Resolve a license plate to structured vehicle data — make, model, trim, VIN, engine, and more. Pass a plate and state (or country) and get back the same richness you'd expect from a VIN decode, sourced directly from registration records.
When to use it
- Identifying a vehicle when you only have a plate number
- Pre-filling vehicle details in insurance or dealership workflows
- Augmenting camera-captured plates with spec data
- Cross-referencing plate ownership against VIN history
Parameters
| Parameter | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
plate | Yes | The license plate number |
state | Yes | Two-letter state, province, or region code (e.g. CA, ON, NSW) |
key | Yes | Your CarsXE API key |
country | No | ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code. Defaults to US. Example: GB, DE, AU |
district | No | Pakistan only — pass the district code alongside country=PK |
require_vin | No | Spain only (country=ES). Pass 1 to guarantee a VIN in the response. Costs 2× a standard lookup |
Example
Decode a plate
Response
Top-level shape
Click input to expand it and see the echoed request fields. For the full interactive reference, try it live in the API Reference.
All fields except success and input are optional — availability depends on the country and provider.
Country response matrix
Plate Decoder v2 responses are country-specific. Expand a country below to inspect the JSON shape that country can return from the current v2 response builders. These fields are possible response keys, not guaranteed non-empty values for every plate.
AEUnited Arab Emirates5 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"make_description": null,
"model_description": null
}ALAlbania11 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"region": null,
"number_of_seats": null,
"power": null,
"color": null,
"traffic_permit": null,
"owner": null,
"engine_size": null
}ARArgentina7 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"make_description": null,
"model_description": null,
"region": null
}AUAustralia20 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"body_style": null,
"colour": null,
"vin": null,
"engine": null,
"engine_number": null,
"net_weight": null,
"stolen": null,
"goods_carrying_vehicle": null,
"registration_serial_number": null,
"compliance_date": null,
"insurance_expiry": null,
"insurance_company": null,
"purpose": null,
"expiry": null,
"extended_information": null,
"registration_plate": null
}BEBelgiumNo stable top-level fields from the fallback builder.▸
{}BOBolivia18 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"make_description": null,
"model_description": null,
"policy": null,
"class": null,
"country": null,
"service": null,
"drive": null,
"cc": null,
"colour": null,
"body": null,
"load": null,
"doors": null,
"location": null,
"vehicle_type": null
}BRBrazil15 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"location": null,
"vin": null,
"fuel_type": null,
"color": null,
"power": null,
"engine_cc": null,
"type": null,
"seats": null,
"axles": null,
"gross_weight": null,
"max_traction": null
}CACanada11 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"vin": null,
"fuel_type": null,
"engine_size": null,
"body_style": null,
"transmission": null,
"trim": null,
"drive_type": null
}CHSwitzerland20 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"variant": null,
"registration_year": null,
"registration_month": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"make_description": null,
"model_description": null,
"transmission": null,
"engine_size": null,
"power": null,
"fuel_type": null,
"doors": null,
"body": null,
"drive": null,
"engine_type": null,
"type_certificate": null,
"euro_type_code": null,
"Co2": null,
"region": null
}CLChile14 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"make_description": null,
"model_description": null,
"valid_since": null,
"expiry": null,
"vehicle_type": null,
"vin": null,
"engine_code": null,
"fuel": null,
"colour": null,
"owner": null
}CNChina15 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"variant": null,
"engine_size": null,
"fuel_type": null,
"number_of_seats": null,
"number_of_doors": null,
"body_style": null,
"vin": null,
"engine_number": null,
"owner": null,
"location": null,
"transmission": null
}COColombia11 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"engine_size": null,
"number_of_doors": null,
"fuel_type": null,
"vin": null,
"vehicle_type": null,
"motor_code": null,
"registration_year": null,
"insurance": null
}CRCosta Rica16 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"make_description": null,
"model_description": null,
"engine_size": null,
"registration_year": null,
"body": null,
"transmission": null,
"fuel": null,
"cabin": null,
"wheel_plan": null,
"vin": null,
"colour": null,
"engine_code": null,
"owner": null
}CYCyprus12 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"make_description": null,
"model_description": null,
"engine_size": null,
"power": null,
"registration_date": null,
"manufacture_date": null,
"convertible": null,
"driver_side": null,
"usage": null
}CZCzech Republic13 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"registration_date": null,
"registration_year": null,
"engine_size": null,
"fuel_type": null,
"body_style": null,
"vin": null,
"gross_weight": null,
"net_weight": null,
"power": null,
"region": null
}DEGermany9 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"power_kw": null,
"power_hp": null,
"engine_size": null,
"fuel_type": null,
"k_type_id": null,
"extended_information": null
}DKDenmark13 possible fields▸
{
"ABI_code": null,
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"engine_size": null,
