Vehicle lookup without a VIN — 3 operations (getYearMakeModel, getYearMakeModelOptions, decodeObdCode) returning trims, features and option packages by year/make/model, dropdown population data, and OBD-II diagnostic trouble code descriptions.
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openapi: 3.1.0
info:
title: CarsXE Year Make Model 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: Year Make Model
description: Year/make/model and OBD code endpoints
paths:
/v1/ymm:
get:
operationId: getYearMakeModel
security:
- ApiKeyQuery: []
- X402Payment: []
- {}
tags:
- Year Make Model
summary: Year Make Model
description: Look up vehicle data by year, make and model (and optionally trim) without a VIN.
parameters:
- name: year
in: query
required: true
schema:
type: string
description: The manufacturing year of the vehicle (numeric, between 1900 and the current model
year plus one).
- name: make
in: query
required: true
schema:
type: string
description: The manufacturer of the vehicle (e.g., Toyota, Ford, BMW).
- name: model
in: query
required: true
schema:
type: string
description: The specific model of the vehicle (e.g., Camry, F-150, X5).
- name: trim
in: query
required: false
schema:
type: string
description: The vehicle trim (e.g., XLE, XSE).
- name: allTrimOptions
in: query
required: false
schema:
type: string
enum:
- '1'
description: Return all trim options available for the year, make and model. Set to `1` to use.
responses:
'200':
description: Vehicle matched.
content:
application/json:
schema:
type: object
properties:
success:
type: boolean
bestMatch:
type: object
additionalProperties: true
trimOptions:
type: array
items:
type: object
additionalProperties: true
input:
type: object
additionalProperties: true
timestamp:
type: string
additionalProperties: true
example:
bestMatch:
make: Toyota
model: Camry
year: '2023'
name: XLE 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 8A)
trimOptions: []
success: true
input:
year: '2023'
make: Toyota
model: Camry
trim: XLE
timestamp: '2024-03-19T12:00:00.000Z'
'400':
description: Missing or invalid year, make or model.
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
examples:
missing:
value:
success: false
message: Missing year, make, or model
invalidYear:
value:
success: false
message: Invalid year. Provide a numeric year between 1900 and the current model year
plus one.
'401':
$ref: '#/components/responses/Unauthorized'
'404':
description: No vehicle matched the specified year, make and model.
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
example:
success: false
message: No vehicle found matching the specified year, make, and model. Try case-sensitive
search such as "2023 Toyota Camry"
'429':
$ref: '#/components/responses/UsageLimitExceeded'
'500':
description: Could not fetch data.
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
example:
success: false
message: Could not fetch data
/v1/ymm-options:
get:
operationId: getYearMakeModelOptions
security:
- ApiKeyQuery: []
- X402Payment: []
- {}
tags:
- Year Make Model
summary: Year Make Model Options
description: 'Populate Year, Make, Model, and Variant dropdown menus. Each response returns exactly
one layer. `dimension` is optional — when omitted, the response shape is inferred from `make`/`model`/`year`.
Billing: most calls cost 1 unit. `dimension=variants` with `year` + `make` (no `model`) costs
1 unit per model; the response includes `modelCount`. Required filters help you get better, more
relevant results. `year`, `make`, and `model` can be combined for reversed lookups (e.g. years
for a given make+model).'
parameters:
- name: dimension
in: query
required: false
schema:
type: string
enum:
- years
- makes
- models
- trims
- variants
description: Return exactly this array when required filters are present. If omitted, the response
is inferred automatically from `make`/`model`/`year`.
- name: year
in: query
required: false
schema:
type: string
description: Filter to a specific manufacturing year. Required when filtering by `model` without
`make`.
- name: make
in: query
required: false
schema:
type: string
description: Filter to a specific manufacturer (e.g., Toyota, Ford, Lexus). Required for `dimension=models`.
- name: model
in: query
required: false
schema:
type: string
description: Filter to a specific model (e.g., Camry, F-150, LX). Required for `dimension=trims`
and for `dimension=variants` unless both `year` and `make` are set.
