US Department of Transportation

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) oversees federal transportation policy and operates multiple agencies that publish public REST APIs covering trucking and motor carrier safety (FMCSA), vehicle product information and safety recalls (NHTSA), aviation safety and airspace data (FAA), transit statistics, and transportation data portals. DOT APIs are free public government services requiring API key registration via Login.gov or the relevant agency developer portal.

US Department of Transportation publishes 7 APIs on the APIs.io network, including childSeats API, equipment API, ewr API, and 4 more. Tagged areas include Government, Transportation, Trucking, Aviation, and VehicleSafety.

The US Department of Transportation catalog on APIs.io includes 2 JSON-LD contexts and 1 Spectral governance ruleset.

US Department of Transportation’s developer surface includes documentation, engineering blog, and 10 more developer resources.

🌐 Visit website 📡 Source on GitHub

37.5/100 thin ▼ -5.9 Agent 22/100 agent aware Full breakdown ↓
scored 2026-07-28 · rubric v0.6

AccessFreeOpen⚡ Free to try

12 APIs

GovernmentTransportationTruckingAviationVehicleSafetyTransitOpenData

Kin Score

Kin Score How this is scored →
scored 2026-07-28 · rubric v0.6

Composite quality — 37.5/100 · thin

Contract Quality 11.3 / 25

Developer Ergonomics 2.2 / 20

Commercial Clarity 5.8 / 20

Operational Transparency 6.8 / 13

Governance 7.0 / 12

Discoverability 7.4 / 10

Agent readiness — 22/100 · agent aware

Machine-Readable Contract 18 / 18

Agentic Access Contract 10 / 10

MCP Server 0 / 12

Machine-Readable Auth 0 / 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/dot: 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 12

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

Rate Limits 1

Documented rate limits and quota policies.

Dot Rate Limits

5 limits

RATE LIMITS

FinOps 1

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

JSON Schema 68

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

Scroll for all 68

Examples 1

Example request and response payloads for these APIs.

AGENTIC

Resources

Documentation 1

Reference material describing how the API behaves

Documentation

Documentation

Agent Surfaces 1

MCP servers, agent skills, and machine-readable catalogs

AgenticAccess

AgenticAccess

Build 1

SDKs, sample code, and the tooling you integrate with

GitHubOrg

GitHubOrg

Access & Security 1

Authentication, authorization, and security posture

DomainSecurity

DomainSecurity

Operate 2

Status, limits, changes, and where to get help

StatusPage

StatusPage

RateLimits

RateLimits

Commercial 2

Pricing, plans, and the legal terms of use

Plans

Plans

FinOps

FinOps

Company 3

The organization behind the API

Website

Website

Blog

Blog

LinkedIn

Other 1

Properties that don't map to a standard resource type

Source (apis.yml)