"fuel_type": null,
"immobiliser": null,
"number_of_seats": null,
"driver_side": null,
"body_style": null,
"vin": null,
"extended_information": null
}ECEcuador9 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"make_description": null,
"model_description": null,
"year": null,
"type": null,
"sub_type": null,
"vin": null
}EEEstonia10 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"make_description": null,
"model_description": null,
"number_of_seats": null,
"power": null,
"gross_weight": null,
"vin": null
}ESSpain25 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"engine_size": null,
"vin": null,
"registration_date": null,
"variation": null,
"seats": null,
"variant_type": null,
"vehicle_type": null,
"fuel_type": null,
"indicative_price": null,
"number_of_doors": null,
"all_terrain": null,
"k_type": null,
"stolen": null,
"drive_type": null,
"engine": null,
"engine_code": null,
"power_kw": null,
"injection": null,
"tecdoc_make_id": null,
"tecdoc_model_id": null,
"extended_information": null
}FIFinland20 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"engine_size": null,
"fuel_type": null,
"body_style": null,
"insurance_company": null,
"vin": null,
"tow_bar": null,
"registration_date": null,
"axles": null,
"power": null,
"turbo": null,
"net_weight": null,
"engine_code": null,
"transmission": null,
"body_type": null,
"model_year": null,
"variant": null
}GBUnited Kingdom20 possible fields▸
{
"ABI_code": null,
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"engine_size": null,
"fuel_type": null,
"immobiliser": null,
"number_of_seats": null,
"driver_side": null,
"transmission": null,
"number_of_doors": null,
"vehicle_insurance_group": null,
"vehicle_insurance_group_out_of": null,
"vin": null,
"engine_code": null,
"engine_number": null,
"body_style": null,
"colour": null,
"registration_date": null
}GRGreece12 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"make_description": null,
"model_description": null,
"variant": null,
"vehicle_type": null,
"doors": null,
"engine_band": null,
"engine_size": null,
"registration_date": null,
"region": null
}HRCroatia10 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"make_description": null,
"model_description": null,
"vechile_identification_number": null,
"insurance_company": null,
"insurance_company_url": null,
"insurance_company_number": null,
"city": null
}HUHungary11 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"engine_size": null,
"fuel_type": null,
"power": null,
"gross_weight": null,
"net_weight": null,
"registration_date": null,
"vin": null
}IEIreland12 possible fields▸
{
"ABI_code": null,
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"body_style": null,
"transmission": null,
"fuel_type": null,
"number_of_seats": null,
"number_of_doors": null,
"engine_size": null,
"county": null
}ILIsraelNo stable top-level fields from the fallback builder.▸
{}IMIsle of Man13 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"engine_size": null,
"fuel_type": null,
"version": null,
"colour": null,
"Co2": null,
"registration_date": null,
"wheel_plan": null,
"taxed": null,
"tax_expiry": null
}INIndia17 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"variant": null,
"engine_size": null,
"number_of_seats": null,
"vin": null,
"engine_number": null,
"fuel_type": null,
"registration_date": null,
"owner": null,
"fitness": null,
"insurance": null,
"PUCC": null,
"vehicle_type": null,
"location": null
}ISIceland12 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"make_description": null,
"model_description": null,
"vin": null,
"registration_date": null,
"next_inspection_date": null,
"weight": null,
"colour": null,
"Co2": null
}ITItaly17 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"engine_size": null,
"fuel_type": null,
"immobiliser": null,
"number_of_doors": null,
"version": null,
"ABS": null,
"air_bag": null,
"vin": null,
"k_type": null,
"power_CV": null,
"power_KW": null,
"power_fiscal": null,
"extended_information": null
}KZKazakhstan9 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"make_description": null,
"model_description": null,
"colour": null,
"engine_size": null,
"region": null
}LKSri Lanka10 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"make_description": null,
"model_description": null,
"engine_size": null,
"registration_year": null,
"owner": null,
"vehicle_class": null,
"conditions": null
}LTLithuania13 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"make_description": null,
"model_description": null,
"engine_size": null,
"vin": null,
"fuel_type": null,
"insurance_company": null,
"insurance_company_number": null,
"vehicle_type": null,
"body": null
}LVLatvia9 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"registration_year": null,
"variant": null,
"vin": null,
"engine_size": null,
"power": null,
"fuel_type": null
}MTMalta14 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"make_description": null,
"model_description": null,
"vehicle_identification_number": null,
"engine_size": null,
"power": null,
"fuel_type": null,
"body": null,
"number_of_seats": null,
"engine_number": null,
"tonnage": null
}MXMexico21 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"class": null,
"type": null,
"vin": null,
"NCI": null,
"number_of_doors": null,
"country": null,
"version": null,
"engine_size": null,
"cylinders": null,
"axles": null,
"assembly_plant": null,
"institution": null,
"registration_date": null,
"issue_date": null,
"last_update": null,
"certifiate_of_registration": null,
"observations": null
}MYMalaysia16 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"make_description": null,
"model_description": null,
