// CARSTAT API | REST + MCP

Carstat API is
the car data API
for apps & AI agents.

Carstat is a car data API for specs, VIN decoding, crash test data and NHTSA recalls. REST API + native MCP server — one bearer token, zero custom wrappers.

Read the docs
Connected to: Carstat MCP live
// Agent-ready Skill

Point your AI Agent at Carstat API.

Use our SKILL.md to give coding agents the exact API context, authentication flow, endpoints, and MCP setup.

390+ makes
3.3K+ models
57K+ configurations
327K+ recalls
499K+ safety ratings
Global Specifications US · EU · Asia · LATAM
// Built with Carstat

Meet Carstat Garage.

Track recalls, maintenance, mileage, documents, and ownership costs in one free dashboard for up to 3 cars.

Explore Garage
// Explore our data

Three data verticals.
One API.

Vehicle Specifications

250+ engineering spec fields per configuration — dimensions, drivetrain, EV systems, charging, and more.

Explore specs

Safety Ratings

NHTSA 5-star crash test data — overall, frontal, side, pole, and rollover ratings with 80+ test metrics.

Explore ratings

Recalls

NHTSA recall campaigns — defect descriptions, consequences, corrective actions, and severity flags.

Explore recalls
// VIN Decoding

Any VIN.
Decoded in one call.

Turn 17 characters into the actual vehicle — manufacturer, model, model year, country of manufacture, and the factory that built it, down to the city and state.

GET /v1/vin-decode/:vin Identity, origin and build plant.

Motorcycles, trailers and buses decode too — including vehicles we don't publish full specifications for.

GET /v1/vin-decode/2HKRS4H42PH412675 
{
  "vin": "2HKRS4H42PH412675",
  "make": "Honda",
  "model": "CR-V",
  "year": 2023,
  "country": "CANADA",
  "vehicle_type": "Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV)",
  "trim": "EX",
  "engine_manufacturer": "HONDA",
  "check_digit": { "is_valid": true },
  "plant": {
    "city": "ALLISTON",
    "state": "ONTARIO",
    "country": "CANADA"
  }
}
VIN decoding documentation
// The data

250+ vehicle fields.
One production API.

Go beyond basic VIN decode. Carstat API returns engineering-grade specs across performance, dimensions, EV battery systems, charging, chassis, towing, and more.

Hyundai Kona

2023 – present · SUV · 5 seats

250+ spec fields
Battery capacity 65.4 kWh usable energy
Driving range 319 mi WLTP real-world planning
DC fast charging Max DC power public charging speed
Connector support AC / DC connectors regional port config
Motor output 218 HP · 255 Nm FWD drivetrain
Efficiency 16.8 kWh/100km · 6 km/kWh kWh and MPGe fields
Battery chemistry Li-Ion 400 V pack
Acceleration 7.8s 0–100 172 km/h top speed

Performance

power, torque, acceleration, top speed

Dimensions

length, wheelbase, cargo, turning circle

EV systems

battery, voltage, chemistry, range

Charging

AC/DC ports, connectors, regional configs

Chassis

suspension, brakes, steering, tires

Towing & load

payload, roof load, trailer ratings

View full specs →
// Try the data

Test the API with real vehicle data.

Start with VIN decoding, deep specs, recalls, and safety ratings before you commit.

Read the docs
// What people build

One API.
Dozens of applications.

AI agents & chatbots

Give any LLM live factory-spec data via MCP. No prompt engineering needed — just structured tools your agent can call directly.

vin_decode("WBA3A5C58DF285669") get_recalls(2022, "Ford", "Bronco Sport")

Automotive apps

Build vehicle configurators, comparison tools, and spec sheets with engineering-grade accuracy. Drill-down to exact trim-level data.

GET /v1/specs/makes/:year GET /v1/specs/:year/:make/:model/:engine

Fleet, insurance & repair

Verify what's actually in a vehicle. Search factory specs by VIN, tell trim differences apart, and flag open safety recalls automatically.

GET /v1/specs/vin/:vin GET /v1/recalls/:year/:make/:model

Safety & compliance tools

Build buyer-safety dashboards or compliance workflows using NHTSA 5-star crash test ratings. Surface frontal, side, pole, and rollover scores across 80+ test metrics — down to the trim level.

GET /v1/safety-ratings/:year/:make GET /v1/safety-ratings/:year/:make/:model

Used car marketplaces

Enrich every listing with recall status and crash test scores. Let buyers instantly see whether a vehicle has open NHTSA campaigns or how it performed in safety tests — no extra research required.