- name: trim
in: query
required: false
schema:
type: string
description: Optional substring filter on trim names. Only applied when querying `dimension=trims`
or `dimension=variants`.
responses:
'200':
description: Distinct values for the requested (or inferred) dimension(s).
content:
application/json:
schema:
type: object
properties:
success:
type: boolean
input:
type: object
additionalProperties: true
message:
type: string
description: Optional guidance when the returned layer differs from the requested
dimension or when explaining how to get better results.
years:
type: array
items:
type: integer
makes:
type: array
items:
type: string
models:
type: array
items:
type: string
trims:
type: array
items:
type: string
variants:
type: array
items:
type: string
modelCount:
type: integer
description: Present only for bulk variants (`dimension=variants` + year + make, no
model). Number of distinct models, which is also the amount billed — except a zero-match
query, which returns 0 but still bills a minimum of 1 unit.
additionalProperties: true
examples:
variants:
summary: make+model given -> variants only
value:
success: true
input:
year: 2026
make: Toyota
model: Tacoma
variants:
- Tacoma Limited
- Tacoma SR
- Tacoma SR5
- Tacoma TRD Off-Road
- Tacoma TRD PreRunner
- Tacoma TRD Pro
- Tacoma TRD Sport
- Tacoma Trailhunter
modelsForMakeOnly:
summary: make given, no model -> models only (one layer per response)
value:
success: true
input:
year: 2026
make: Toyota
models:
- 4Runner
- Camry
- Corolla
- Tacoma
- Tundra
variantsForYearAndModel:
summary: year+model given, no make -> variants only
value:
success: true
input:
year: 2026
model: Tacoma
variants:
- Tacoma Limited
- Tacoma SR
- Tacoma SR5
- Tacoma TRD Pro
variantsForYearAndMake:
summary: dimension=variants with year+make -> billed per model (modelCount)
value:
success: true
input:
dimension: variants
year: 2025
make: Lexus
variants:
- ES 250
- ES 300h
- GX 550 Premium
- IS 300
- LX 600 Premium
- RX 350
modelCount: 6
variantsFallbackToModels:
summary: dimension=variants with make only (no year) -> models + message
value:
success: true
input:
dimension: variants
make: Toyota
message: To receive variants, include a model filter with this make. Models are returned
instead.
models:
- 4Runner
- Camry
- Corolla
- Tacoma
- Tundra
yearsForMakeModel:
summary: 'Reversed combination: dimension=years filtered by make+model'
value:
success: true
input:
dimension: years
make: Lexus
model: TX
years:
- 2026
- 2025
- 2024
'400':
description: Invalid dimension, invalid year, missing required filters, or model without make/year.
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
examples:
invalidDimension:
value:
success: false
message: 'Invalid dimension. Must be one of: years, makes, models, trims, variants.'
invalidYear:
value:
success: false
message: Invalid year. Provide a numeric year between 1900 and the current model year
plus one.
missingMakeForModels:
value:
success: false
message: A make filter is required to list models. Add make=... to get better results.
missingMakeOrModelForTrimsVariants:
value:
success: false
message: Trims and variants require a make or model filter. Add make=... or model=...
to get better results.
missingYearWhenModelWithoutMake:
value:
success: false
message: When filtering by model without make, a year filter is required. Add year=...
to get better results.
missingMakeWhenModelAmbiguous:
value:
success: false
message: This model name appears under multiple makes. Add make=... together with
year and model to get better results.
'401':
$ref: '#/components/responses/Unauthorized'
'429':
$ref: '#/components/responses/UsageLimitExceeded'
'500':
description: Could not fetch data.
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
example:
success: false
message: Could not fetch data
/obdcodesdecoder:
get:
operationId: decodeObdCode
security:
- ApiKeyQuery: []
- X402Payment: []
- {}
tags:
- Year Make Model
summary: OBD Codes Decoder
description: Decode an OBD-II diagnostic trouble code (e.g. P0115).
parameters:
- name: code
in: query
required: true
schema:
type: string
description: The OBD code.
responses:
'200':
description: OBD code decoded.
content:
application/json:
schema:
type: object
properties:
success:
type: boolean
diagnosis:
type: string
date:
type: string
code:
type: string
additionalProperties: true
example:
success: true
diagnosis: Engine Coolant Temperature Circuit Malfunction
date: '2020-07-04T21:44:39.767Z'
code: P0115
'400':
description: Missing OBD code.
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
example:
success: false
message: Missing OBD code
'401':
$ref: '#/components/responses/Unauthorized'
'404':
description: The OBD code could not be found.
content:
application/json:
schema:
$ref: '#/components/schemas/Error'
example:
success: false
message: Could not find code P9999
'429':
$ref: '#/components/responses/UsageLimitExceeded'
components:
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.