"seats": null,
"body": null,
"fuel": null,
"transmission": null,
"vin": null,
"nvin": null,
"engine_number": null,
"engine_size": null,
"drive": null,
"insurance": null
}NGNigeria8 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"registration_year": null,
"colour": null,
"expiry": null,
"vin": null,
"region": null
}NLNetherlands13 possible fields▸
{
"ABI_code": null,
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"engine_size": null,
"fuel_type": null,
"immobiliser": null,
"number_of_seats": null,
"driver_side": null,
"catalog_price": null,
"colour": null,
"extended_information": null
}NONorway11 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"engine_size": null,
"make_description": null,
"model_description": null,
"indicative_value": null,
"power": null,
"region": null,
"extended_information": null
}NZNew Zealand23 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"engine_size": null,
"fuel_type": null,
"body_style": null,
"vin": null,
"chassis": null,
"engine_number": null,
"colour": null,
"number_of_seats": null,
"assembly": null,
"stolen": null,
"estimated_current_odometer": null,
"last_odometer_reading": null,
"warrant_of_fitness": null,
"plate_type": null,
"origin": null,
"vehicle_purpose": null,
"reason_latest_registration": null,
"first_local_registration": null,
"imported": null
}OMOman11 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"make_description": null,
"model_description": null,
"vin": null,
"colour": null,
"engine_number": null,
"insurance_expire": null,
"insurance_company": null
}PEPeru11 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"make_description": null,
"model_description": null,
"deliveryPoint": null,
"date": null,
"vin": null,
"owner": null,
"use": null
}PKPakistan8 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"make_description": null,
"model_description": null,
"vechile_identification_number": null,
"registration_year": null,
"extended": null
}PLPoland15 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"registration_date": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"vin": null,
"engine_size": null,
"power": null,
"fuel_type": null,
"is_plug_in": null,
"steering_wheel_side": null,
"manufacturing_year": null,
"mileage": null,
"weight": null,
"region": null
}PTPortugal17 possible fields▸
{
"ABI_code": null,
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"engine_size": null,
"fuel_type": null,
"immobiliser": null,
"number_of_seats": null,
"indicative_value": null,
"driver_side": null,
"version": null,
"colour": null,
"vin": null,
"gross_weight": null,
"net_weight": null,
"extended_information": null
}RORomania16 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"make_description": null,
"model_description": null,
"type": null,
"vin": null,
"civ": null,
"variant": null,
"weight": null,
"fuel_type": null,
"number_of_seats": null,
"power": null,
"engine_size": null,
"region": null
}RURussia17 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"english_description": null,
"english_make": null,
"english_model": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"make_description": null,
"model_description": null,
"vin": null,
"registration_year": null,
"fuel_type": null,
"engine": null,
"power": null,
"gross_weight": null,
"net_weight": null,
"wheel": null,
"region": null
}SESweden18 possible fields▸
{
"ABI_code": null,
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"engine_size": null,
"fuel_type": null,
"make_description": null,
"model_description": null,
"immobiliser": null,
"number_of_seats": null,
"driver_side": null,
"body_style": null,
"colour": null,
"registration_date": null,
"vin": null,
"transmission": null,
"Co2": null
}SGSingapore5 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"tax_expiry": null
}SISlovenia8 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"make_description": null,
"model_description": null,
"variant": null,
"vin": null,
"region": null
}SKSlovakia14 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"engine_size": null,
"number_of_doors": null,
"number_of_seats": null,
"fuel_type": null,
"registration_date": null,
"power": null,
"colour": null,
"vin": null,
"region": null,
"weight": null
}TNTunisia12 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"registration_date": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"make_description": null,
"model_description": null,
"fuel_type": null,
"variant": null,
"engine": null,
"type": null,
"fiscal_power": null
}TWTaiwan12 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"make_description": null,
"model_description": null,
"engine_size": null,
"manufacture_date": null,
"license_issue_date": null,
"engine_cycle": null,
"inspection_status": null,
"test_records": null
}UAUkraine15 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"engine_size": null,
"fuel_type": null,
"make_description": null,
"model_description": null,
"body_style": null,
"colour": null,
"registration_date": null,
"weight": null,
"validity": null,
"address": null,
"vin": null
}USUnited States13 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"body_style": null,
"vin": null,
"assembly": null,
"engine_size": null,
"year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"fuel_type": null,
"trim": null,
"color": null,
"drive_type": null,
"transmission": null
}ZASouth Africa6 possible fields▸
{
"description": null,
"registration_year": null,
"make": null,
"model": null,
"vin": null,
"region": null
}Fields
Identity — Who made it, what it is, and its VIN
- Name
description- Type
- string
- Description
Human-readable summary combining year, make, model, and trim. Example:
"2021 Toyota Camry SE".