aid: dot
name: US Department of Transportation
description: The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) oversees federal transportation policy and operates multiple agencies
  that publish public REST APIs covering trucking and motor carrier safety (FMCSA), vehicle product information and safety
  recalls (NHTSA), aviation safety and airspace data (FAA), transit statistics, and transportation data portals. DOT APIs
  are free public government services requiring API key registration via Login.gov or the relevant agency developer portal.
type: Index
accessModel:
  pricing: free
  onboarding: open
  trial: false
  try_now: true
  public: true
  label: Free · Open access
  confidence: medium
  source:
  - plans
  generated: '2026-07-22'
  method: derived
image: https://kinlane-images.s3.amazonaws.com/shared/apis-json/icons/dot.png
url: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/api-evangelist/dot/refs/heads/main/apis.yml
created: '2026-06-13'
modified: '2026-06-13'
specificationVersion: '0.19'
tags:
- Government
- Transportation
- Trucking
- Aviation
- VehicleSafety
- Transit
- OpenData
apis:
- aid: dot:fmcsa-qcmobile-api
  name: FMCSA QCMobile API
  description: The FMCSA QCMobile API provides safety performance data for U.S. Department of Transportation registered motor
    carriers. Developers can query carrier registration information, licensing, insurance, operating authority, and BASIC
    safety scores by U.S. DOT number, MC docket number, or carrier name. All responses are returned in JSON format. Access
    requires a developer account and API webkey obtained through Login.gov.
  humanURL: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/QCDevsite/docs/qcApi
  baseURL: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services
  tags:
  - Trucking
  - Motor Carriers
  - Safety
  - FMCSA
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/QCDevsite/docs/qcApi
  - type: Authentication
    url: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/QCDevsite/docs/apiAccess
- aid: dot:fmcsa-saferbus-api
  name: FMCSA SaferBus API
  description: The FMCSA SaferBus API is a RESTful service making available safety performance data for U.S. DOT-registered
    bus companies. It enables developers to build consumer-facing products that help travelers check the safety record of
    motorcoach operators before booking travel. Access requires a developer account and API webkey obtained through Login.gov.
  humanURL: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/application-programming-interface-data-behind-saferbus
  baseURL: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services
  tags:
  - Bus Safety
  - Motorcoach
  - FMCSA
  - Consumer Safety
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/application-programming-interface-data-behind-saferbus
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://data.transportation.gov/Trucking-and-Motorcoaches/SaferBus-API-Documentation/edyh-n3ic
- aid: dot:nhtsa-vpic-api
  name: NHTSA vPIC Vehicle API
  description: The NHTSA Vehicle Product Information Catalog (vPIC) API provides programmatic access to vehicle make, model,
    manufacturer, and type data compiled by NHTSA. Key capabilities include VIN decoding (single and batch up to 50 VINs),
    World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) lookup, manufacturer details, vehicle variables, plant codes, and Canadian vehicle
    specifications. No authentication required; responses available in JSON, XML, or CSV.
  humanURL: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/
  baseURL: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/vehicles
  tags:
  - Vehicle Safety
  - VIN
  - NHTSA
  - Recalls
  - Manufacturers
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/
- aid: dot:nhtsa-datasets-api
  name: NHTSA Datasets and APIs
  description: NHTSA provides public datasets and APIs covering vehicle safety complaints, recalls, safety ratings (NCAP),
    and defect investigations. Complaint data entered into NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database is searchable
    by make, model, and year, providing safety defect details, crash/fire/injury records, and recall campaign remedies.
  humanURL: https://www.nhtsa.gov/nhtsa-datasets-and-apis
  baseURL: https://api.nhtsa.gov
  tags:
  - Vehicle Safety
  - Recalls
  - Complaints
  - NHTSA
  - Crash Data
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://www.nhtsa.gov/nhtsa-datasets-and-apis
- aid: dot:dot-data-portal
  name: DOT Open Data Portal
  description: The U.S. Department of Transportation Open Data Portal provides access to transportation datasets published
    by DOT agencies including FMCSA, NHTSA, FTA, BTS, FAA, PHMSA, and more. The portal supports REST API access to tabular
    datasets enabling programmatic retrieval, filtering, and export of transportation statistics.
  humanURL: https://data.transportation.gov/
  baseURL: https://data.transportation.gov/api
  tags:
  - OpenData
  - Transportation Statistics
  - Government
  - BTS
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://data.transportation.gov/
- aid: dot:dot-childseats-api
  name: US Department of Transportation childSeats API
  description: Child Seat search and list endpoints
  humanURL: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/QCDevsite/docs/qcApi
  baseURL: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services
  tags:
  - childSeats
  properties:
  - type: OpenAPI
    url: openapi/dot-childseats-api-openapi.yml
- aid: dot:dot-equipment-api
  name: US Department of Transportation equipment API
  description: Equipment search and list endpoints
  humanURL: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/QCDevsite/docs/qcApi
  baseURL: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services
  tags:
  - equipment
  properties:
  - type: OpenAPI
    url: openapi/dot-equipment-api-openapi.yml
- aid: dot:dot-ewr-api
  name: US Department of Transportation ewr API
  description: Early Warning Report endpoints
  humanURL: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/QCDevsite/docs/qcApi
  baseURL: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services
  tags:
  - ewr
  properties:
  - type: OpenAPI
    url: openapi/dot-ewr-api-openapi.yml
- aid: dot:dot-foreigncampaigns-api
  name: US Department of Transportation foreignCampaigns API
  description: Foreign Campaign search and list endpoints
  humanURL: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/QCDevsite/docs/qcApi
  baseURL: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services
  tags:
  - foreignCampaigns
  properties:
  - type: OpenAPI
    url: openapi/dot-foreigncampaigns-api-openapi.yml
- aid: dot:dot-safetyissues-api
  name: US Department of Transportation safetyIssues API
  description: Recalls, Investigations, Complaints, and Manufacturer Communications
  humanURL: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/QCDevsite/docs/qcApi
  baseURL: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services
  tags:
  - safetyIssues
  properties:
  - type: OpenAPI
    url: openapi/dot-safetyissues-api-openapi.yml
- aid: dot:dot-tires-api
  name: US Department of Transportation tires API
  description: Tire search and list endpoints
  humanURL: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/QCDevsite/docs/qcApi
  baseURL: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services
  tags:
  - tires
  properties:
  - type: OpenAPI
    url: openapi/dot-tires-api-openapi.yml
- aid: dot:dot-vehicles-api
  name: US Department of Transportation vehicles API
  description: Vehicle search and list endpoints
  humanURL: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/QCDevsite/docs/qcApi
  baseURL: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services
  tags:
  - vehicles
  properties:
  - type: OpenAPI
    url: openapi/dot-vehicles-api-openapi.yml
common:
- type: AgenticAccess
  url: agentic-access/dot-agentic-access.yml
- type: DomainSecurity
  url: security/dot-domain-security.yml
- type: Website
  url: https://www.transportation.gov/
- type: Documentation
  url: https://www.transportation.gov/developer
- type: GitHubOrg
  url: https://github.com/usdot-jpo-ode
- type: Blog
  url: https://www.transportation.gov/newsroom
- type: StatusPage
  url: https://www.transportation.gov/status
- type: X
  url: https://twitter.com/USDOT
- type: LinkedIn
  url: https://www.linkedin.com/company/us-department-of-transportation
- type: Plans
  url: plans/dot-plans-pricing.yml
- type: RateLimits
  url: rate-limits/dot-rate-limits.yml
- type: FinOps
  url: finops/dot-finops.yml
maintainers:
- FN: Kin Lane
  email: kin@apievangelist.com