Window Sticker vs Carfax vs carVertical: The Complete Used-Car Document Guide

When you're shopping for a used car, three documents keep coming up: the window sticker (Monroney label), a Carfax report, and a carVertical vehicle history report. Each one answers a fundamentally different question about the vehicle you're considering.

The window sticker tells you what the vehicle was when it left the factory. Carfax and carVertical tell you what happened to it after. Understanding the difference - and knowing when to use each one - is the single biggest advantage you can have as a used-car buyer in 2026.

This guide breaks down all three documents objectively: what they show, what they miss, how much they cost, and exactly when you need each one. By the end, you'll know the exact order to pull these documents for any vehicle purchase.

What is a Window Sticker (Monroney Label)?

A window sticker - officially called a Monroney label - is the federally mandated document that every new passenger vehicle sold in the United States must display. Named after Senator A.S. "Mike" Monroney, who championed the Automobile Information Disclosure Act of 1958, it's the definitive record of how a vehicle was configured when it rolled off the assembly line.

Think of it as a vehicle's birth certificate. It captures everything about the car at the moment it was built: the exact trim, every factory-installed option, the original MSRP, fuel economy ratings, crash test scores, emissions compliance, and warranty terms. Once the vehicle leaves the dealership lot, nothing on the window sticker changes - it becomes a permanent, factory-verified snapshot.

Today, most manufacturers host digital copies of their window stickers online. You can retrieve your window sticker for free using your VIN. Coverage typically starts at 2007 for Ford and Lincoln, 2013+ for Stellantis brands (Jeep, RAM, Dodge, Chrysler), 2020+ for GM brands (Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, GMC), and 2021+ for Subaru. For a deep walkthrough of every line item, see our guide on how to read a window sticker.

What is a Carfax Report?

Carfax is the most recognized vehicle history brand in the United States. Founded in 1984, it has spent four decades building a deep network of U.S. and Canadian data partners - state DMVs, insurance companies, collision repair facilities, dealership service centers, auto auctions, law enforcement agencies, and fleet management firms. The result is a detailed chronological timeline of reported events in a vehicle's life.

When you pull a Carfax report, you're essentially asking: "What has happened to this vehicle since it was first sold?" The answer can include ownership changes, accident reports with damage severity and areas affected, detailed service records from participating dealerships and repair shops, odometer readings from inspections and service visits, title brands (salvage, rebuilt, flood, fire, hail), lemon law buybacks, open recalls, and complete registration history.

Carfax's biggest strength is brand recognition and dealer adoption. Many U.S. dealerships provide Carfax reports for free when selling vehicles, and the name carries weight with buyers. However, Carfax reports are only as complete as the data reported to their partners. An accident repaired at an independent shop that didn't file an insurance claim won't appear. Carfax's coverage is also limited to the U.S. and Canada - if a vehicle spent time overseas, that history is a blank page. Single reports cost approximately $39.99, or roughly $20/report in a 3-pack.

What is a carVertical Report?

carVertical is a vehicle history platform used by 4.5+ million drivers and dealers. It scans over 900 databases - including U.S. title records, North American auction data, insurance claim databases, and law enforcement stolen vehicle lists - and extends that coverage across 45+ countries with European registries, international inspection records, and cross-border mileage data. That global reach is a bonus, but carVertical works just as well for a Ford F-150 that has never left Texas as it does for a BMW imported from Germany.

A carVertical report answers the same core question as Carfax - "What happened to this vehicle?" It checks for accidents, odometer rollback, stolen vehicle flags, title issues, ownership history, and whether a vehicle was used as a taxi, rental, or commercial vehicle. For North American buyers, carVertical covers the same ground as Carfax - damage records, mileage verification, title checks - plus it catches cross-border issues that Carfax can't see if a vehicle was ever registered or auctioned outside the U.S.

