How to Use VINdow Sticker to Find the Best Deal

5 min read

VINdow Sticker tracks every new Toyota, Lexus, Hyundai, and Cadillac vehicle at every US dealer — updated daily. This guide walks you through each feature so you can find the best price on the car you want.

Step 1: Search Inventory

Start on the Inventory page. Use the filters to narrow down exactly what you're looking for:

• Brand & Model — Select the vehicle you want
• State — Filter to your state or nearby states
• Trim — Narrow to a specific trim level
• Color — Filter by exterior color
• Drivetrain — 2WD, 4WD, AWD, FWD
• Price Range — Set min/max price bounds
• Below MSRP — Toggle to only show discounted vehicles

Sort by Markup (Low to High) to surface the best-priced vehicles first. You can switch between grid view (cards with images) and list view (compact table with more data per row).

Step 2: Check the Deals Page

The Deals page pre-filters to only show vehicles priced below MSRP, sorted by the largest discounts. This is the fastest way to find bargains. You can sort by dollar amount off or percentage off MSRP.

Pay attention to the Add-Ons column — a vehicle showing $2,000 below MSRP but with $3,000 in dealer add-ons isn't actually a deal. The true cost is $1,000 above MSRP.

Step 3: Compare Dealers

The Dealers page ranks every dealer by their average markup. This tells you which dealers consistently price fairly and which ones are known for high markups.

Click into any dealer to see their full inventory, average markup, and what percentage of their vehicles are at or below MSRP. A dealer with 80% of inventory at MSRP or below is a very different experience from one where 90% is marked up.

Step 4: Dive into Vehicle Details

Click any vehicle to see its full detail page. Here you'll find:

• Price Breakdown — Base MSRP, Total MSRP, Dealer Add-Ons, Selling Price, and Markup
• Full Options List — Every factory option, port-installed accessory, and dealer add-on with individual pricing
• Price History — How the selling price has changed over time
• Deal Intelligence — How this vehicle compares to others like it
• Payment Calculator — Estimate monthly payments with different down payments and rates
• Comparable Vehicles — Similar vehicles at other dealers for price comparison

Step 5: Save and Track

Found a vehicle you like but not ready to buy? Click the heart icon to save it. Your Saved Vehicles page tracks all your favorites and alerts you to price changes. If a dealer drops the price, you'll see it highlighted in green.

Saved vehicles are stored locally in your browser — no account needed. Check back regularly to catch price drops.

Step 6: Compare Side by Side

Narrowed it down to 2-3 options? Use the compare feature. Click the compare icon on vehicle cards to add them to your comparison. The Compare page shows vehicles side by side with all specs, pricing, and options aligned for easy comparison.

Step 7: Understand the Market

Before you negotiate, check the Market Analytics page to understand the broader market:

• Markup Distribution — What percentage of vehicles are above, at, or below MSRP
• 90-Day Trend — Are markups going up or down?
• State Breakdown — Which states have the most inventory (more inventory = more competition = better prices)

Step 8: Check Sold Data

The Sold Vehicles page shows vehicles that recently left dealer inventory. This tells you:

• How long vehicles typically sit on the lot (longer = more negotiable)
• What markups buyers are actually paying
• Which trims and colors sell fastest

Bonus: Track Your Toyota's Journey

Ordered a Toyota or Lexus? The vessel tracking page shows cargo ships carrying vehicles from Japan to US ports. If your vehicle is in transit, you can track which ship it might be on and estimate when it will arrive at your dealer.