You asked whether the law requires a commercial truck dealer to include a price sheet on a new truck for the consumer to know what the base price is. You also asked if the law requires retailers to have a price tag on all items being sold, including lawn equipment.

Federal law requires all new passenger cars and station wagons include a windshield or side window sticker. It must include, among other things, the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for the vehicle and for any accessory not included within the vehicle's price, and the delivery charge.

No other federal or state law appears to require anything similar for any other type of vehicle.

Many free websites such as Edmunds.com provide cost information for many vehicles such as pick up trucks that are often used for commercial purposes. This type of site typically provides the type of information required by federal law for automobiles. This includes the suggested manufacturer's retail price, the dealer's invoice price, and the destination charge. It may be that other web sites provide similar information for larger commercial vehicles, such as those defined by our motor vehicle safety and registration laws.

According to the Department of Consumer Protection, there is no law or regulation requiring prices to be posted on lawn equipment.

Federal law requires all new automobiles, which the law defines as passenger cars or station wagons, for sale to include an official form commonly known as a Monroney sticker (15 U.S.C. 28 §§ 1231-1233). The sticker, which must be affixed to the windshield or side window of every new car sold, must include

1. the make, model, and serial or identification number or numbers;

2. the final assembly point;

3. the name and the location of the dealer to whom it is to be delivered;

4. the method of transportation used to deliver the automobile, if driven or towed from final assembly point to dealer;

5. the amount charged for delivery to the dealer;

6. the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for the vehicle;

7. the manufacturer's suggested price for each accessory not included within the price;

8. the total cost of the vehicle itself, accessories, and delivery; and

9. if assigned and formally published or released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, information about safety ratings or, if not assigned, disclosure of such.

Failure to post the sticker is punished by a fine of $1,000 per vehicle plus one year in jail for each offense. The act does not apply to vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 8500 pounds (15 U.S.C. 28 §§ 1231-1233). DCP advises individuals to report violations to the department.

The Monroney sticker would not be required on commercial motor vehicles as defined in state law. State law defines a “commercial motor vehicle” for the purpose of motor vehicle safety, license, and registration laws as a vehicle designed or used to transport passengers or property or a recreational vehicle in private use, which (a) has a gross vehicle weight rating of at least 26,001 pounds, or a gross combination weight rating of at least 26,001 pounds, inclusive of towed units with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000; (b) is designed to transport 16 or more passengers or is designed to transport more than 10 passengers under the age of 21 to and from school; or (c) is transporting hazardous materials. This definition excludes vehicles used for farming, fire fighting or emergencies (CGS § 14-1(15)).

MR:ts