The Vehicle's VIN (or Vehicle Identification Number) is normally located in two places on the car: ​ (1) On the Driver's Side Door Jamb: Here's there's typically a silver label which includes the date of manufacturer as well as a riveted placard that tells the vehicle VIN number. (2) On the forward most driver's side corner of the dashboard: If you approach the vehicle from the drivers side-front of the car and peer through the windshield at the lower most corner of the dashboard, the VIN is normally affixed here as well. ​ You can also typically find the VIN on your registration documents, insurance cards, and most vehicle service invoices.

Many online sites claim to be comprehensive "VIN decoders" but these decoders rarely give a complete build sheet for the vehicle. In most cases the Vehicle VIN contains only basic information required by the government for the VIN. In the case of many Toyota and Nissan vehicles, the VIN doesn't even denote the appropriate vehicle trim (e.g. the VIN will denote "Toyota Prius" but won't denote whether the vehicle is a "Toyota Prius I" or "Toyota Prius IV"). ​ Most used cars won't have retained the original paper copy of the Monroney Sticker, and so in the past dealers relied primarily on VIN decoders to get a basic sense of what was on the car. Beyond that, knowing the exact packages, features and options required visually inspecting the car to confirm various aspects.

The Audi Sticker tool includes both options and price information. On the very left hand side you can view ​ - The available standard equipment and features - All safety and warranty information - Technical specifications for a number of vehicle attributes ​ The middle column normally includes optional equipment on the vehicle ​ - Price level for the vehicle without options - Additional manufacturer options and their corresponding prices - Total vehicle price including all options and destination charges ​ The Far Right Box section contains ​ - EPA fuel economy ratings - Government safety ratings (normally from NHTSA) - The location the vehicle was originally delivered to - A QR code which normally redirects you to the OEM website ​ This particular vehicle – a 2014 Audi S5 had an original base retail price of $53,400 then added another $11,940 in options and delivery fees to come to a total MSRP of $65,340 when new.

The window sticker describes the car most accurately “when new”. So if the car has had either dealer-installed, or owner installed customizations its not likely to show those new features – nor will it show any replacement parts. ​ Similarly, the sticker won’t reflect anything about current condition, or the presence of any accidents. For doing more research there, I recommend reviewing Carfax, Autocheck, and having a professional inspection performed. ​ And finally – while the Sticker may show this Audi had an original MSRP of $65,340 when news, its likely the vehicle sold for slightly less (negotiation and discounting). Its current value will be significantly less due to the additional miles and depreciation.

Audi, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jeep, Kia, Lexus, Porsche, Maserati, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Ram, Scion, Subaru, Toyota and Volkswagen.