What is a GM build sheet?

A build sheet is General Motors' own factory assembly record for a specific VIN. It lists the RPO (Regular Production Option) codes the vehicle was built with — every package, individual option, paint and trim selection, axle ratio, and equipment group — exactly as it left the plant.

Where a window sticker is written for the buyer with plain descriptions and pricing, the build sheet is the underlying code-level truth. It's the most reliable way to confirm how a used Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, or GMC was originally configured, long after the original paperwork is gone.

Window sticker vs. build sheet

Newer GM vehicles (roughly 2020 and later) usually have the original window sticker PDF on file — the Monroney label with standard and optional equipment, fuel economy, warranty, and the full MSRP breakdown.

When a window sticker isn't on file, this tool automatically falls back to the build sheet: the list of RPO codes with their descriptions. Either way you come away with the factory record of how the vehicle was equipped.

RPO codes explained

Every factory option on a GM vehicle has a three-character RPO code — for example a specific paint, a tow package, a sunroof, or an audio system. These codes are also printed on the label inside the glovebox or spare-tire well.

The build sheet pairs each code with a readable description, so you can translate a glovebox full of codes into the actual packages and features the vehicle carries. That makes it easy to verify a seller's claims or settle exactly which options are factory.

GM Equipment & Options Examples by Category

A GM build sheet organizes a vehicle's RPO codes into equipment categories. Here's what each category covers, with common examples, so you know what to look for when you decode your VIN.

Engines

The powertrain codes identify the exact engine a vehicle was built with — displacement, configuration, and family.

Code	Engine
LS3	6.2L V8
L86	6.2L V8 EcoTec3
L83	5.3L V8 EcoTec3
LFX	3.6L V6

Suspension & off-road

Suspension codes cover ride tuning and off-road hardware — the difference between a road-focused and a trail-ready truck.

Code	Equipment
Z71	Off-Road Suspension Package
Z85	Standard / heavy-duty suspension
FE9	Federal emissions calibration

Axles, differentials & trailering

These codes define how power reaches the wheels and how much the vehicle can tow.

Code	Equipment
G80	Locking / limited-slip rear differential
NHT	Max Trailering Package
Z82	Trailering equipment

Interior, audio & technology

Comfort and technology codes cover seating, climate, audio, and driver-assistance features.

Code	Equipment
UQA	Bose premium audio system
AG1	Power driver-seat adjuster
C49	Rear-window defogger
AU3	Power door locks

These are common examples for illustration only. The exact code-to-equipment mapping varies by model, year, and GM division. Your VIN's build sheet is the definitive list — look it up to see the real equipment your vehicle was built with. For more on the codes themselves, read RPO codes explained.