CarsXE

Decode any 17-character VIN into structured vehicle data: identity, engine, transmission, dimensions, standard equipment, colors, and warranty information. For most use cases the default response is sufficient. Add deepdata=1 when you need extended vehicle data — it's slower but pulls additional fields not available from the primary source.

Parameters

ParameterRequiredDescription
vinYesThe 17-character vehicle identification number
keyYesYour CarsXE API key
deepdataNoPass 1 to include extended vehicle data under the deepdata key (adds latency)
disableIntVINDecodingNoPass 1 to return a 404 instead of falling back to the international decoder for non-US VINs
formatNojson (default) or xml

Example

Decode a VIN

Code
curl -G https://api.carsxe.com/specs \
  -d key=YOUR_API_KEY \
  -d vin=WBAFR7C57CC811956

Response

Top-level shape

{
"success": true,// always true on 200
"timestamp": "...",// ISO 8601 response time
}

Click any object or array to expand it and see sample data. For the full interactive reference, try it live in the API Reference.

All response fields are optional. A field missing from attributes means that data isn't available for this VIN from the decoding source.

attributes

Identity — Who built it, what it is, and where it was made
  • Name
    year
    Type
    string
    Description

    The 4-digit model year as assigned by the manufacturer — encoded in the 10th character of the VIN. This is the vehicle's official model year, which may differ from the calendar year it was produced or sold. Example: "2012".

  • Name
    make
    Type
    string
    Description

    The manufacturer or brand name. This is the top-level brand, not the parent company — so a vehicle sold under "BMW" won't show "BMW Group". Example: "BMW", "Toyota", "Ford".

  • Name
    model
    Type
    string
    Description

    The product line or model family. For vehicles with sub-variants, this is the family name. Example: "5 Series", "Camry", "F-150".

  • Name
    trim
    Type
    string
    Description

    The specific trim level or variant within the model. Trims define the feature set and often the price tier. Example: "535i", "XLT", "Limited".

  • Name
    style
    Type
    string
    Description

    The body style as recorded by the manufacturer — typically in uppercase with door count. Example: "SEDAN 4-DR", "PICKUP", "SPORT UTILITY 4-DR".

  • Name
    type
    Type
    string
    Description

    Normalized vehicle category. This is a standardized classification regardless of how the manufacturer labels it. Example: "Sedan/Saloon", "SUV", "Truck".

  • Name
    made_in
    Type
    string
    Description

    Country where the vehicle was assembled — derived from the VIN's World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI). Example: "Germany", "United States", "Japan".

  • Name
    made_in_city
    Type
    string
    Description

    City or region of the assembly plant. Example: "Dingolfing", "Georgetown", "Smyrna".

Engine & Fuel — Powertrain specs, fuel type, and EPA fuel economy
  • Name
    engine
    Type
    string
    Description

    The full engine descriptor combining displacement, cylinder layout, valve configuration, and cam type. This is the most human-readable summary of the engine. Example: "3.0L L6 DOHC 24V".

  • Name
    engine_size
    Type
    string
    Description

    Engine displacement in liters, as a decimal string. Example: "3.0", "2.5", "5.0".

  • Name
    engine_cylinders
    Type
    string
    Description

    Number of cylinders. Example: "4", "6", "8". Electric vehicles may return "0" or omit this field.

  • Name
    fuel_type
    Type
    string
    Description

    Primary fuel the engine runs on. Example: "Gasoline", "Diesel", "Electric", "Flex Fuel (FFV)".

  • Name
    fuel_capacity
    Type
    string
    Description

    Fuel tank capacity in gallons. Example: "18.50 gallon". Not applicable to electric vehicles.

  • Name
    city_mileage
    Type
    string
    Description

    EPA-estimated fuel economy in city driving conditions. Example: "20 MPG". Based on the EPA's standard city drive cycle at time of manufacture.

  • Name
    highway_mileage
    Type
    string
    Description

    EPA-estimated fuel economy on the highway. Example: "30 MPG". Higher than city due to reduced stop-and-go.

Transmission & Drivetrain — Gearbox type, speed count, and wheel drive configuration
  • Name
    transmission
    Type
    string
    Description

    Full transmission description combining speed count and type. Example: "8-Speed Automatic", "6-Speed Manual".

