Department of Transportation website screenshot

Department of Transportation

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and its operating administrations - NHTSA, FMCSA, FAA, FRA, FTA, MARAD, PHMSA, and BTS - publish a number of public APIs covering vehicles, motor carriers, aviation, transit, freight, and transportation statistics.

Department of Transportation publishes 14 APIs on the APIs.io network, including Airport Status API, Authority API, Carriers API, and 11 more. Tagged areas include Federal Government, Transportation, Vehicles, Aviation, and Motor Carriers.

The Department of Transportation catalog on APIs.io includes 1 JSON-LD context and 2 Spectral governance rulesets.

Department of Transportation’s developer surface includes authentication, developer portal, documentation, and 3 more developer resources.

🌐 Visit website 📡 Source on GitHub
44.1/100 developing ▬ flat Agent 31/100 agent aware Full breakdown ↓
scored 2026-07-28 · rubric v0.6
AccessFreeSelf serve⚡ Free to try
18 APIs
Federal GovernmentTransportationVehiclesAviationMotor Carriers

Kin Score

Kin Score Kin Score How this is scored →
scored 2026-07-28 · rubric v0.6
Composite quality — 44.1/100 · developing
Contract Quality 15.1 / 25
Developer Ergonomics 5.7 / 20
Commercial Clarity 5.8 / 20
Operational Transparency 4.1 / 13
Governance 7.0 / 12
Discoverability 6.5 / 10
Agent readiness — 31/100 · agent aware
Machine-Readable Contract 18 / 18
Agentic Access Contract 10 / 10
MCP Server 0 / 12
Machine-Readable Auth 10 / 10
Idempotency 0 / 9
Stable Error Semantics 0 / 8
Request/Response Examples 0 / 7
Rate-Limit Signaling 7 / 7
Typed Event Surface 0 / 6
Agent Skills 0 / 5
Well-Known Catalog 0 / 4
Consent & Bot Identity 0 / 3
A2A Agent Card 0 / 8
Dry-Run / Simulate Mode 0 / 4
Improve this rating by publishing the missing artifacts — every area above can be raised, and the full rubric is at apis.io/rating/. This rating is computed from github.com/api-evangelist/department-of-transportation: open an issue to ask a question, or submit a pull request to add artifacts. Want it done for you? Prioritized profiling — $2,500 →

APIs 18

Individual APIs this provider publishes, each with its own machine-readable definition.

Bureau of Transportation Statistics Data Portal

Public datasets and downloadable data products published by BTS.

Federal Railroad Administration Safety Data

FRA Office of Safety Analysis - rail incident, accident, and inspection data.

Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database

Public-transportation operating, financial, and asset data submitted by transit agencies under the National Transit Database.

PHMSA Pipeline Safety Data

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration incident, mileage, and operator data for U.S. pipelines.

Department of Transportation Airport Status API

The Airport Status API from Department of Transportation — 1 operation(s) for airport status.

Department of Transportation Authority API

Operating authority records

Department of Transportation Carriers API

Motor carrier lookups

Department of Transportation Complaints API

Consumer complaint data

Department of Transportation Crashes API

Crash data

Department of Transportation Inspections API

Roadside inspection data

Department of Transportation Makes API

Vehicle makes

Department of Transportation Manufacturers API

Vehicle manufacturers

Department of Transportation Models API

Vehicle models

Department of Transportation Ratings API

5-Star Safety Ratings

Department of Transportation Recalls API

Vehicle, equipment, child seat, and tire recalls

Department of Transportation Vehicle Variables API

Vehicle variable definitions

Department of Transportation VIN Decode API

Decode VINs into structured vehicle data

Department of Transportation WMI API

World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) decoding

Scroll for all 18

Open Collections 4

Open, tool-agnostic API collections (OpenAPI-derived and Bruno).

FAA Airport Status API

OPEN COLLECTION

FMCSA QCMobile API

OPEN COLLECTION

NHTSA Vehicle Safety API

OPEN COLLECTION

NHTSA vPIC (Vehicle Product Information Catalog) API

OPEN COLLECTION

Pricing Plans 1

Published pricing tiers and plan structures.

Department Of Transportation Plans Pricing

1 plans

PLANS

Rate Limits 1

Documented rate limits and quota policies.

Department Of Transportation Rate Limits

3 limits

RATE LIMITS

FinOps 1

Cost, billing, and metering signals for API financial operations.

Department Of Transportation Finops

FINOPS

Semantic Vocabularies 1

JSON-LD contexts and semantic vocabularies used across these APIs.

