CarsXE Lien & Theft API
Encumbrance and theft screening — 1 operation (getLienTheft) returning active lien holders, theft reports and recovery status for a VIN, for lenders and pre-purchase due diligence.
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OpenAPI Specification
openapi: 3.1.0
info:
title: CarsXE Lien & Theft API
description: 'CarsXE is a B2B vehicle data API by PiWaves, LLC. It provides vehicle
specifications (VIN decoding), market values, vehicle history, recalls,
license plate decoding, vehicle images, plate/VIN image recognition,
Year Make Model data and OBD code decoding.
## Authentication
Most requests use a CarsXE API key in the `key` query parameter, e.g.
`https://api.carsxe.com/specs?key=YOUR_API_KEY&vin=...`. Supported endpoints
also accept x402 payment without a CarsXE key. Recalls Batch x402 follow-up
requests use the scoped `X-CarsXE-Batch-Token` returned at submission.
## Caching
Many endpoints cache upstream results. A cached response may include the
message "The response is from the cache".
'
version: 1.0.0
contact:
name: CarsXE
url: https://api.carsxe.com
servers:
- url: https://api.carsxe.com
security:
- ApiKeyQuery: []
tags:
- name: Lien & Theft
description: Lien and theft records by VIN
paths:
/v1/lien-theft:
get:
operationId: getLienTheft
security:
- ApiKeyQuery: []
- X402Payment: []
- {}
tags:
- Lien & Theft
summary: Lien & Theft records
description: Check a VIN for active lien and theft records (US).
parameters:
- $ref: '#/components/parameters/vin'
responses:
'200':
description: Lien/theft data retrieved.
content:
application/json:
schema:
type: object
properties:
success:
type: boolean
input:
type: object
additionalProperties: true
timestamp:
type: string
year:
type: integer
make:
type: string
model:
type: string
type:
type: string
events:
type: array
items:
type: object
additionalProperties: true
trim_data:
type: object
additionalProperties: true
additionalProperties: true
example:
success: true
input:
vin: 2C3CDXFG1FH762860
timestamp: '2025-12-07T20:32:11.027Z'
year: 2015
make: DODGE
model: Charger
type: CAR
events:
- event: Recovered Theft
location: OH
details_list:
- The vehicle is reported to be an Recovered Theft.
'400':
description: Missing or invalid VIN.
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
examples:
missingVin:
value:
success: false
message: Missing vin (vehicle identification number)
wrongLength:
value:
success: false
message: Wrong VIN length, must be 17 characters
'401':
$ref: '#/components/responses/Unauthorized'
'404':
description: No lien or theft data found for this VIN.
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
example:
success: false
message: No lien or theft data found for this VIN
'429':
$ref: '#/components/responses/UsageLimitExceeded'
components:
parameters:
vin:
name: vin
in: query
required: true
schema:
type: string
minLength: 17
maxLength: 17
description: The 17 character long vehicle identification number.
responses:
Unauthorized:
description: Missing API key, unknown/disabled API key, or inactive account.
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
examples:
missingKey:
value:
success: false
message: Missing API key
userNotFound:
value:
success: false
message: User with this API key was not found or the API key is disabled
userNotActive:
value:
success: false
message: User with this API key is not active. To activate update your billing on https://carsxe.com/dashboard/billing
UsageLimitExceeded:
description: API usage limit exceeded for the current billing period.
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/UsageLimitError'
example:
success: false
message: API usage limit exceeded
usage:
current: 1000
limit: 1000
remaining: 0
schemas:
Error:
type: object
properties:
success:
type: boolean
const: false
message:
type: string
required:
- success
- message
additionalProperties: true
UsageLimitError:
allOf:
- $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
- type: object
properties:
usage:
type: object
properties:
current:
type: number
description: Current usage in the billing period.
limit:
type: number
description: Included quota for the billing period.
remaining:
type: number
description: Remaining included quota.
securitySchemes:
ApiKeyQuery:
type: apiKey
in: query
name: key
description: Your CarsXE API key, passed as the `key` query parameter.
X402Payment:
type: apiKey
in: header
name: PAYMENT-SIGNATURE
description: x402 payment proof for supported operations. Start without a CarsXE key to receive
HTTP 402 payment requirements, then retry the identical request with the payment header produced
by your x402 client. CarsXE also accepts the legacy X-PAYMENT header.