Name: VIN Decoder API: Europe, Asia, China and US Vehicles
Brand: vin-data-hub
SKU: api-vin-data-hub-global-vin-decoder
Availability: InStock
Author: API Market

# Global VIN Decoder API

## Overview

The Global VIN Decoder API turns a 17 character Vehicle Identification Number into structured vehicle data with one GET request. It returns the make, model, model year, series, trim, body, doors and vehicle type, the engine code, displacement, cylinders, power in kW and hp, fuel and electrification, the transmission, drivetrain, weight class, the manufacturer with its WMI and assembly plant, safety equipment, and a check digit result. A `coverage` field tells you how much the VIN revealed.

It is built for developers of used car marketplaces, insurance, fleet, parts and dealer software who need answers for European, Asian and Chinese vehicles, not only US ones. In our tests a 2003 Honda Accord came back with engine code J30A4, 240 hp and its Ohio plant, a BMW 328i built in South Africa returned its power and safety data, a Tesla Model 3 from Shanghai returned `BEV`, and a VW Golf returned `partial` coverage with its model family.

## Features

*   **2 endpoints**: VIN decoding and a service status check.
*   **Global coverage**: US NHTSA vPIC data plus rules for European, Japanese, Korean and Chinese makers.
*   **Engine and power**: engine code, displacement, cylinders, kW, hp, fuel and electrification.
*   **Plant and manufacturer**: WMI, country, region and assembly plant.
*   **Honest output**: values the VIN does not encode are `null`, and `coverage` shows how much was identified.
*   **Rate limit**: 10 requests per second on every plan.

## Use Cases

*   **Used car marketplaces**: fill in listing details from a VIN.
*   **Insurance**: identify the exact vehicle for a quote.
*   **Fleet management**: keep consistent vehicle records.
*   **Parts and service**: match parts to the engine and model.
*   **Dealer software**: check imported VINs for typos with the check digit.

## API Documentation

### Base URL

All requests use the following base URL.

```
https://prod.api.market/api/v1/vin-data-hub/global-vin-decoder
```

### Authentication

All requests are authenticated with the `x-api-market-key` header.

```
x-api-market-key: YOUR_API_KEY
```

Replace `YOUR_API_KEY` with your actual API key.

### Endpoints

#### 1. Decode a VIN

Decodes a VIN. Spaces and dashes are ignored and letters may be lower case.

**Method:** `GET`

**Endpoint:** `/vin/{vin}`

**Parameters:**

| Name | In | Description | Type | Required | Default | Max Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| `vin` | path | 17 character VIN, for example `1HGCM82633A004352` | string | Yes | - | 17 characters |

**Example Request:**

```bash
curl -X GET 'https://prod.api.market/api/v1/vin-data-hub/global-vin-decoder/vin/1HGCM82633A004352' \
  -H 'x-api-market-key: YOUR_API_KEY'
```

**Example Response (200 OK):**

```json
{
  "vin": "1HGCM82633A004352",
  "valid": true,
  "coverage": "full",
  "check_digit": {
    "valid": true,
    "expected": "3"
  },
  "vehicle": {
    "make": "Honda",
    "model": "Accord",
    "model_year": 2003,
    "year_of_manufacture": null,
    "series": null,
    "trim": "EX-V6",
    "body": "Coupe",
    "doors": 2,
    "seats": null,
    "vehicle_type": "Passenger Car",
    "steering": null,
    "market": null
  },
  "engine": {
    "code": "J30A4",
    "displacement_l": 3.0,
    "cylinders": 6,
    "configuration": "V-Shaped",
    "power_kw": 179.0,
    "power_hp": 240.0,
    "fuel": "Gasoline",
    "fuel_secondary": null,
    "electrification": null,
    "battery_kwh": null,
    "turbo": null,
    "fuel_injection": null,
    "manufacturer": null
  },
  "transmission": {
    "type": "Automatic",
    "gears": 5
  },
  "drivetrain": {
    "drive": null,
    "axles": null,
    "brake_system": null
  },
  "dimensions": {
    "gvwr": "Class 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg)",
    "curb_weight_lb": null,
    "wheelbase_in": null
  },
  "manufacturer": {
    "name": "American Honda Motor Co., Inc.",
    "wmi": "1HG",
    "wmi_country": "United States",
    "region": "North America",
    "plant_city": "Marysville",
    "plant_state": "Ohio",
    "plant_country": "United States",
    "plant_company": null
  },
  "safety": {
    "seat_belts": "Manual",
    "airbags_front": "1st Row (Driver and Passenger)",
    "airbags_side": "1st Row (Driver and Passenger)",
    "airbags_curtain": "1st and 2nd Rows",
    "airbags_knee": null,
    "tpms": null
  },
  "notes": [],
  "meta": {
    "api_version": "1.0.0",
    "took_ms": 194
  }
}
```