Dot Context

0 classes · 4 properties

JSON-LD

Spectral Rules 2

Spectral governance rulesets for linting and validating these APIs.

Department of Transportation API Rules

5 rules · 3 warnings 2 info

SPECTRAL

Department of Transportation API Rules

0 rules ·

SPECTRAL

JSON Schema 3

Standalone JSON Schema definitions for this provider's data models.

Motor Carrier (FMCSA)

14 properties

JSON SCHEMA

NHTSA Vehicle Recall

12 properties

JSON SCHEMA

Vehicle (NHTSA vPIC)

21 properties

JSON SCHEMA

Examples 2

Example request and response payloads for these APIs.

Recall Example

3 fields

EXAMPLE

Vin Decode Example

4 fields

EXAMPLE

Security Posture 2

Authentication, domain security, vulnerability disclosure, and trust-center signals.

Department Of Transportation Authentication

apiKey · 1 scheme

SECURITY

Department Of Transportation Domain Security

TLSv1.3 · HSTS · DNSSEC · DMARC

SECURITY

Agentic Access 1

Recommended x-agentic-access execution contracts for AI agents.

Department Of Transportation Agentic Access

20 operations · 1 acting

20 operations · 1 acting

AGENTIC

Resources

Get Started 1

Portal, sign-up, and the first successful call

Portal
Portal

Documentation 1

Reference material describing how the API behaves

Documentation
Documentation

Agent Surfaces 1

MCP servers, agent skills, and machine-readable catalogs

AgenticAccess
AgenticAccess

Access & Security 2

Authentication, authorization, and security posture

DomainSecurity
DomainSecurity
 Authentication
Authentication

Company 1

The organization behind the API

LinkedIn
LinkedIn

Source (apis.yml)