What truly sets carVertical apart are features Carfax doesn't offer at any price: recorded photos from dealer auctions and classifieds showing the vehicle's actual condition at different points in its life, AI-powered damage detection that analyzes those photos to flag collision evidence even when no written damage record exists, market value estimations based on comparable vehicles, natural disaster exposure alerts, a mileage prediction tool that estimates what the current odometer should read, and a numerical carVertical Score that summarizes overall vehicle condition at a glance. Reports generate in roughly 55 seconds and start at approximately $19.99 - about half the price of a Carfax report. Get a carVertical report here.

Three-Way Comparison Table

This table shows at a glance what each document covers. Green checkmarks indicate coverage, red X marks indicate no coverage, and yellow tildes indicate partial coverage.

What Each Document Shows (Deep Dive)

Window Sticker: Factory Specifications

The window sticker is unmatched for verifying what a vehicle was built with. Here's everything it covers:

• Original MSRP breakdown: Base price, individual option pricing, package pricing, destination charge, and total sticker price
• Complete equipment list: Every standard feature and every factory-installed option, from heated seats to tow packages to premium audio systems
• Powertrain specifications: Exact engine type, displacement, horsepower, transmission, and drivetrain (FWD/RWD/AWD/4WD)
• EPA fuel economy: City, highway, and combined MPG estimates with annual fuel cost projections
• Safety ratings: NHTSA crash test scores and IIHS ratings where available
• Emissions compliance: Federal and state emissions standards the vehicle meets
• Warranty terms: Original bumper-to-bumper, powertrain, and roadside assistance coverage periods
• Color codes: Exact exterior and interior color identification codes
• Country of assembly: Where the vehicle was manufactured and the percentage of domestic content

For a section-by-section walkthrough, our guide on how to read a window sticker explains what each line means and why it matters.

Carfax: U.S. & Canadian Vehicle History

Carfax excels at tracking a vehicle's life within North America:

• Ownership timeline: Number of owners, length of each ownership period, and state of registration
• Accident reports: Reported collisions, damage severity, and which areas of the vehicle were affected
• Service records: Oil changes, tire rotations, brake replacements, and major repairs from participating dealerships and service centers
• Title brands: Salvage, rebuilt, flood, fire, hail damage, and other title designations
• Odometer readings: Chronological mileage readings from service visits, inspections, and registration events
• Lemon law buybacks: Vehicles repurchased by manufacturers under state lemon laws
• Recall status: Open recalls and whether they've been completed
• Usage type: Rental, fleet, commercial, government, or personal use flags

carVertical: Global Vehicle Intelligence

carVertical covers much of the same territory as Carfax but adds international depth and several features Carfax doesn't offer:

• Global accident history: Damage reports from 900+ databases across Europe, North America, and other markets - plus a separate "Assessment" card that flags body shop estimates and part replacement costs even when no formal damage event was reported
• Recorded photos from auctions and classifieds: Real photos of the vehicle's exterior condition pulled from dealer auctions, online listings, and classified platforms. These photos let you see what the car actually looked like at different points in its life - dents, scratches, missing bumpers, repainted panels - evidence that may never appear in a written damage report
• AI-powered damage detection: carVertical's AI analyzes every photo in the report and flags visible collision damage, even when no official damage record exists in any database. If the AI spots a crumpled fender or misaligned panel in an auction photo, it appears as a finding in the damage section
• Cross-border odometer checks with mileage prediction: Compares mileage readings across international registrations to flag rollbacks that domestic-only services miss. A newer "Mileage Prediction" feature estimates what the current odometer should read based on historical patterns, making it even easier to spot tampering
• Driving habits analysis: Calculates average kilometers per month between recorded mileage readings and highlights periods of unusually heavy or light use - useful for distinguishing a highway commuter from a city stop-and-go vehicle
• carVertical Score: A single numerical rating that summarizes the vehicle's overall condition by analyzing all available records. Available in select markets (UK, Finland, Czechia, Poland) and expanding - makes it easy to compare two similar vehicles at a glance
• Market value estimation: Shows the price range for comparable vehicles in your market, helping you verify whether the asking price is fair before negotiating
• Natural disaster exposure: Alerts you if the vehicle was located in a region impacted by floods, hurricanes, or storms, even if no explicit flood-title brand exists on the record
• Stolen vehicle databases: Checks against Interpol, national police databases, and insurance industry stolen vehicle lists across multiple countries
• Taxi, rental, and commercial use flags: Identifies vehicles registered as taxis, ride-share, or commercial vehicles in markets worldwide - with contextual "Insights" that explain why a taxi history matters and what questions to ask the seller
• Insurance status: Shows whether the vehicle is currently insured and displays coverage validity dates, which can signal registration problems or unresolved damage
• Emissions data: Displays the vehicle's CO2 class (A through G) and associated environmental impact
• Multi-VIN check: Dealers and bulk buyers can generate up to 10 reports simultaneously - useful when comparing multiple auction listings or shopping dealer inventory
• Motorcycle support: carVertical also covers motorcycles, scooters, and ATVs - a category Carfax doesn't serve
• Damage cost estimates: Estimated repair costs associated with reported damage events, so you can quantify risk before negotiating
• PDF one-pager: A downloadable single-page summary of the most important findings - perfect for sharing with a mechanic or bringing to a test drive

