VIN decoding for North American and international vehicles — 2 operations (getVehicleSpecs, getInternationalVinDecoder) returning year, make, model, trim, engine, drivetrain, body style, dimensions, equipment and option data from a 17-character VIN.
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openapi: 3.1.0
info:
title: CarsXE Specifications 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: Specifications
description: VIN decoding and vehicle specifications
paths:
/specs:
get:
operationId: getVehicleSpecs
security:
- ApiKeyQuery: []
- X402Payment: []
- {}
tags:
- Specifications
summary: Vehicle Specifications (VIN decoder)
description: 'Decode a 17-character VIN and return detailed vehicle specifications,
including attributes, colors, equipment and warranties. If the VIN
cannot be decoded, an International VIN decoding check is run as a
fallback unless `disableIntVINDecoding=1` is set.
'
parameters:
- $ref: '#/components/parameters/vin'
- $ref: '#/components/parameters/format'
- name: deepdata
in: query
required: false
schema:
type: string
enum:
- '1'
description: Request extra data. Set to `1` to use. Significantly slower than the regular request
but retrieves additional data.
- name: disableIntVINDecoding
in: query
required: false
schema:
type: string
enum:
- '1'
description: Set to `1` to disable the International VIN decoding fallback and return an error
instead of a potential partial response.
responses:
'200':
description: Vehicle specifications retrieved.
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/SpecsResponse'
example:
success: true
input:
key: API_KEY
vin: WBAFR7C57CC811956
attributes:
year: '2012'
make: BMW
model: 5-Series
trim: 535i
style: SEDAN 4-DR
type: Sedan/Saloon
made_in: GERMANY
doors: '4'
fuel_type: Gasoline
engine: 3.0L L6 DOHC 24V
engine_cylinders: '6'
transmission: 6-Speed Manual | 8-Speed Automatic
drivetrain: RWD
colors:
- category: Interior
name: Black Dakota Leather Interior
- category: Exterior
name: Alpine White
equipment:
abs_brakes: Std.
air_conditioning: Std.
warranties:
- type: Basic
miles: 50,000 mile
months: 48 month
timestamp: '2025-10-01T22:40:36.374Z'
'400':
description: Missing or invalid VIN.
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
example:
success: false
message: Missing vin (vehicle identification number)
'401':
$ref: '#/components/responses/Unauthorized'
'404':
description: No data found for this VIN.
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
example:
success: false
message: No data found for this VIN. Try a deep search by setting deepdata=1 in your request
'429':
$ref: '#/components/responses/UsageLimitExceeded'
'500':
$ref: '#/components/responses/InternalServerError'
/v1/international-vin-decoder:
get:
operationId: getInternationalVinDecoder
security:
- ApiKeyQuery: []
- X402Payment: []
- {}
tags:
- Specifications
summary: International VIN Decoder
description: Decode a non-US (international) VIN into vehicle attributes.
parameters:
- $ref: '#/components/parameters/vin'
responses:
'200':
description: International VIN decoded.
content:
application/json:
schema:
type: object
properties:
success:
type: boolean
input:
type: object
additionalProperties: true
attributes:
type: object
description: Decoded vehicle attributes.
additionalProperties: true
timestamp:
type: string
additionalProperties: true
example:
success: true
input:
vin: WF0MXXGBWM8R43240
attributes:
vin: WF0MXXGBWM8R43240
vid: '1623'
make: Ford
model: Galaxy
timestamp: '2025-04-11T00:05:36.457Z'
'400':
description: Missing VIN.
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
example:
success: false
message: Missing vin (vehicle identification number)
'401':
$ref: '#/components/responses/Unauthorized'
'404':
description: No data found for this VIN.
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
example:
success: false
message: No data found for this VIN
'429':
$ref: '#/components/responses/UsageLimitExceeded'
'500':
$ref: '#/components/responses/InternalServerError'
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`.
vin:
name: vin
in: query
required: true
schema:
type: string
minLength: 17
maxLength: 17
description: The 17 character long vehicle identification number.
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.