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 RPO Codes Explained — Regular Production Options

Every GM vehicle is built to a list of RPO codes. Understanding them is the key to reading a Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, or GMC build sheet — and confirming exactly how a vehicle left the factory.

What is an RPO code?

An RPO code — Regular Production Option — is General Motors' standard way of recording a vehicle's configuration. Each code is a three-character combination of letters and numbers (for example Z71) that stands for one specific option, package, or piece of equipment the vehicle was built with.

A vehicle's complete build is simply the full list of RPO codes it was assembled with — engine, transmission, axle, suspension, paint, interior, wheels, audio, safety, and every package in between. That list is what the build sheet shows.

Where are RPO codes located?

You don't have to memorize them — but they're printed in a few standard places, and the factory build sheet lists them all:

The Service Parts Identification (SPID) label. A sticker inside the glovebox, center console lid, or spare-tire well that lists the vehicle's RPO codes.
The factory build sheet. The complete, definitive list — retrieved by VIN. That's what this site pulls for you.
The window sticker (Monroney label). Translates the key options into plain descriptions and pricing for newer vehicles.

Common GM RPO code examples

These are some of the most frequently seen GM RPO codes and what they typically represent:

Code	Equipment
Z71	Off-Road Suspension Package (twin-tube shocks, skid plates, hill descent)
G80	Locking / limited-slip rear differential
NHT	Max Trailering Package
Z85	Standard / heavy-duty suspension
LS3	6.2L V8 engine
L86	6.2L V8 EcoTec3 engine
L83	5.3L V8 EcoTec3 engine
LFX	3.6L V6 engine
UQA	Bose premium audio system
AG1	Power driver-seat adjuster
C49	Rear-window defogger
AU3	Power door locks

These examples are for illustration. The exact meaning of a code can vary by model, year, and GM division, and a code may be superseded over time. Your VIN's build sheet is the definitive source — look it up to decode every RPO code on your specific vehicle.

Decode every RPO code on your vehicle

Enter your 17-character VIN on the home page to pull the factory build sheet and see the full list of RPO codes and equipment your Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, or GMC was built with. For a category-by-category tour, see the equipment examples.