Limitations You Need to Know

Every document has blind spots. Knowing them prevents false confidence.

Window Sticker Limitations

• Frozen in time: Shows only factory-original specs. It can't tell you what happened after the vehicle was sold - no accident data, no service history, no ownership changes.
• No aftermarket modifications: If someone added a lift kit, aftermarket exhaust, or upgraded wheels, the sticker won't reflect it.
• Year coverage varies: Free lookups typically start at 2007 (Ford/Lincoln) and as recently as 2021 (Subaru). Older vehicles may require paid reproduction services. See why your VIN returns no sticker found for full year cutoffs.

Carfax Limitations

• Unreported events are invisible: If an accident wasn't reported to insurance, police, or a participating repair shop, Carfax won't know about it.
• Service gaps: Independent mechanics, DIY maintenance, and non-participating shops don't report to Carfax. A vehicle serviced exclusively at independent shops may appear to have no service history.
• No international data: If a vehicle spent time outside the U.S. or Canada, that history is a blank page on Carfax.
• Reporting delays: Recent events may not appear for weeks or months after they occur.
• Cost per report: At ~$39.99, checking multiple vehicles adds up quickly.

carVertical Limitations

• Dealer adoption: Carfax has been around since 1984 and is deeply embedded in U.S. dealership workflows. carVertical is growing fast (4.5M+ users) but fewer U.S. dealers offer it as a standard part of the sales process - meaning you'll typically buy it yourself rather than receiving one free from the dealer.
• U.S. service records still expanding: Carfax has decades of relationships with U.S. service centers. carVertical covers U.S. title records, auctions, and damage data well, but its individual service-shop coverage is still catching up.
• Same reporting dependency: Like Carfax, carVertical can only report data that was recorded somewhere. Cash repairs at unlicensed shops won't appear in any database.

Cost Comparison

Carfax vs carVertical: Head-to-Head

Since both Carfax and carVertical are vehicle history reports, let's compare them directly:

Real-World Scenarios: When Each Document Saves You

Scenario 1: Verifying a Private Seller's Claims

A seller lists a 2021 Ford F-150 as "fully loaded, Platinum trim, Max Tow Package." You pull the free window sticker and discover it's actually an XLT with the FX4 Off-Road Package - still nice, but $12,000 less than a Platinum when new. The window sticker just saved you from overpaying based on a misleading description.

Scenario 2: Catching Hidden Damage with Auction Photos

A 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee looks clean in the seller's photos. The Carfax shows only a minor fender bender. But the carVertical report pulls up recorded auction photos from when the vehicle was sold at a dealer auction 18 months ago - and the pictures clearly show a crumpled front end, a missing bumper, and deployment marks near the airbag panel. carVertical's AI damage detection flagged the collision damage from the photos, even though no official damage record existed beyond that "minor fender bender." The photos tell a story the databases never captured.

