VIN Check API — Vehicle History & Decode by VIN
Build vehicle history and VIN decode directly into your dealership software, marketplace, or app. The CarCheckerVIN REST API returns title brands, odometer, theft, and open recalls as structured JSON from a single VIN — sourced from NMVTIS, NICB, and NHTSA. A single on-demand report is $5, committed bulk volume drops to $1–$3, and every response includes a downloadable PDF. Contact us to get sandbox and production keys.
Quick Answer
- What is a VIN check API?
- A VIN check API is a REST endpoint that returns a vehicle's decode and history data — title brands, odometer, theft, and open recalls — as structured JSON from a single VIN, so you can build it into a dealership tool, marketplace, or app. CarCheckerVIN's API is sourced from NMVTIS, NICB, and NHTSA.
- How much does the VIN check API cost?
- A single on-demand API report is $5 — pay-per-call, no subscription. For committed bulk volume, wholesale pricing starts at $1–$3 per report on the dealer program. There is no setup fee to start, and every response includes a downloadable PDF link.
- How do I get API access?
- Contact the CarCheckerVIN team with your expected monthly volume and the systems you're integrating. We provision sandbox and production keys, and most integrations are live within a week. Use the Contact Us for API Access button on this page.
Simple REST API — JSON In, JSON Out
Standard JSON request, structured JSON response, with a downloadable PDF link on every report. Authentication is bearer-token over TLS 1.3, and sandbox keys let you test before you go live.
Request
curl https://api.carcheckervin.com/v1/reports \
-H "Authorization: Bearer sk_live_..." \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{ "vin": "1HGCM82633A004352" }'Response
{
"vin": "1HGCM82633A004352",
"decode": { "year": 2003, "make": "Honda", "model": "Accord" },
"title_brands": [],
"odometer": [{ "date": "2021-06-04", "value": 118240 }],
"theft": { "records": 0 },
"recalls": [{ "campaign": "21V-123", "open": true }],
"report_pdf": "https://.../reports/1HGCM82633A004352.pdf",
"price": "5.00"
}What the API Covers
One integration gives you decode and full history, plus the bulk and webhook tooling dealers and marketplaces need.
VIN Decode
Year, make, model, trim, engine, plant, and body style decoded from any 17-character VIN.
Full History Report
Title brands, accident, odometer, theft, and total-loss records from NMVTIS and NICB.
Bulk Lookups
POST up to 1,000 VINs in one request — ideal for auction run lists and inventory feeds.
Webhooks
Push report-ready and recall-update events straight into your DMS or CRM.
PDF + HTML Output
Every response returns a downloadable, optionally white-labeled PDF and HTML report.
Compliance Logging
Every call is logged with user, timestamp, and consent metadata for an NMVTIS-compliant audit trail.
API Pricing
Start pay-as-you-go at $5 per report with no commitment, then move to wholesale rates as your volume grows. No setup fee on any tier.
On-Demand API
Pay-per-call · No subscription
- Single-report REST calls
- VIN decode + full history
- PDF link on every response
- Sandbox + production keys
- No minimum, no contract
Wholesale / Bulk
Committed monthly volume
- Volume-tiered pricing
- Bulk CSV / JSON uploads
- Reseller-ready PDFs
- Dealer dashboard included
- Phone + email support
Enterprise
High-volume + integrations
- Volume-discounted pricing
- Full API + webhooks
- White-label reports
- Dedicated account manager
- CRM + DMS integrations
Not sure which fits? Tell us your volume and we'll recommend the right tier.
Dealers — Contact Us for the API
Tell us your expected monthly volume and the systems you're integrating (DMS, CRM, marketplace, auction tools). We'll set you up with sandbox and production keys, recommend the right pricing tier, and stay on the line until your first live calls are clean. Most dealers are integrated within a week.
Contact Us for API Access- 1Share your volume and integration targets
- 2Get a tier recommendation + sandbox keys
- 3Test against the sandbox, then go live
Related Dealer & Developer Resources
Explore the full dealer program and how CarCheckerVIN compares to the incumbents.
VIN Check API — Frequently Asked Questions
The questions developers and dealers ask most about the API.
How much does the VIN check API cost?+
A single on-demand API report is $5, billed pay-per-call with no subscription or minimum. If you commit to monthly volume, wholesale pricing drops to $1–$3 per report on the dealer program, and high-volume enterprise accounts get custom pricing. There is no setup fee to start, and every API response includes a downloadable PDF link at no extra charge.
What data does the VIN check API return?+
Each call returns a full VIN decode (year, make, model, trim, engine, plant, body style) plus history data: NMVTIS title brands (salvage, flood, junk, rebuilt), accident and total-loss records, odometer readings, NICB theft records, and open NHTSA recalls. The response is structured JSON, and every report also includes a downloadable — and optionally white-labeled — PDF and HTML version.
Is there a VIN decoder API as well as a history API?+
Yes. The same API exposes a lightweight decode endpoint that returns just the vehicle specification from a VIN, and a full report endpoint that adds title, accident, odometer, theft, and recall history. You can call decode alone for spec data, or the full report when you need history — you're only billed for full reports.
How do I get API keys?+
Contact the CarCheckerVIN team using the Contact Us for API Access button with your expected monthly volume and the systems you're integrating. We provision sandbox keys immediately so you can test, then production keys once you're ready. Most integrations go live within a week, and our team stays available until your first live calls are clean.
Can the API handle bulk VIN lookups?+
Yes. A single bulk request accepts up to 1,000 VINs and returns full reports for each — ideal for prepping an auction run list or syncing an inventory feed. Bulk pricing follows the committed wholesale tiers ($1–$3 per report), and webhooks can push report-ready events into your DMS or CRM as each result completes.
What are the rate limits and authentication?+
Authentication is bearer-token over TLS 1.3, with separate sandbox and production keys. Rate limits are generous — up to 100 requests per second on enterprise accounts and 10 per second on standard volume — and can be raised on request for high-throughput integrations. Every call is logged with user, timestamp, and consent metadata for an NMVTIS-compliant audit trail.
Can reports be white-labeled through the API?+
Yes. On wholesale and enterprise tiers, the PDF and HTML reports returned by the API can be branded with your logo, colors, and contact details, so your buyers see your brand instead of ours. White-label output is configured per account when your production keys are provisioned.
Ready to Build VIN Data Into Your Product?
Get sandbox and production keys and a volume-based quote. Single reports are $5 pay-per-call; committed volume drops to $1–$3.
Contact Us for API AccessRelated VIN Checks
More tools to verify any vehicle's history