- Name
make- Type
- string
- Description
Manufacturer or brand. Example:
"Toyota","Ford","BMW".
- Name
model- Type
- string
- Description
Model family. Example:
"Camry","F-150","3 Series".
- Name
trim- Type
- string
- Description
Trim level or variant. Example:
"SE","XLT","330i".
- Name
year- Type
- string
- Description
Model year as a 4-digit string. Example:
"2021".
- Name
vin- Type
- string
- Description
17-character vehicle identification number, when available from the provider. Not guaranteed — use
require_vin=1withcountry=ESto enforce it for Spanish plates.
Body & Style — Shape, body classification, and color
- Name
style- Type
- string
- Description
Normalized vehicle category. Example:
"Sedan","SUV","Truck". Optional — not always returned.
- Name
body_style- Type
- string
- Description
Body style as recorded by the manufacturer, typically in uppercase with door count. Example:
"SEDAN 4-DR","PICKUP","SPORT UTILITY 4-DR".
- Name
color- Type
- string
- Description
Registered exterior color. Example:
"Silver","Black","White". Sourced from registration records — may differ from the current painted color if the vehicle has been repainted.
Powertrain — Engine, fuel, drivetrain, and transmission
- Name
engine- Type
- string
- Description
Full engine descriptor. Example:
"2.5L L4 DOHC 16V". Optional — not always returned.
- Name
engine_size- Type
- string
- Description
Engine displacement in liters. Example:
"2.5","3.0","5.0".
- Name
fuel_type- Type
- string
- Description
Primary fuel type. Example:
"Gasoline","Diesel","Electric","Hybrid".
- Name
drive_type- Type
- string
- Description
Wheel drive configuration. Example:
"FWD","RWD","AWD","4WD".
- Name
transmission- Type
- string
- Description
Transmission description. Example:
"8-Speed Automatic","6-Speed Manual","CVT".
- Name
assembly- Type
- string
- Description
Country where the vehicle was assembled. Example:
"United States","Germany","Japan".
Registration — Year registered
- Name
registration_year- Type
- string
- Description
Year the vehicle was first registered. May differ from the model year. Example:
"2021". Optional — not always returned.
Country & region support
The endpoint supports 50+ countries. Pass country as an ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code (e.g. GB, DE, NL, AU). It defaults to US when omitted.
State or province is required for US, Australian, Canadian, and Pakistani plates — use the standard two-letter code (e.g. CA, NSW, ON).
Pakistan additionally supports a district parameter for more precise lookups.
Coverage and field availability vary by country. Some regions return a full spec set; others return only identity fields.
See the full list of supported countries.
require_vin (Spain only)
By default, Spanish plate lookups use a standard provider that does not guarantee a VIN in the response. Pass require_vin=1 with country=ES to route the request through a higher-cost provider that always returns a VIN.
curl -G https://api.carsxe.com/v2/platedecoder \
-d key=YOUR_API_KEY \
-d plate=1234ABC \
-d state=MA \
-d country=ES \
-d require_vin=1This costs 2× a standard lookup and only applies to country=ES. Passing it for any other country has no effect.
Errors
| Status | When it happens |
|---|---|
400 | Missing plate or state, or invalid parameter values |
401 | Missing or invalid API key |
404 | No data found for this plate in the provider's database |
429 | Usage limit exceeded |
500 | Internal server error |
503 | Upstream plate data provider unavailable |
See the Errors guide for general error handling guidance.