Scenario 3: Imported Vehicle Red Flags

You're looking at a European-spec BMW with U.S. plates. Carfax shows a clean history starting when it was registered in the U.S. two years ago. But a carVertical report reveals the odometer was rolled back by 40,000 km before import - a common scheme with European imports that domestic-only history reports can't catch.

Scenario 4: Insurance Claim Documentation

Your Chevrolet Tahoe is totaled. The insurer offers a settlement based on "comparable vehicles." You pull the original window sticker showing $68,000 MSRP with the Premium Package, magnetic ride control, and the rear entertainment system. The insurer's initial comparable missed these options. The sticker documentation bumps your settlement by $4,200.

Scenario 5: Fleet Purchase Verification

A fleet manager needs 15 identical RAM 2500 trucks, each with the snow plow prep package. Window stickers verify that every VIN in the bid has the correct package before a single purchase order is signed. Read our fleet manager's guide to window stickers for the full workflow.

The Smart Buyer's Document Workflow

Here's the exact order we recommend pulling documents when evaluating any used vehicle:

1. Step 1: Free Window Sticker - Pull it here. Verify the trim, options, and original MSRP match what the seller claims. If the factory specs don't match the listing, you can walk away without spending a cent. Takes 10 seconds.
2. Step 2: VIN Decode - Cross-reference the VIN decoder data against the window sticker. The VIN confirms model year, assembly plant, engine code, and restraint system. If the VIN and sticker don't agree, something is wrong.
3. Step 3: Vehicle History Report - Run a carVertical report or Carfax to check for accidents, title issues, odometer problems, and ownership patterns. If the vehicle has international history, prioritize carVertical.
4. Step 4: Compare Documents - Cross-reference all three. The window sticker says the vehicle had blind-spot monitoring. The history report shows the right front quarter panel was replaced. Was the sensor reinstalled correctly? These are the questions that emerge when you compare factory specs to repair history.
5. Step 5: Physical Inspection - Armed with your document stack, inspect the vehicle in person. You now know exactly what to look for: check that every factory option on the sticker is present and functional, examine any areas flagged in the history report, and verify the odometer matches the timeline.

Brand-Specific Window Sticker Tips

Window sticker availability and coverage depth varies by manufacturer. Here are the key details for each supported brand:

• Ford & Lincoln (2007+) - The deepest archive. Covers F-150, Super Duty, Bronco, Explorer, Mustang, Navigator, and all models. See our Ford-specific lookup guide.
• Jeep (2014+) - Wrangler, Grand Cherokee, Gladiator, Compass, and all models. Our Jeep-specific guide covers VIN placement tips unique to Jeep.
• RAM, Dodge, Chrysler (2013+) - All Stellantis brands share the same portal.
• Alfa Romeo & Fiat (2015+) - Also on the Stellantis portal. Great for verifying Quadrifoglio vs standard trims.
• Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, GMC (2020+) - GM brands share a portal. Covers Silverado, Tahoe, Escalade, Sierra, and all current models.
• Subaru (2021+) - Newest addition. Covers Outback, Forester, Crosstrek, WRX, BRZ, and Ascent. See our Subaru-specific guide.

For the full list with coverage details and a clickable lookup grid, visit our Monroney Label lookup page.

Final Verdict: Which Documents Do You Actually Need?

The smartest approach in 2026: start with the free window sticker to verify the vehicle is what the seller claims. Then run a carVertical report for affordable, global-reaching history verification - complete with auction photos, AI damage analysis, and market value data that Carfax doesn't provide. If you want maximum U.S. service record depth - or if the dealer offers it free - add a Carfax as well.

No single document tells the whole story. The window sticker tells you what the vehicle was. Vehicle history reports tell you what happened to it. Together, they're the closest thing to a crystal ball that used-car buyers have.

Remember: documents are tools, not guarantees. Always combine them with a thorough physical inspection, a test drive, and ideally a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic. But walking into that inspection armed with a stack of documents? That's how you buy smart.