Coverage: Recent model years; best coverage for current and last model year
Sticker, door label or Technical Data Sheet: which Ford build sheet?
People use “build sheet” to mean a few different documents. On a Ford, it helps to know which one you’re looking at:
- The window sticker (Monroney label). This is the most useful version for a buyer. Ford stickers list the trim, the equipment group (for example “Equipment Group 302A”), each factory option with its original price, the destination charge and the total MSRP.
- The dealer invoice. This shows what the dealer paid. It isn’t something Ford publishes by VIN, and we don’t have it.
- The door-jamb label. Ford’s Safety Compliance Certification Label carries short codes for paint, interior trim, transmission and axle. It’s a code label, not a list of options.
- A Technical Data Sheet. For older vehicles without a readable label, Ford says its Customer Relationship Center can supply one if you give them the VIN.
Ford build sheets from Ford’s own sticker system
For Ford and Lincoln, the original sticker comes straight from Ford’s own window-sticker system, when Ford has released it for that VIN. The check is free. When a sticker is released, the $9.99 Full Report includes it and parses it into a build sheet with:
- standard equipment
- the equipment group and optional packages, with original prices
- base MSRP, destination charge and total MSRP
- EPA fuel economy
- the assembly plant
Coverage depends on Ford’s system, and it’s best for the current and last model year. In our testing, 2025 vehicles returned the real sticker, while several 2021–2022 VINs returned Ford’s “not yet released” notice. Older Fords are often unavailable, so we don’t promise a sticker for every VIN.
When there’s no sticker, we show the free NHTSA decode instead, clearly labeled “decoded data, not the original sticker”. That covers year, make, model, trim, series, body, engine, drivetrain, fuel type and the assembly plant where reported. You also get the number of NHTSA recall campaigns for that make, model and year, plus a link to nhtsa.gov to check open recalls for the exact VIN.
The Full Report is a one-time payment, with no subscription or account. It also has the paint code and full recall details (what’s wrong, the risk, the fix), all in one PDF with a permanent link. If a Ford sticker we showed as available can’t be delivered, we refund you automatically.
How to read Ford equipment group codes
Ford sells most of its options in bundles called equipment groups. The code is three digits and a letter, and on the F-150 the first digit lines up with the trim:
| Code range | F-150 trim | What it usually means |
|---|---|---|
| 300A–303A | XLT | Higher number, more equipment |
| 501A–502A | Lariat | 502A is the higher Lariat group |
Dealer listings often add “Mid” or “High” after the code. Those labels have shifted between model years, and Ford adds and drops groups over time, so treat the code as a pointer and read the sticker for the actual contents. Individual options (a tow package or a bed liner, for example) appear as separate lines under the equipment group, each with its own price.
What do EXT PNT, INT TR and TR mean on a Ford door label?
Open the driver’s door and look at the latch pillar. Ford’s Safety Compliance Certification Label lists these codes:
- EXT PNT is the exterior paint code. Ford says it’s usually two characters, and older vehicles may have more.
- INT TR is the interior trim code.
- TR is the transmission code. It’s not the trim level, which is a common mix-up.
- AXLE and SPR are the axle and spring codes.
- DATE, GVWR, tire size and pressure, and WB (wheelbase).
The label won’t tell you the equipment group or the option list. For those you need the sticker. Ford says replacement door-jamb labels are only available through a Ford dealer. For paint help, see our Ford paint code guide.
Is it a 301A or a 302A XLT?
The NHTSA decode usually reports the model and series, and often the trim name too: XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum, Tremor or Raptor on an F-150, for example. NHTSA works from the VIN pattern, so it can’t see options or the equipment group. To tell a 301A XLT from a 302A XLT, you need the sticker. Our trim lookup explains what the VIN can and can’t tell you.
When Ford’s system has nothing
If you get the “not yet released” notice, these are your best options:
- Ask the selling dealer to print the original sticker or the vehicle’s order details.
- Check the original purchase paperwork, which often includes the sticker.
- Call Ford’s Customer Relationship Center at 1-800-392-3673 with the VIN.
For other brands, see the general build sheet guide or the GM build sheet page.
Sources
- NHTSA vPIC VIN decoder, the free federal database behind our decode
- NHTSA recall lookup, to check open recalls on your exact VIN
Last updated November 5, 2026.
