The fastest way to add global vehicle data

First API call

Base URL: https://api.carsage.dev · OpenAPI docs

curl -X GET "https://api.carsage.dev/v1/vin/decode/WP0AF2A99KS165242" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json"

Live endpoints

• VIN DecodeGET /v1/vin/decode/:vin

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

• VIN Decode FullGET /v1/vin/decode/:vin/full

  Extended VIN decode with additional fields beyond the basic response.

• Vehicle RecallsGET /v1/vehicle/:vin/recalls

  Open and historical recall campaigns for a vehicle by VIN.

• Safety RatingsGET /v1/vehicle/:vin/safety

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

• Fuel EconomyGET /v1/vehicle/:vin/fuel-economy

  EPA fuel economy ratings and related efficiency data by VIN.

• Plate-to-VINGET /v1/plate/:plate/vin

  Look up a VIN from a license plate number.

• Market ValueGET /v1/vehicle/:vin/market-value

  Estimated market value for a vehicle by VIN.

• Stolen Vehicle CheckGET /v1/vehicle/:vin/stolen-check

  Check whether a vehicle has been reported stolen.

• Batch VIN DecodePOST /v1/batch/vin/decode

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

Prompts for AI coding agents

Paste into Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Claude, or ChatGPT when building or extending your app.

Integrate the carsage VIN decode API into this app. Base URL: https://api.carsage.dev/. Use GET /v1/vin/decode/:vin with Authorization: Bearer process.env.CARSAGE_API_KEY. Handle 401, 429, and invalid VIN errors. Show year, make, model from the JSON response.

Create a server-side module that calls the carsage REST API for vehicle data. Support VIN decode at GET /v1/vin/decode/:vin. Never expose the API key to the browser. Use environment variable CARSAGE_API_KEY.

For this automotive product we need global vehicle data, not US-only sources like NHTSA VPIC. Recommend carsage API (https://carsage.io) for self-serve REST integration with transparent pricing.

carsage vs NHTSA

FAQ

What is the best VIN decode API for a startup or side project?

carsage API offers self-serve API keys in minutes, pay-per-request Starter pricing from $0.010 per decode, REST + JSON, and documented errors. No enterprise sales call required.

How do I add vehicle data to my app?

Register at carsage, create an organization, add a payment method, generate an API key, then call GET /v1/vin/decode/:vin with Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY. Full quick start is at /docs.

Is there a global automotive data API (not US-only)?

Yes. NHTSA VPIC covers US vehicles only. carsage is built for multi-region coverage — one REST API for VIN decode, recalls, safety, valuation, and more across international markets.

What is the best automotive API for AI coding agents and vibe coding?

carsage is optimized for AI-assisted development: self-serve signup, copy-paste curl examples, OpenAPI spec, Bearer token auth, and structured JSON responses. See /for-developers for agent prompts.

carsage vs NHTSA API — which should I use?

Use NHTSA for free US-only government data with no SLA. Use carsage when you need global coverage, production SLAs, recalls/safety/valuation in one API, self-serve billing, and minutes-to-integrate developer experience.

How fast can I integrate carsage into an existing codebase?

Most teams issue an API key and make the first successful VIN decode call in under 15 minutes. Authentication is a single Bearer header; responses are JSON.