  • Name
    transmission_short
    Type
    string
    Description

    Abbreviated transmission code used in window stickers and build sheets. Example: "8A" (8-speed automatic), "6M" (6-speed manual).

  • Name
    transmission_type
    Type
    string
    Description

    Transmission category. Example: "Automatic", "Manual", "CVT" (continuously variable), "DCT" (dual-clutch).

  • Name
    transmission_speeds
    Type
    string
    Description

    Number of forward gears. Example: "6", "8", "10". CVTs may return "1".

  • Name
    drivetrain
    Type
    string
    Description

    Wheel drive configuration. Example: "RWD" (rear-wheel drive), "FWD" (front-wheel drive), "AWD" (all-wheel drive), "4WD" (four-wheel drive with low range).

Dimensions & Weight — Physical measurements and weight ratings
  • Name
    overall_height
    Type
    string
    Description

    Vehicle height from ground to roof in inches, measured without roof rack or antenna. Example: "58.00".

  • Name
    overall_length
    Type
    string
    Description

    Total vehicle length bumper-to-bumper in inches. Example: "193.90".

  • Name
    overall_width
    Type
    string
    Description

    Vehicle width in inches, excluding mirrors. Example: "73.90".

  • Name
    wheelbase_length
    Type
    string
    Description

    Distance between the center of the front and rear axles in inches. Longer wheelbases generally mean more interior space and better ride stability. Example: "116.90".

  • Name
    curb_weight
    Type
    string
    Description

    Weight of the vehicle in pounds with all standard equipment and fluids, but no passengers or cargo. Example: "3,869".

  • Name
    gross_vehicle_weight_rating
    Type
    string
    Description

    The GVWR — the maximum total weight the vehicle is rated to handle, including the vehicle itself plus passengers and cargo. Example: "Class 1: 6000 lbs or less".

Seating & Pricing — Passenger capacity and original factory pricing
  • Name
    doors
    Type
    string
    Description

    Number of doors, including a tailgate or hatchback if applicable. Example: "4", "2", "5" (hatchback).

  • Name
    standard_seating
    Type
    string
    Description

    Standard passenger capacity as configured at the factory for this trim. Does not reflect aftermarket or optional seating changes. Example: "5", "7".

  • Name
    invoice_price
    Type
    string
    Description

    The dealer invoice price at the time of manufacture — what the dealer paid before any markup or incentives. This is a historical figure and does not reflect current market value. Example: "$48,275 USD".

  • Name
    manufacturer_suggested_retail_price
    Type
    string
    Description

    The original sticker price set by the manufacturer at launch. Like invoice price, this is a historical figure from when the vehicle was built. Example: "$52,100 USD".

equipment

Each key in the equipment object is a snake_case feature name. The value is "Std." if the feature was standard on this trim, or an empty string if not.

{
  "abs_brakes": "Std.",
  "leather_seat": "Std.",
  "navigation_aid": "",
  "power_sunroof": "Std."
}

Common flags: abs_brakes, driver_airbag, passenger_airbag, side_airbag, traction_control, stability_control, leather_seat, navigation_aid, power_sunroof, backup_camera, bluetooth, alloy_wheels, keyless_entry, remote_start.

See the API Reference for the full list of 70+ flags.

colors

warranties

Regional behavior

US VINs are decoded via ClearVin and return the full attribute set described above.

Non-US VINs automatically fall back to the international decoder, which returns a smaller set of fields (make, model, year, and a handful of others). If you need to suppress this fallback and receive a 404 instead of a partial response, pass disableIntVINDecoding=1.

Extended data (deepdata)

Pass deepdata=1 to include additional extended fields. This makes a second upstream call and adds latency — only use it when you need fields that aren't in the standard response.

The extended data appears under the deepdata key as a flat string → string map:

{
  "deepdata": {
    "Body Class": "Sedan/Saloon",
    "Fuel Type - Primary": "Gasoline",
    "Plant City": "DINGOLFING",
    "Gross Vehicle Weight Rating From": "Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)",
    "Engine Number of Cylinders": "6"
  }
}

Key names are the raw extended-data variable names, not normalized. Availability varies by VIN.

Errors

See the Errors guide for the full list. The most common case specific to this endpoint: