License plate decoding — 3 operations (decodePlate, decodeUsPlate, decodePlateV2) resolving a registration plate plus country/state to vehicle make, model, year and (where available) VIN, across 50+ countries on the v2 endpoint.
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openapi: 3.1.0
info:
title: CarsXE Plate Decoder 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: Plate Decoder
description: Decode license plates into vehicle data
paths:
/platedecoder:
get:
operationId: decodePlate
security:
- ApiKeyQuery: []
- X402Payment: []
- {}
tags:
- Plate Decoder
summary: License Plate Decoder (v1)
description: 'Decode a license plate into vehicle data. Internally proxies to the v2
plate decoder. The `state` parameter accepts a two-letter US state
code, Australian state, or one of the legacy country codes `BR`, `UK`,
`IR`, `IT`, `ES`, `IND`, `MX`, `NZ`.
'
parameters:
- name: plate
in: query
required: true
schema:
type: string
description: The vehicle registration number or license plate number.
- name: state
in: query
required: true
schema:
type: string
description: The two letter state code (US) such as `CA` or `NY`, Australian state, or Brazil
`BR`, United Kingdom `UK`, Ireland `IR`, Italy `IT`, Spain `ES`, India `IND`, Mexico `MX`, New
Zealand `NZ`.
- name: country
in: query
required: false
schema:
type: string
description: Country code, e.g. Australia `AU`. Optional for `US`.
- $ref: '#/components/parameters/format'
responses:
'200':
description: Plate decoded.
content:
application/json:
schema:
type: object
properties:
success:
type: boolean
input:
type: object
additionalProperties: true
vin:
type: string
additionalProperties: true
example:
success: true
input:
plate: 7XER187
state: CA
country: US
vin: 3KPFK4A78HE103497
assembly: Mexico
Description: Kia Forte LX
BodyStyle: Sedan
RegistrationYear: '2017'
EngineSize: 2.0L I4 MPI
CarMake: Kia
CarModel: Forte
'400':
description: Missing plate or state.
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
examples:
missingPlate:
value:
success: false
message: Missing vehicle registration number or license plate number
missingState:
value:
success: false
message: Missing 2 letter state code
'401':
$ref: '#/components/responses/Unauthorized'
'404':
description: No data found for this plate (passed through from the v2 decoder).
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
example:
success: false
message: Could not fetch data
'429':
$ref: '#/components/responses/UsageLimitExceeded'
'502':
description: Upstream plate decoder request failed.
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
example:
success: false
message: Could not fetch data
'504':
description: Upstream plate decoder request timed out.
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
example:
success: false
message: Request timed out. Please try again.
/v1/us-platedecoder:
get:
operationId: decodeUsPlate
security:
- ApiKeyQuery: []
- X402Payment: []
- {}
tags:
- Plate Decoder
summary: US Vehicle Plate Decoder
description: 'Look up a US vehicle by license plate number and state. Returns the
VIN, year, make, model, trim, engine, body style, transmission, drive
type, fuel type and exterior color. Optionally decodes the VIN to
include the full vehicle specifications object. Accepts plates from all
50 US states, the District of Columbia (DC) and Puerto Rico (PR).
This endpoint is **not** available on the free Sandbox tier.
'
parameters:
- name: plate
in: query
required: true
schema:
type: string
description: The vehicle registration number or license plate number.
- name: state
in: query
required: true
schema:
type: string
description: Two-letter abbreviation for one of the 50 US states, the District of Columbia (`DC`),
or Puerto Rico (`PR`).
- name: decodeVIN
in: query
required: false
schema:
type: string
enum:
- 'true'
- '1'
description: Set to `true` or `1` to decode the resolved VIN and include a `vehicle_specs` object
in the response (identical in shape to the Specifications endpoint response).
responses:
'200':
description: Plate decoded successfully.
content:
application/json:
schema:
type: object
properties:
success:
type: boolean
input:
type: object
properties:
plate:
type: string
state:
type: string
additionalProperties: true
vin:
type: string
year:
type: string
make:
type: string
model:
type: string
trim:
type: string
description:
type: string
engine_size:
type: string
body_style:
type: string
transmission:
type: string
drive_type:
type: string
fuel_type:
type: string
color:
type: string
vehicle_specs:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/SpecsResponse'
description: Full vehicle specifications (only present when `decodeVIN=true`).
additionalProperties: true
example:
success: true
input:
plate: H37SFS
state: NJ
vin: 1GNSCGKC0JR318026
year: '2018'
make: Chevrolet
model: Suburban
trim: LS
description: 2018 Chevrolet Suburban
engine_size: 5.3L V8 OHV 16V
body_style: SUV
transmission: Automatic
drive_type: RWD
fuel_type: Flexible-Fuel
color: Black
'400':
description: Missing plate, state, or API key.
