Build Sheet by VIN Logo An alternative logo design featuring a magnifying glass icon with a VIN snippet inside. BUILD SHEET by VIN

Free Build Sheet by VIN

†Build sheets are not provided by the automaker but original window stickers may be available.

*Please check our partner site if the build sheet or window sticker isn't available from the manufacturer.

Get a FREE build sheet or original window sticker for your vehicle

Certain manufacturers provide access to vehicle build sheets. To simplify the process for car buyers, owners, sellers, and enthusiasts, we have developed a website where users can enter a VIN to retrieve the corresponding build sheet. If a free build sheet is not offered by the automaker, we check if a free original window sticker is provided. In cases where neither is available, we have partnered with a service that recreates window stickers using the manufacturer's official build data.

What is a VIN?

A VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a unique 17-character code assigned to every vehicle. It serves as the vehicle’s fingerprint and provides details about its manufacturer, model, year, and specific features.

How do I find my VIN?

Your VIN can typically be found:

Does this service work for all vehicles?

Availability of a build sheet or original window sticker depends on the manufacturer and model year. Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, RAM, and Fiat make build sheets for recent model years available free of charge. Buick, Cadillac, and Chevrolet do not provide build sheets but do have complimentary original window stickers for recent model years. Some brands or older vehicles may not have records available through the automaker. In such cases, please check our partner’s site to see if it has a recreated Monroney sticker.

What is a vehicle build sheet?

A build sheet is a document that outlines exactly how a specific vehicle was assembled at the factory. It’s essentially the vehicle’s “birth certificate” or blueprint from the assembly line, listing all the components, options, and specifications the car was built with. Build sheets typically include details like the engine and transmission codes, paint and trim codes, optional equipment, and other configuration data unique to that vehicle. They were originally internal documents used by factory workers to ensure each car received the proper parts as it moved down the assembly line. Enthusiasts and owners prize build sheets today because they verify a vehicle’s original factory configuration, which is important for restorations, authenticity, and collectible value.

Is a build sheet the same as a window sticker?

A window sticker (often called the Monroney sticker in the U.S.) is not the same as a build sheet but they share a lot of the same information. The window sticker is the large label affixed to a new car’s window at the dealership, displaying the MSRP, optional equipment, fuel economy, and other consumer-facing information at the time of sale. Its purpose is to inform buyers of the features, installed options and price. A build sheet, on the other hand, is an internal factory document focusing on manufacturing details – it shows how the car is configured as it leaves the assembly line.

Think of it this way: the build sheet is about how the car was built, and the window sticker is about how the car is marketed and sold. For example, a window sticker will list an option package name and price (like “Premium Sound System – $500”), whereas a build sheet will list the internal code for that option and ensure the parts (speakers, wiring, etc.) are installed. A window sticker is intended for the buyer and usually gets removed when the car is sold; a build sheet is intended for factory/dealer use and often never seen by the buyer originally. Both are useful to an owner – the window sticker for historical pricing and feature and installed options info, and the build sheet for the detailed original specs beyond what the sticker shows (some minor build details never make it to the window sticker).

What is the origin and purpose of build sheets?

Build sheets date back to the early days of mass auto production, when manufacturers needed a reliable way to communicate a car’s exact build specifications to workers on the assembly line. The build sheet came before the car (often generated when the car was ordered) and acted as a “recipe” or blueprint for assembling that vehicle. Assembly line workers would refer to it to know which parts to install – for example, seeing a certain code for a suspension or paint meant selecting the corresponding part or color for that car.

The primary purpose of the build sheet was to ensure the car was built according to the correct order or trim level, especially as buyers could choose different engines, colors, and packages. It was essentially an internal work order. Historically, these sheets were printed paper forms with a lot of codes and abbreviations (short codes were quicker for factory use). They might be annotated or stamped at various stations on the line. Once the car was completed, the build sheet often wasn’t needed and many were just left in the car or thrown away. In many classic cars, owners have discovered the original build sheets hidden in the vehicle – tucked under seat cushions, inside seat springs, under the carpet, on top of the gas tank, or in door panels. Finding one in a vintage car is like discovering a time capsule of that vehicle’s factory info.

In short, the build sheet’s origin is as a factory assembly instruction sheet, and its purpose is to detail every option and feature the car was built with. This ensures accuracy during production and provides a record of the car’s original configuration.

How have build sheets evolved over time?

Historically (1950s-1970s), build sheets were paper documents created for each car and often traveled with the car down the assembly line. Different manufacturers had their own formats (blocks of codes, checkboxes, or line items), but all served the same role. In that era, computers were not widely used on the factory floor, so a physical paper was the main reference. Many of these paper sheets accidentally remained in the car, which is why collectors sometimes find original, yellowed build sheets in classic cars.

By the 1980s and 1990s, manufacturers began using computer systems to track vehicle orders. Build information might be printed on internal labels or stored in databases. For example, General Motors started putting a Service Parts Identification (SPID) label in each vehicle – often in the glove box or trunk – listing the car’s VIN and all the option codes it was built with. Chrysler Motor Parts (Mopar) still printed “broadcast sheets” for internal use but also started retaining build records in databases. Ford kept records of builds in centralized systems from about 1967 onward (earlier records are spottier), enabling them later to provide data for services like Marti Reports.

Modern era (2000s-Present), build sheets have largely gone digital. Assembly line workers might use barcode scanners and computer displays to get build info, rather than a paper sheet. Many new vehicles no longer have a paper build sheet left inside them at all. Instead, the build data is stored in the manufacturer’s database tied to the VIN. Some manufacturers include the build info on a sticker or QR code on the vehicle for service purposes. For instance, starting with the 2018 model year, GM phased out the long option code sticker and replaced it with a QR code on the certification label (driver’s door jamb), which encodes the same build information digitally. A quick scan of the QR code reveals the VIN, model, build date, and all the option codes the car was built with. Other manufacturers like BMW or Mercedes store the build data in their online systems accessible by dealers, though specifics may vary by geography.

How can I obtain a build sheet for my vehicle?

Obtaining a build sheet or the build information for your vehicle can range from an exciting treasure hunt in the car itself to contacting manufacturers or using online services. Here are some common ways, with manufacturer-specific procedures where applicable:

How do different manufacturers format their build sheets, and how do they differ?

Each manufacturer historically had its own format for build sheets, tailored to their production process and coding system. Here’s how they differ:

What do the codes and abbreviations on build sheets mean?

Build sheets are full of shorthand codes and abbreviations. Here are some common codes/terms and their meanings, applicable across many brands:

You may also see order numbers or sequence codes (internal scheduling references) and terms like “broadcast sheet” (Chrysler), “build record” or “vehicle invoice” (archival docs), and “Monroney label” for a window sticker. In collector circles, “numbers matching” means the major components (engine, trans, etc.) match what the build sheet indicates was originally installed. Verifying these serial numbers against the build sheet is how owners confirm authenticity and preserve the vehicle’s collectible value.

How can I contact support?

If you have any issues or questions, feel free to reach out to our support team via info at buildsheetbyvin dot com.

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