127 views · 2 replies

152 — Interior trim combination, Shale, Leather. This code identifies the factory upholstery material, color combination, or interior trim specification. Browse RPO codes →

Nick H. Jul 10, 2026 · Ontario

I have seen 152 described as “Interior trim combination, Shale, Leather. This code identifies the factory upholstery material, color combination, or interior trim specification” but another database uses slightly different wording. Is this normally because the meaning changes by platform, market, or model year?

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2 replies

Amanda M. Jul 16, 2026

I have seen this on a similar Buick Encore GX. The basic description was correct, but one related feature was part of a separate package. I would not assume the code includes every item mentioned in marketing material.

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Brian M. Jul 18, 2026

The wording may be abbreviated because these were originally production codes rather than consumer descriptions. “Interior trim combination, Shale, Leather. This code identifies the factory upholstery material, color combination, or interior trim specification” is a reasonable plain-English reading, but the exact implementation should be verified for the 2026 model.

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