apis.yml Raw ↑ 
aid: department-of-transportation
name: Department of Transportation
description: The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and its operating administrations - NHTSA, FMCSA, FAA, FRA, FTA,
  MARAD, PHMSA, and BTS - publish a number of public APIs covering vehicles, motor carriers, aviation, transit, freight, and
  transportation statistics.
url: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/api-evangelist/department-of-transportation/main/apis.yml
accessModel:
  pricing: free
  onboarding: self-serve
  trial: false
  try_now: true
  public: false
  label: Free · Self-serve signup
  confidence: high
  source:
  - plans
  - authentication
  generated: '2026-07-22'
  method: derived
image: https://kinlane-images.s3.amazonaws.com/shared/apis-json/icons/department-of-transportation.png
created: '2024-12-03'
modified: '2026-05-19'
type: Index
position: Consuming
access: 3rd-Party
specificationVersion: '0.20'
tags:
- Federal Government
- Transportation
- Vehicles
- Aviation
- Motor Carriers
common:
- type: AgenticAccess
  url: agentic-access/department-of-transportation-agentic-access.yml
- type: DomainSecurity
  url: security/department-of-transportation-domain-security.yml
- type: Authentication
  url: authentication/department-of-transportation-authentication.yml
- type: LinkedIn
  url: https://www.linkedin.com/company/usdot
- url: https://www.transportation.gov/
  type: Portal
- url: https://www.transportation.gov/digitalstrategy/developer
  type: Documentation
apis:
- aid: department-of-transportation:bts-data-portal
  name: Bureau of Transportation Statistics Data Portal
  description: Public datasets and downloadable data products published by BTS.
  humanURL: https://www.bts.gov/data-portals
  tags:
  - BTS
  - Statistics
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://www.bts.gov/data-portals
- aid: department-of-transportation:fra-safety-data
  name: Federal Railroad Administration Safety Data
  description: FRA Office of Safety Analysis - rail incident, accident, and inspection data.
  humanURL: https://safetydata.fra.dot.gov/
  tags:
  - FRA
  - Rail
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://safetydata.fra.dot.gov/OfficeofSafety/Default.aspx
- aid: department-of-transportation:fta-ntd-api
  name: Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database
  description: Public-transportation operating, financial, and asset data submitted by transit agencies under the National
    Transit Database.
  humanURL: https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd
  tags:
  - FTA
  - Transit
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd
- aid: department-of-transportation:phmsa-pipeline-data
  name: PHMSA Pipeline Safety Data
  description: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration incident, mileage, and operator data for U.S. pipelines.
  humanURL: https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/data-and-statistics
  tags:
  - PHMSA
  - Pipelines
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/data-and-statistics
- aid: department-of-transportation:department-of-transportation-airport-status-api
  name: Department of Transportation Airport Status API
  description: The Airport Status API from Department of Transportation — 1 operation(s) for airport status.
  humanURL: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/
  baseURL: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api
  tags:
  - Airport Status
  properties:
  - type: OpenAPI
    url: openapi/department-of-transportation-airport-status-api-openapi.yml
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/vehicle-schema.json
  - type: Examples
    url: examples/vin-decode-example.json
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://api.nhtsa.gov/
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/recall-schema.json
  - type: Examples
    url: examples/recall-example.json
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services/getting-started
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/carrier-schema.json
  - type: Authentication
    url: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services/manage
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://www.faa.gov/data
- aid: department-of-transportation:department-of-transportation-authority-api
  name: Department of Transportation Authority API
  description: Operating authority records
  humanURL: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/
  baseURL: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api
  tags:
  - Authority
  properties:
  - type: OpenAPI
    url: openapi/department-of-transportation-authority-api-openapi.yml
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/vehicle-schema.json
  - type: Examples
    url: examples/vin-decode-example.json
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://api.nhtsa.gov/
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/recall-schema.json
  - type: Examples
    url: examples/recall-example.json
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services/getting-started
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/carrier-schema.json
  - type: Authentication
    url: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services/manage
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://www.faa.gov/data
- aid: department-of-transportation:department-of-transportation-carriers-api
  name: Department of Transportation Carriers API
  description: Motor carrier lookups
  humanURL: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/
  baseURL: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api
  tags:
  - Carriers
  properties:
  - type: OpenAPI
    url: openapi/department-of-transportation-carriers-api-openapi.yml
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/vehicle-schema.json
  - type: Examples
    url: examples/vin-decode-example.json
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://api.nhtsa.gov/
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/recall-schema.json
  - type: Examples
    url: examples/recall-example.json
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services/getting-started
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/carrier-schema.json
  - type: Authentication
    url: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services/manage
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://www.faa.gov/data
- aid: department-of-transportation:department-of-transportation-complaints-api
  name: Department of Transportation Complaints API
  description: Consumer complaint data
  humanURL: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/
  baseURL: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api
  tags:
  - Complaints
  properties:
  - type: OpenAPI
    url: openapi/department-of-transportation-complaints-api-openapi.yml
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/vehicle-schema.json
  - type: Examples
    url: examples/vin-decode-example.json
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://api.nhtsa.gov/
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/recall-schema.json
  - type: Examples
    url: examples/recall-example.json
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services/getting-started
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/carrier-schema.json
  - type: Authentication
    url: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services/manage
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://www.faa.gov/data
- aid: department-of-transportation:department-of-transportation-crashes-api
  name: Department of Transportation Crashes API
  description: Crash data
  humanURL: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/
  baseURL: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api
  tags:
  - Crashes
  properties:
  - type: OpenAPI
    url: openapi/department-of-transportation-crashes-api-openapi.yml
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/vehicle-schema.json
  - type: Examples
    url: examples/vin-decode-example.json
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://api.nhtsa.gov/
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/recall-schema.json
  - type: Examples
    url: examples/recall-example.json
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services/getting-started
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/carrier-schema.json
  - type: Authentication
    url: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services/manage
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://www.faa.gov/data
- aid: department-of-transportation:department-of-transportation-inspections-api
  name: Department of Transportation Inspections API
  description: Roadside inspection data
  humanURL: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/
  baseURL: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api
  tags:
  - Inspections
  properties:
  - type: OpenAPI
    url: openapi/department-of-transportation-inspections-api-openapi.yml
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/vehicle-schema.json
  - type: Examples
    url: examples/vin-decode-example.json
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://api.nhtsa.gov/
