Dealer playbook · October 22, 2026 · 7 min read
Used Car Window Sticker & Buyers Guide Checklist (2026)
What the FTC Buyers Guide requires, what a used car window sticker should show, and California's new total-price rule, in one practical checklist.
By the CarMagics team · Updated October 22, 2026
Short answer: a used car on a US dealer lot needs an FTC Buyers Guide posted on the window before it is displayed for sale. A window sticker with the price, mileage and key features is not required by the FTC, but it is what sells the car. Post both, and never let the sticker cover or replace the Buyers Guide.
This is general information, not legal advice. Check the current rules for your state.
Key takeaways - The Buyers Guide is mandatory and must be posted before the car is displayed. - If you sell in Spanish, you must post a Spanish-language Buyers Guide. - FTC penalties can reach $53,088 per violation. - In California, ads that reference a specific vehicle must now show its total price.
Buyers Guide vs. window sticker: two different documents
Dealers often mix these up.
- The FTC Buyers Guide is a federal form. It says whether the car is sold "as is" or with a warranty, what the warranty covers, and reminds buyers to get a pre-purchase inspection. Its wording is set by the FTC.
- A window sticker is your marketing. It shows the price, mileage, key features and condition notes, and can carry a QR code that links to the online listing. You design it.
The Buyers Guide keeps you compliant. The window sticker helps the car sell itself when a shopper walks the lot.
FTC Buyers Guide checklist
When to post it
The FTC's Dealer's Guide to the Used Car Rule is clear: "You must post a Buyers Guide before you display a vehicle for sale." That includes cars on the lot, in the showroom and at off-site sales events.
- ☐ Buyers Guide posted before the car is displayed
- ☐ Warranty box checked correctly ("as is" or dealer warranty)
- ☐ Warranty terms filled in, if any
- ☐ Guide visible from outside the car
- ☐ Final terms carried into the sales contract
Spanish-language sales
If you conduct a sale in Spanish, the FTC says "you must post a Spanish language Buyers Guide on the vehicle before you display or offer it for sale."
- ☐ Spanish Buyers Guide ready for any car sold in Spanish
Penalties
The FTC notes that dealers face "penalties of up to $53,088 per violation in FTC enforcement actions" (figure as of January 2025). Each car without a proper guide can count as a violation.
What a used car window sticker should show
Price, mileage, key features and condition
- ☐ Year, make, model and trim
- ☐ Price, and whether fees are included
- ☐ Mileage
- ☐ Five to eight key features buyers care about: safety, comfort, technology, towing
- ☐ Honest condition notes, such as new tyres or a scuff on the rear bumper
- ☐ Stock number or VIN for your team
- ☐ Your dealership name and phone number
A QR code to the online listing
A QR code that opens the car's listing page lets a shopper see every photo, the video and the full details on their phone, even after hours. Make sure it links to the listing for that exact car, and test it before you print.
Keep it accurate
Only list features the car actually has. If you are not sure whether a trim includes a feature, check the VIN details or leave it off. A sticker that promises something the car does not have costs you the sale and your reputation.
California's CARS Act: total price in ads
California's new car-buyer protection rules took effect on October 1, 2026. As CBT News summarises it, "dealers must show a vehicle's total price in any ad referencing a specific vehicle."
For California dealers this affects online listings, social posts and printed materials that mention a specific car. The California DMV has issued an industry notice on implementing the CARS Act (SB 766). Read it and check with your compliance adviser.
Even outside California, showing a clear total price is good practice. Shoppers trust a price that does not change at the desk.
Printable checklist: every used car, every time
- Buyers Guide (English, and Spanish if needed) posted before display
- Window sticker printed with accurate price, mileage and features
- Total price shown where required
- QR code tested and linked to the right listing
- Condition notes match the car
- Photos online the same day
The Buyers Guide is mandatory. A clear window sticker with the price and key features is what sells. Make one from two photos with our window sticker generator. It supplements the official Buyers Guide and never replaces it.
Frequently asked questions
Do used cars need a window sticker?
The FTC requires a Buyers Guide on used cars displayed for sale by dealers, not a marketing window sticker. A window sticker with price, mileage and features is optional, but it helps shoppers on the lot and many dealers use one on every car.
Is the FTC Buyers Guide the same as a window sticker?
No. The Buyers Guide is a federal form about warranty and 'as is' terms with wording set by the FTC. A window sticker is your own marketing sheet with price and features. Post both, and never cover the Buyers Guide.
How do I create a window sticker for a used car?
List the year, make, model, trim, price, mileage, key features and honest condition notes, add your dealership details and a QR code to the online listing, then print it for the window. Our window sticker generator builds one from two photos.
Do private sellers need a Buyers Guide?
The FTC Used Car Rule applies to dealers. Its guidance covers people who sell more than a set number of cars a year, so check the FTC's Dealer's Guide if you sell cars regularly.
Where does the Buyers Guide have to be displayed?
On the vehicle, where shoppers can read it, before the car is displayed or offered for sale. The FTC's Dealer's Guide to the Used Car Rule describes the placement options.
Sources
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