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VIN Decoder

GET `/api/vin/{vin}`

GET Auth required

Decodes Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) for vehicles sold in the United States. The response includes a specs property with decoded specifications and a trims property listing all possible trims that match the VIN.

For non-paying users, VINs for 2015–2020 models are returned. Paying subscribers have full data access.

Optional Parameters

Parameter	Description
`verbose=yes`	Include body, engine, and mileage data in the matching trims
`all_trims=yes`	Return all trims for the VIN’s model, not just closely matching ones

Sample Request

curl "https://carapi.app/api/vin/1GTG6CEN0L1139305" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_JWT_TOKEN_HERE"

const vin = '1GTG6CEN0L1139305';

const response = await fetch(`https://carapi.app/api/vin/${vin}`, {
  headers: {
    'Authorization': `Bearer ${jwt}`
  }
});

const data = await response.json();
console.log('VIN decode:', data);

import requests

vin = '1GTG6CEN0L1139305'
headers = {
    'Authorization': f'Bearer {jwt}'
}

response = requests.get(
    f'https://carapi.app/api/vin/{vin}',
    headers=headers
)

data = response.json()
print('VIN decode:', data);

use GuzzleHttp\Client;

$vin = '1GTG6CEN0L1139305';
$client = new Client();

$response = $client->get("https://carapi.app/api/vin/{$vin}", [
    'headers' => [
        'Authorization' => 'Bearer YOUR_JWT_TOKEN_HERE',
    ],
]);

$data = json_decode($response->getBody(), true);
print_r($data);

$vin = '1GTG6CEN0L1139305';

$ch = curl_init();
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, "https://carapi.app/api/vin/{$vin}");
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER, [
    'Authorization: Bearer YOUR_JWT_TOKEN_HERE',
]);

$response = curl_exec($ch);
curl_close($ch);

$data = json_decode($response, true);
print_r($data);

Sample Request (verbose)

curl "https://carapi.app/api/vin/1GTG6CEN0L1139305?verbose=yes" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_JWT_TOKEN_HERE"

const vin = '1GTG6CEN0L1139305';

const response = await fetch(`https://carapi.app/api/vin/${vin}?verbose=yes`, {
  headers: {
    'Authorization': `Bearer ${jwt}`
  }
});

const data = await response.json();
console.log('VIN decode (verbose):', data);

import requests

vin = '1GTG6CEN0L1139305'
headers = {
    'Authorization': f'Bearer {jwt}'
}

response = requests.get(
    f'https://carapi.app/api/vin/{vin}',
    headers=headers,
    params={'verbose': 'yes'}
)

data = response.json()
print('VIN decode (verbose):', data);

use GuzzleHttp\Client;

$vin = '1GTG6CEN0L1139305';
$client = new Client();

$response = $client->get("https://carapi.app/api/vin/{$vin}", [
    'headers' => [
        'Authorization' => 'Bearer YOUR_JWT_TOKEN_HERE',
    ],
    'query' => [
        'verbose' => 'yes',
    ],
]);

$data = json_decode($response->getBody(), true);
print_r($data);

$vin = '1GTG6CEN0L1139305';
$url = "https://carapi.app/api/vin/{$vin}?" . http_build_query(['verbose' => 'yes']);

$ch = curl_init();
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, $url);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, true);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER, [
    'Authorization: Bearer YOUR_JWT_TOKEN_HERE',
]);

$response = curl_exec($ch);
curl_close($ch);

$data = json_decode($response, true);
print_r($data);