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/recall-schema.json
  - type: Examples
    url: examples/recall-example.json
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services/getting-started
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/carrier-schema.json
  - type: Authentication
    url: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services/manage
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://www.faa.gov/data
- aid: department-of-transportation:department-of-transportation-makes-api
  name: Department of Transportation Makes API
  description: Vehicle makes
  humanURL: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/
  baseURL: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api
  tags:
  - Makes
  properties:
  - type: OpenAPI
    url: openapi/department-of-transportation-makes-api-openapi.yml
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/vehicle-schema.json
  - type: Examples
    url: examples/vin-decode-example.json
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://api.nhtsa.gov/
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/recall-schema.json
  - type: Examples
    url: examples/recall-example.json
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services/getting-started
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/carrier-schema.json
  - type: Authentication
    url: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services/manage
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://www.faa.gov/data
- aid: department-of-transportation:department-of-transportation-manufacturers-api
  name: Department of Transportation Manufacturers API
  description: Vehicle manufacturers
  humanURL: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/
  baseURL: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api
  tags:
  - Manufacturers
  properties:
  - type: OpenAPI
    url: openapi/department-of-transportation-manufacturers-api-openapi.yml
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/vehicle-schema.json
  - type: Examples
    url: examples/vin-decode-example.json
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://api.nhtsa.gov/
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/recall-schema.json
  - type: Examples
    url: examples/recall-example.json
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services/getting-started
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/carrier-schema.json
  - type: Authentication
    url: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services/manage
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://www.faa.gov/data
- aid: department-of-transportation:department-of-transportation-models-api
  name: Department of Transportation Models API
  description: Vehicle models
  humanURL: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/
  baseURL: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api
  tags:
  - Models
  properties:
  - type: OpenAPI
    url: openapi/department-of-transportation-models-api-openapi.yml
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/vehicle-schema.json
  - type: Examples
    url: examples/vin-decode-example.json
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://api.nhtsa.gov/
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/recall-schema.json
  - type: Examples
    url: examples/recall-example.json
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services/getting-started
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/carrier-schema.json
  - type: Authentication
    url: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services/manage
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://www.faa.gov/data
- aid: department-of-transportation:department-of-transportation-ratings-api
  name: Department of Transportation Ratings API
  description: 5-Star Safety Ratings
  humanURL: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/
  baseURL: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api
  tags:
  - Ratings
  properties:
  - type: OpenAPI
    url: openapi/department-of-transportation-ratings-api-openapi.yml
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/vehicle-schema.json
  - type: Examples
    url: examples/vin-decode-example.json
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://api.nhtsa.gov/
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/recall-schema.json
  - type: Examples
    url: examples/recall-example.json
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services/getting-started
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/carrier-schema.json
  - type: Authentication
    url: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services/manage
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://www.faa.gov/data
- aid: department-of-transportation:department-of-transportation-recalls-api
  name: Department of Transportation Recalls API
  description: Vehicle, equipment, child seat, and tire recalls
  humanURL: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/
  baseURL: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api
  tags:
  - Recalls
  properties:
  - type: OpenAPI
    url: openapi/department-of-transportation-recalls-api-openapi.yml
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/vehicle-schema.json
  - type: Examples
    url: examples/vin-decode-example.json
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://api.nhtsa.gov/
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/recall-schema.json
  - type: Examples
    url: examples/recall-example.json
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services/getting-started
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/carrier-schema.json
  - type: Authentication
    url: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services/manage
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://www.faa.gov/data
- aid: department-of-transportation:department-of-transportation-vehicle-variables-api
  name: Department of Transportation Vehicle Variables API
  description: Vehicle variable definitions
  humanURL: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/
  baseURL: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api
  tags:
  - Vehicle Variables
  properties:
  - type: OpenAPI
    url: openapi/department-of-transportation-vehicle-variables-api-openapi.yml
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/vehicle-schema.json
  - type: Examples
    url: examples/vin-decode-example.json
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://api.nhtsa.gov/
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/recall-schema.json
  - type: Examples
    url: examples/recall-example.json
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services/getting-started
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/carrier-schema.json
  - type: Authentication
    url: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services/manage
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://www.faa.gov/data
- aid: department-of-transportation:department-of-transportation-vin-decode-api
  name: Department of Transportation VIN Decode API
  description: Decode VINs into structured vehicle data
  humanURL: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/
  baseURL: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api
  tags:
  - VIN Decode
  properties:
  - type: OpenAPI
    url: openapi/department-of-transportation-vin-decode-api-openapi.yml
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/vehicle-schema.json
  - type: Examples
    url: examples/vin-decode-example.json
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://api.nhtsa.gov/
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/recall-schema.json
  - type: Examples
    url: examples/recall-example.json
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services/getting-started
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/carrier-schema.json
  - type: Authentication
    url: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services/manage
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://www.faa.gov/data
- aid: department-of-transportation:department-of-transportation-wmi-api
  name: Department of Transportation WMI API
  description: World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) decoding
  humanURL: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/
  baseURL: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api
  tags:
  - WMI
  properties:
  - type: OpenAPI
    url: openapi/department-of-transportation-wmi-api-openapi.yml
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/vehicle-schema.json
  - type: Examples
    url: examples/vin-decode-example.json
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://api.nhtsa.gov/
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/recall-schema.json
  - type: Examples
    url: examples/recall-example.json
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services/getting-started
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/carrier-schema.json
  - type: Authentication
    url: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services/manage
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://www.faa.gov/data
maintainers:
- FN: Kin Lane
  email: kin@apievangelist.com