(iSeeCars) – A car’s window sticker, also known as a Monroney label or Monroney sticker, is required for every new car sold in the U.S. The “Monroney” name comes from Senator Monroney from Oklahoma, who was the driving force behind the Automobile Information Disclosure act of 1958.

A window sticker ensures consumers know the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) for every new vehicle. Of course a dealership can ultimately charge whatever it wants for a vehicle, but the window sticker at least confirms the starting point for a car’s price before a car dealer alters it. 

How Do I Get a Free Used Car Window Sticker?

While all new cars are required to have a window sticker, used car sellers, whether a private individual or car dealership, are not under the same obligation. But if you’re buying or selling a used car and you want a free original window sticker, you have multiple options.

First, you can try visiting the manufacturer’s website and using your car’s vehicle identification number (VIN) to see if they offer a free window sticker service. A vehicle’s VIN is a sequence of letters and numbers that are unique to each car. The VIN can usually be found on the driver’s side of the dash when looking in through the windshield, or in the driver’s doorjamb.

Once you have the VIN you can go to this Window Sticker Lookup tool and enter the car’s make and VIN number. If a free original window sticker is available you will immediately see it and have the ability to save it or print it. You can also visit the original equipment manufacturer’s (OEM’s) site, such as BMW.com, Dodge.com, or Ford.com. Go to the owner’s or support section to see if they have a VIN lookup or window sticker tool. If they do, you should be able to get window sticker information and even print out an original window sticker for free.

If the manufacturer doesn’t offer this service you can try contacting a dealership that sells the same brand of vehicle. Your chance of success will be better if you know which dealer sold the car originally, especially if you were the original buyer and bought the car new. However, even under these circumstances a dealer may not have the ability to provide a free window sticker.

Can I Buy an Original Window Sticker?

If an original window sticker isn’t available for free you may be able to buy one. iSeeCars has a Window Sticker Lookup By VIN tool that serves new and used cars across a wide range of brands. You can enter a car’s VIN to see if a window sticker is available for purchase. The iSeeCars’ recreated window sticker includes a detailed vehicle build sheet in addition to pricing information on standard and optional equipment.

Car buyers and sellers looking for even more vehicle information on a used car can use iSeeCars’ VIN Decoder to produce an iSeeCars VIN Report, which offers vehicle history, market valuation, recall status, key specs, and more. This is important information to review before buying a used car.

What’s the Value in a Used Car’s Window Sticker?

While a window sticker’s original purpose was to confirm a new car’s price, standard equipment, and factory options, additional information has been added to the window sticker over the past 60-plus years. This includes fuel economy ratings, safety ratings, and warranty information. 

For a consumer in the car buying process, the original window sticker lets the buyer know how a used car was originally equipped and allows them to compare it to the car’s current status. It also validates the car’s fuel economy and safety ratings, and might even confirm existing warranty coverage. 

The added confidence that comes from validating this information might be the deciding factor between buying a used car or moving on to the next prospect.

More from iSeeCars.com:

• How to Get Your Car’s Build Sheet from its VIN
• Why Window Stickers Are Important Even For Used Cars
• What is a Clean Title and How to Check For It

This article, How to Get an Original Car Window Sticker, originally appeared on iSeeCars.com.