A Chinese built Tesla returns its electrification and plant:

```json
{
  "vin": "LRW3E7FA4MC123456",
  "valid": true,
  "coverage": "full",
  "check_digit": {
    "valid": false,
    "expected": "8"
  },
  "vehicle": {
    "make": "Tesla",
    "model": "Model 3",
    "model_year": 2021,
    "year_of_manufacture": null,
    "series": null,
    "trim": null,
    "body": "Sedan",
    "doors": 4,
    "seats": null,
    "vehicle_type": "passenger car",
    "steering": null,
    "market": null
  },
  "engine": {
    "code": null,
    "displacement_l": null,
    "cylinders": null,
    "configuration": null,
    "power_kw": null,
    "power_hp": null,
    "fuel": "Electric",
    "fuel_secondary": null,
    "electrification": "BEV",
    "battery_kwh": null,
    "turbo": null,
    "fuel_injection": null,
    "manufacturer": null
  },
  "transmission": {
    "type": null,
    "gears": null
  },
  "drivetrain": {
    "drive": null,
    "axles": null,
    "brake_system": null
  },
  "dimensions": {
    "gvwr": null,
    "curb_weight_lb": null,
    "wheelbase_in": null
  },
  "manufacturer": {
    "name": "Tesla (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. - Gigafactory Shanghai",
    "wmi": "LRW",
    "wmi_country": "China",
    "region": "Asia",
    "plant_city": "Shanghai",
    "plant_state": null,
    "plant_country": "China",
    "plant_company": "Tesla Gigafactory Shanghai"
  },
  "safety": {
    "seat_belts": null,
    "airbags_front": null,
    "airbags_side": null,
    "airbags_curtain": null,
    "airbags_knee": null,
    "tpms": null
  },
  "notes": [
    "The check digit (position 9) does not match: the VIN may contain a typo."
  ],
  "meta": {
    "api_version": "1.0.0",
    "took_ms": 52
  }
}
```

A VIN with the wrong length returns 400:

```json
{
  "error": "invalid_vin",
  "message": "A VIN has exactly 17 characters: digits and capital letters except I, O and Q.",
  "vin": "12345"
}
```

#### 2. Service status

Returns the service status and version. It counts as a request on your plan.

**Method:** `GET`

**Endpoint:** `/health`

**Parameters:**

None.

**Example Request:**

```bash
curl -X GET 'https://prod.api.market/api/v1/vin-data-hub/global-vin-decoder/health' \
  -H 'x-api-market-key: YOUR_API_KEY'
```

**Example Response (200 OK):**

```json
{
  "status": "ok",
  "version": "1.0.0"
}
```

## Status Codes

| Code | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 200 | OK | The request succeeded and the JSON result is in the response body. |
| 400 | Bad Request | The VIN is not 17 characters of digits and capital letters other than I, O and Q (`invalid_vin`). |
| 401 | Unauthorized | The `x-api-market-key` header is missing or the key is not valid. |
| 403 | Forbidden | Your key does not have an active subscription that includes this endpoint. |
| 404 | Not Found | The path does not match an endpoint of this API. Check the Base URL and path. |
| 429 | Too Many Requests | You went over 10 requests per second or used up the quota of your plan. |
| 500 | Internal Server Error | The request failed on the server. Retry once, then contact us if it continues. |
| 503 | Service Unavailable | The service is temporarily unavailable. Retry after a short wait. |

## Rate Limits

Every plan allows up to 10 requests per second, and each subscription plan has its own monthly quota. When you go over a limit, the API returns `429 Too Many Requests`. Throttle your requests, back off before retrying, and honour the `Retry-After` header when it is present.

## FAQ

*   **What does coverage partial mean?**
    The make and model were identified but not the technical data. `full` adds engine, body or fuel, `make` means only the manufacturer, and `none` means nothing was recognised.

*   **Why is check_digit valid null?**
    Position 9 is a check digit only for North American VINs. Most European and Asian makers do not use it.

*   **What if the check digit does not match?**
    The VIN is still decoded and `notes` warns that it may contain a typo.

*   **Does it return ownership or accident history?**
    No. It returns only what the VIN itself encodes.

## Contact Us

If you have any questions or need support, reach out through the chat embedded on this page or email us at hello@magicapi.com.


Decode any 17-character VIN into make, model, year, engine code, power, body and plant. Strong coverage of European and Chinese brands.

VIN Decoder API: Europe, Asia, China and US Vehicles

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Decode any VIN worldwide: make, model, year, engine code, kW/hp, body, plant. Strong European and Chinese coverage, validated on 21,000+ registry VINs.