Sample Response

{
  "vin": "1GTG6CEN0L1139305",
  "specs": [
    "active_safety_system_note": null,
    "adaptive_cruise_control_acc": null,
    "adaptive_driving_beam_adb": null,
    "anti_lock_braking_system_abs": "Standard",
    "auto_reverse_system_for_windows_and_sunroofs": "Standard",
    "automatic_crash_notification_acn_advanced_automatic_crash_notification_aacn": "Standard",
    "automatic_pedestrian_alerting_sound_for_hybrid_and_ev_only": null,
    "axle_configuration": null,
    "axles": "2",
    "backup_camera": "Standard",
    "bus_floor_configuration_type": "Not Applicable",
    "bus_type": "Not Applicable",
    "cab_type": "Crew/Super Crew/Crew Max",
    "charger_level": null,
    "charger_power_kw": null,
    "combined_braking_system_cbs": null,
    "cooling_type": null,
    "crash_imminent_braking_cib": null,
    "curb_weight_pounds": null,
    "curtain_air_bag_locations": "All Rows",
    "custom_motorcycle_type": "Not Applicable",
    "daytime_running_light_drl": "Standard",
    "destination_market": null,
    "displacement_cc": "3600.0",
    "displacement_ci": "219.6854787410362222",
    "displacement_l": "3.6",
    "doors": "4",
    "drive_type": "4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4",
    "dynamic_brake_support_dbs": "Standard",
    "electrification_level": null,
    "electronic_stability_control_esc": "Standard",
    "engine_brake_hp_from": null,
    "engine_brake_hp_to": null,
    "engine_configuration": "V-Shaped",
    "engine_manufacturer": null,
    "engine_model": "LGZ - Direct Injection, Variable Valve Timing, ALUM, VAR2, GEN 2",
    "engine_number_of_cylinders": "6",
    "engine_power_kw": null,
    "engine_stroke_cycles": null,
    "entertainment_system": null,
    "ev_drive_unit": null,
    "event_data_recorder_edr": null,
    "forward_collision_warning_fcw": null,
    "front_air_bag_locations": "1st Row (Driver and Passenger)",
    "fuel_delivery_fuel_injection_type": null,
    "fuel_tank_material": null,
    "fuel_tank_type": null,
    "fuel_type_primary": "Gasoline",
    "fuel_type_secondary": null,
    "gross_combination_weight_rating_from": null,
    "gross_combination_weight_rating_to": null,
    "gross_vehicle_weight_rating_from": "Class 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg)",
    "gross_vehicle_weight_rating_to": null,
    "headlamp_light_source": "Halogen",
    "keyless_ignition": null,
    "knee_air_bag_locations": null,
    "lane_centering_assistance": null,
    "lane_departure_warning_ldw": "Optional",
    "lane_keeping_assistance_lka": null,
    "manufacturer_name": "GENERAL MOTORS LLC",
    "motorcycle_chassis_type": "Not Applicable",
    "motorcycle_suspension_type": "Not Applicable",
    "non_land_use": null,
    "note": null,
    "number_of_battery_cells_per_module": null,
    "number_of_battery_modules_per_pack": null,
    "number_of_battery_packs_per_vehicle": null,
    "number_of_seat_rows": "2",
    "number_of_seats": "5",
    "number_of_wheels": "4",
    "other_battery_info": null,
    "other_bus_info": null,
    "other_engine_info": null,
    "other_motorcycle_info": null,
    "other_restraint_system_info": null,
    "other_trailer_info": null,
    "parking_assist": null,
    "pedestrian_automatic_emergency_braking_paeb": null,
    "plant_city": "WENTZVILLE",
    "plant_company_name": "GMNA",
    "plant_country": "UNITED STATES (USA)",
    "plant_state": "MISSOURI",
    "possible_values": "",
    "pretensioner": null,
    "rear_automatic_emergency_braking": null,
    "rear_cross_traffic_alert": null,
    "sae_automation_level_from": null,
    "sae_automation_level_to": null,
    "seat_belt_type": "Manual",
    "seat_cushion_air_bag_locations": null,
    "semiautomatic_headlamp_beam_switching": "Standard",
    "series": null,
    "series2": null,
    "side_air_bag_locations": "1st Row (Driver and Passenger)",
    "steering_location": "Left-Hand Drive (LHD)",
    "suggested_vin": "",
    "tire_pressure_monitoring_system_tpms_type": "Direct",
    "top_speed_mph": null,
    "track_width_inches": null,
    "traction_control": "Standard",
    "trailer_body_type": "Not Applicable",
    "trailer_length_feet": null,
    "trailer_type_connection": "Not Applicable",
    "transmission_speeds": "6",
    "transmission_style": "Automatic",
    "trim": "SLE",
    "trim2": null,
    "turbo": null,
    "valve_train_design": "Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC)",
    "vehicle_descriptor": "1GTG6CEN*L1",
    "vehicle_type": "TRUCK",
    "wheel_base_inches_from": null,
    "wheel_base_inches_to": null,
    "wheel_base_type": null,
    "wheel_size_front_inches": "17",
    "wheel_size_rear_inches": "17",
    "wheelie_mitigation": null,
    "windows": null
  ],
  "trims": [
    {
      "id": 398201,
      "make_id": 16,
      "year": 2020,
      "make": "GMC",
      "model": "Canyon",
      "submodel": "Elevation",
      "trim": "Crew Cab 4D",
      "description": "2020 GMC Canyon Elevation Crew Cab 4D"
    }
  ]
}

Best Practices

Test VINs: Use 1GTG6CEN0L1139305 (a 2020 GMC Canyon) to test your integration on the free tier.
Use verbose=yes: Include body, engine, and mileage data in a single request to reduce API calls.
Handle multiple trims: A VIN may match multiple trims — iterate the trims array and use the best match for your use case.