GET /v1/recalls/:year/:make/:model GET /v1/safety-ratings/:year/:make/:model

Recall monitoring & alerts

Integrate NHTSA recall data into your product or support workflows. Query by make/model/year, parse defect descriptions, and trigger automated alerts before customers are affected.

GET /v1/recalls/:year/:make GET /v1/recalls/:year/:make/:model
// Native MCP Server

Your AI agent,
now knows cars.

Carstat ships a production-ready Model Context Protocol server alongside the REST API. Point VSCode, Cursor, Windsurf, or any MCP-compatible client at your token and it instantly gains 12 structured tools.

available tools
search_vehicles Search & rank vehicles by metric
get_recalls NHTSA recall data
search_recalls Search recalls by make + keyword
get_safety_ratings NHTSA safety ratings by vehicle

+ 8 more tools available

mcp.json 
{
  "servers": {
    "carstat-api": {
      "url": "https://api.carstat.app/mcp",
      "type": "http",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer <your-token>"
      }
    }
  }
}

// That's it. Your agent now has:
// · 250+ engineering spec fields
// · VIN → exact spec candidates
// · NHTSA recall lookups
// · NHTSA crash test data
// · Global make/model/trim browse
Works with
VSCode Cursor Windsurf ChatGPT Any MCP client
Full MCP documentation
// How it stacks up

The car data API
built for deep vehicle data.

A car data API should go deeper than basic VIN results. Carstat API is built around engineering-grade specs, EV detail, NHTSA recalls, safety ratings, and published global coverage.

Capability
Carstat API
Typical vehicle APIs
VIN decoding
Yes
Yes
Vehicle specifications
250+ engineering fields per configuration
Yes
Specification depth dimensions, drivetrain, towing, suspension, brakes, EV systems
Engineering-grade
Verify exact field depth by endpoint
EV battery chemistry
Yes
Not always exposed in public docs
Gross / net battery capacity
Yes
Not always exposed in public docs
Charging connector types
Yes — CCS1, CCS2, CHAdeMO, NACS, Type 1/2
Often limited or undocumented
WLTP / EPA range support
Yes
Varies by provider
NHTSA recalls
Yes
Varies by provider
Crash-test safety ratings
Yes
No dedicated API in many offerings
Native MCP server for AI agents
Yes
Varies by provider
Published global / international coverage
Global specs coverage (US, EU, Asia, LATAM)
Verify market coverage by provider
Free trial
Yes
Varies by provider
// Get started

Your first API calls are free.

Free trial available. Access specs, VIN decoding, and recalls from day one. Upgrade when you're ready to ship.

See pricing
// FAQ

Common questions.

What is a car data API?

A car data API is a web service that returns structured vehicle data — specifications, VIN decode results, recalls, and safety ratings — over HTTP so applications and AI agents can query it programmatically. Carstat is a car data API that covers these datasets from one bearer token, via REST or a native MCP server.

What is Carstat API?

Carstat API provides production-grade vehicle specification data, VIN decoding, and NHTSA recall lookups via REST API and a native MCP server. One bearer token gives you access to global make/model/trim data, 250+ engineering spec fields per vehicle, and NHTSA recall data.

Does Carstat support VIN decoding?

Yes. The VIN decoder API accepts any 17-character VIN at /v1/vin-decode/:vin and returns the vehicle it identifies — make, model, model year, country of manufacture, vehicle class, series and trim labels, and the plant that built it. A second endpoint, /v1/specs/vin/:vin, searches the specification catalog by VIN and returns every matching trim, each with a modification_id and full 250+ field spec sheet.

Can I access recall data via Carstat API?

Yes. Carstat API proxies NHTSA recall data via /v1/recalls/:year/:make/:model. Results include recall campaign numbers, component descriptions, defect summaries, and remedies — sourced from the NHTSA database.

What is the Model Context Protocol (MCP)?

MCP is an open standard by Anthropic that lets AI agents discover and call structured tools. Carstat ships a native MCP server, so AI assistants like VSCode, Cursor, Windsurf, and ChatGPT can query vehicle data without any custom integration code.

Is there a free trial?

Yes. Carstat API has a free trial. You get immediate API access to integrate and test all the features before committing to a paid plan.

What programming languages are supported?

Any language that can make HTTP requests — Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, Ruby, Go, Java, PHP, and more. Authentication is a standard Bearer token. Interactive API docs with code examples are available.

How many vehicles does Carstat API cover?

Carstat API covers thousands of makes, models, and engine configurations spanning multiple decades of global vehicle production, with 250+ engineering specification fields per variant.