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carsagecarsage

Overview

Automotive data APIs for developers.

For AI agents & vibe coding

Copy-paste prompts, global coverage (not US-only like NHTSA), and machine-readable context for LLMs.

Developer & AI guidellms.txtllms-full.txt

OpenAPI reference

Machine-readable spec is published by the backend. Interactive Swagger UI:

https://api.carsage.dev/docs

Base URL

https://api.carsage.dev/

Product routes are versioned under /v1/...

Quick Start

  1. Create an account
  2. Complete setup (organization → billing → API key)
  3. Copy your API key from API Keys
  4. Run your first request (example below)
curl -X GET "https://api.carsage.dev/v1/vin/decode/WP0AF2A99KS165242" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json"

Authentication

Send your API key in the Authorization header or as X-API-Key:

Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY

Example: GET /v1/vin/decode/WP0AF2A99KS165242

APIs by Plan

Starter

Pay-per-request only — credit card required. Rate limit: 5 req/sec. VIN Decode Basic only. Recalls, safety, fuel, and premium endpoints require Growth or Scale.

Growth

Adds recalls, safety ratings, fuel economy, VIN Decode Full, and plate-to-VIN. Rate limit: 15 req/sec. See pricing for included volumes.

Scale

Adds market value, stolen check, and batch VIN decode. Rate limit: 50 req/sec.

Available Endpoints

  • VIN Decode

    Decode a VIN to year, make, model, and core vehicle attributes.

    Request

    GET /v1/vin/decode/:vin

    Minimum plan: Starter · pricing details

  • VIN Decode Full

    Extended VIN decode with additional fields beyond the basic response.

    Request

    GET /v1/vin/decode/:vin/full

    Minimum plan: Growth or Scale · pricing details

  • Vehicle Recalls

    Open and historical recall campaigns for a vehicle by VIN.

    Request

    GET /v1/vehicle/:vin/recalls

    Minimum plan: Growth or Scale · pricing details

  • Safety Ratings

    Crash-test and safety rating data for a vehicle by VIN.

    Request

    GET /v1/vehicle/:vin/safety

    Minimum plan: Growth or Scale · pricing details

  • Fuel Economy

    EPA fuel economy ratings and related efficiency data by VIN.

    Request

    GET /v1/vehicle/:vin/fuel-economy

    Minimum plan: Growth or Scale · pricing details

  • Plate-to-VIN

    Look up a VIN from a license plate number.

    Request

    GET /v1/plate/:plate/vin

    Minimum plan: Growth or Scale · pricing details

  • Market Value

    Estimated market value for a vehicle by VIN.

    Request

    GET /v1/vehicle/:vin/market-value

    Minimum plan: Scale · pricing details

  • Stolen Vehicle Check

    Check whether a vehicle has been reported stolen.

    Request

    GET /v1/vehicle/:vin/stolen-check

    Minimum plan: Scale · pricing details

  • Batch VIN Decode

    Decode multiple VINs in a single request (Scale plan).

    Request

    POST /v1/batch/vin/decode

    Minimum plan: Scale · pricing details

Coming Soon

These products are not on the API yet. They are hidden from plan cards until launch. See the full roadmap.

  • Specifications

    Detailed technical specifications, features, and options for any vehicle model.

  • Total Cost of Ownership

    Ownership cost estimates including fuel, maintenance, and depreciation.

  • Taxes & Fees

    Registration taxes and fees by state and vehicle attributes.

  • OEM Build Data

    Factory equipment details and original build sheet information.

  • Vehicle Photos

    High-quality vehicle images and photo galleries.

  • Vehicle Listings

    Active vehicle listings with pricing and availability.

  • Interest Rates

    Auto loan interest rate benchmarks and lender data.

  • Vehicle Payments

    Monthly payment estimates for financing scenarios.

  • Open Recalls

    Dedicated open-recall lookup (use Vehicle Recalls today).