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
examples:
missingPlate:
value:
success: false
message: Missing vehicle registration number or license plate number
missingState:
value:
success: false
message: Missing 2 letter state code
'401':
$ref: '#/components/responses/Unauthorized'
'404':
description: No data found for this plate/state combination.
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
example:
success: false
message: Could not fetch data
'429':
$ref: '#/components/responses/UsageLimitExceeded'
'500':
$ref: '#/components/responses/InternalServerError'
/v2/platedecoder:
get:
operationId: decodePlateV2
security:
- ApiKeyQuery: []
- X402Payment: []
- {}
tags:
- Plate Decoder
summary: License Plate Decoder (v2)
description: 'Decode a license plate into vehicle data across 60+ supported
countries. `country` is an ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code (optional for `US`).
`state` is required for `US`, `AU` and `CA`. For Pakistan (`PK`) a
`district` is also required for the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
For Spain (`ES`), set `require_vin=true` to always include a VIN.
Additional charges apply: when `require_vin=true`, the request is
billed 2x and usage counts 2x.
'
parameters:
- name: plate
in: query
required: true
schema:
type: string
description: The vehicle registration number or license plate number.
- name: country
in: query
required: false
schema:
type: string
description: ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code such as `AU` for Australia or `ZA` for South Africa.
Optional for `US`.
- name: state
in: query
required: false
schema:
type: string
description: The two letter state code (US) such as `CA` or `NY`, an Australian state (e.g. `NSW`,
`VIC`), or a Canadian province (e.g. `ON`). Required only for `US`, `AU` and `CA`.
- name: district
in: query
required: false
schema:
type: string
description: The district of the vehicle registration number. Required for Pakistan (`PK`) plates
registered in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
- name: require_vin
in: query
required: false
schema:
type: boolean
description: Only supported when `country=ES`. Set to `true` to always include a VIN. The request
is billed 2x and usage counts 2x.
responses:
'200':
description: Plate decoded.
content:
application/json:
schema:
type: object
properties:
success:
type: boolean
input:
type: object
additionalProperties: true
description:
type: string
make:
type: string
model:
type: string
trim:
type: string
vin:
type: string
year:
type: string
additionalProperties: true
example:
success: true
input:
plate: 7XER187
state: CA
country: US
description: Kia Forte LX
make: Kia
model: Forte
trim: LX
vin: 3KPFK4A78HE103497
style: Sedan 4D
year: '2017'
assembly: Mexico
fuel_type: Gasoline
color: White
body_style: Sedan
engine_size: 2.0L I4 MPI
drive_type: FWD
transmission: Automatic
'400':
description: Missing plate, or `require_vin` used with a country other than ES.
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
examples:
missingPlate:
value:
success: false
message: Missing vehicle registration number or license plate number
requireVin:
value:
success: false
message: The require_vin parameter is only supported when country=ES.
'401':
$ref: '#/components/responses/Unauthorized'
'404':
description: Invalid state/country/district, or no data found for this plate.
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
examples:
invalidState:
value:
success: false
message: Invalid state or country code.
invalidDistrict:
value:
success: false
message: Invalid district
notFound:
value:
success: false
message: Plate searches for this country have been disabled, or No data found for
this plate
'429':
$ref: '#/components/responses/UsageLimitExceeded'
components:
parameters:
format:
name: format
in: query
required: false
schema:
type: string
enum:
- json
- xml
default: json
description: The format of the response. One of `json` or `xml`.
responses:
InternalServerError:
description: Internal server error.
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
example:
success: false
message: Internal server error
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
SpecsResponse:
allOf:
- $ref: '#/components/schemas/SuccessEnvelope'
- type: object
properties:
attributes:
type: object
description: A map of specifications about the VIN (year, make, model, trim, style, type,
size, category, made_in, doors, fuel_type, engine, transmission, drivetrain, dimensions,
pricing and more).
additionalProperties: true
colors:
type: array
description: Available color options based on the vehicle's year, make and model.
items:
type: object
properties:
category:
type: string
name:
type: string
additionalProperties: true
equipment:
type: object
description: Equipment details based on the vehicle's year, make and model.
additionalProperties: true
warranties:
type: array
description: Standard vehicle warranties by type, miles and months.
items:
type: object
properties:
type:
type: string
miles:
type: string
months:
type: string
additionalProperties: true
deepdata:
type: object
description: More information on the vehicle from the deep data search (present when `deepdata=1`).
additionalProperties: true
SuccessEnvelope:
type: object
description: Generic success envelope. Endpoint-specific payload fields appear at the top level
alongside these common fields.
properties:
success:
type: boolean
input:
type: object
description: Echo of the input parameters specified by the query.
additionalProperties: true
timestamp:
type: string
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.