Name: VinScope VIN Decoder API: Make, Model, Engine and Year
Brand: visionwell
SKU: api-visionwell-vinscope
Availability: InStock
Author: API Market

binbin7418-dotcom

# VinScope VIN Decoder API

## Overview

The VinScope API decodes a Vehicle Identification Number into a vehicle profile with make, model, model year, trim, body class, engine, transmission, fuel type and assembly plant. It also lists manufacturers by vehicle type, models by make and year, and the vehicle variables that decode results can contain.

It is built for car marketplaces, dealers, insurers, fleet managers and parts sellers who need reliable vehicle data from a VIN. The data comes from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's vPIC database, and every decode includes NHTSA's error code so you can tell a clean decode from a partial one.

## Features

*   **4 endpoints**: VIN decode, manufacturers, models and vehicle variables.
*   **Vehicle profile**: make, model, year, trim, body, engine, transmission, fuel and plant.
*   **Decode quality**: NHTSA error code and text on every decode.
*   **Source**: NHTSA vPIC, with attribution in every response.
*   **Rate limit**: up to 10 requests per second on every plan.

## Use Cases

*   **Car marketplaces**: fill listing details from the VIN.
*   **Insurance**: check the vehicle behind a quote.
*   **Dealers**: verify trade-in details.
*   **Parts stores**: match parts to a customer's vehicle.

## API Documentation

### Base URL

All requests go through the API.market proxy at this base URL:

```
https://prod.api.market/api/v1/visionwell/vinscope
```

### Authentication

Every request must include your API.market key in 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 into a full vehicle profile.

**Method:** `GET`

**Endpoint:** `/decode`

**Parameters:**

| Name | In | Description | Type | Required | Default | Max Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| vin | query | The 17-character Vehicle Identification Number | string | Yes | - | - |

**Example Request:**

```bash
curl -X GET 'https://prod.api.market/api/v1/visionwell/vinscope/decode?vin=1HGCM82633A004352' \
  -H 'x-api-market-key: YOUR_API_KEY'
```

**Example Response (200 OK):**

```json
{
  "vehicle": {
    "vin": "1HGCM82633A004352",
    "make": "HONDA",
    "model": "Accord",
    "modelYear": "2003",
    "trim": "EX-V6",
    "series": null,
    "bodyClass": "Coupe",
    "vehicleType": "PASSENGER CAR",
    "manufacturer": "AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.",
    "driveType": null,
    "transmissionStyle": "Automatic",
    "transmissionSpeeds": "5",
    "fuelTypePrimary": "Gasoline",
    "fuelTypeSecondary": null,
    "engineCylinders": "6",
    "engineHP": "240",
    "displacementL": "2.998832712",
    "doors": "2",
    "plantCity": "MARYSVILLE",
    "plantState": "OHIO",
    "plantCountry": "UNITED STATES (USA)",
    "errorCode": "0",
    "errorText": "0 - VIN decoded clean. Check Digit (9th position) is correct"
  },
  "sources": [
    "NHTSA vPIC"
  ],
  "_attribution": "Data from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Vehicle Product Information Catalog (vPIC), https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov. Reference data only; not a substitute for manufacturer or title records."
}
```

#### 2. List manufacturers

Lists manufacturers for a vehicle type.

**Method:** `GET`

**Endpoint:** `/makes`

**Parameters:**

| Name | In | Description | Type | Required | Default | Max Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| type | query | Vehicle type, such as `car`, `truck` or `motorcycle` | string | No | - | - |

**Example Request:**

```bash
curl -X GET 'https://prod.api.market/api/v1/visionwell/vinscope/makes?type=car' \
  -H 'x-api-market-key: YOUR_API_KEY'
```

**Example Response (200 OK):**

```json
{
  "vehicleType": "car",
  "count": 195,
  "makes": [
    {
      "makeId": 440,
      "make": "ASTON MARTIN"
    },
    {
      "makeId": 441,
      "make": "TESLA"
    },
    {
      "makeId": 442,
      "make": "JAGUAR"
    },
    {
      "makeId": 443,
      "make": "MASERATI"
    },
    {
      "makeId": 445,
      "make": "ROLLS-ROYCE"
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    "NHTSA vPIC"
  ],
  "_attribution": "Data from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Vehicle Product Information Catalog (vPIC), https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov. Reference data only; not a substitute for manufacturer or title records."
}
```

#### 3. List models

Lists the models of a manufacturer, optionally for one model year.

**Method:** `GET`

**Endpoint:** `/models`

**Parameters:**

| Name | In | Description | Type | Required | Default | Max Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| make | query | Manufacturer name, such as `toyota` | string | Yes | - | - |
| year | query | Model year | integer | No | - | - |

**Example Request:**

```bash
curl -X GET 'https://prod.api.market/api/v1/visionwell/vinscope/models?make=toyota&year=2020' \
  -H 'x-api-market-key: YOUR_API_KEY'
```

**Example Response (200 OK):**

```json
{
  "make": "TOYOTA",
  "year": 2020,
  "count": 19,
  "models": [
    {
      "modelId": 2208,
      "model": "Corolla"
    },
    {
      "modelId": 2209,
      "model": "Prius"
    },
    {
      "modelId": 2211,
      "model": "Land Cruiser"
    },
    {
      "modelId": 2213,
      "model": "Highlander"
    },
    {
      "modelId": 2216,
      "model": "4Runner"
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    "NHTSA vPIC"
  ],
  "_attribution": "Data from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Vehicle Product Information Catalog (vPIC), https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov. Reference data only; not a substitute for manufacturer or title records."
}
```

#### 4. List vehicle variables

Lists the vehicle variables that decode results can contain, grouped by category.

**Method:** `GET`

**Endpoint:** `/variables`

**Parameters:** None.

**Example Request:**

```bash
curl -X GET 'https://prod.api.market/api/v1/visionwell/vinscope/variables' \
  -H 'x-api-market-key: YOUR_API_KEY'
```

**Example Response (200 OK):**

```json
{
  "count": 145,
  "variables": [
    {
      "id": 1,
      "name": "Other Battery Info",
      "group": "Mechanical/Battery"
    },
    {
      "id": 2,
      "name": "Battery Type",
      "group": "Mechanical/Battery"
    },
    {
      "id": 3,
      "name": "Bed Type",
      "group": "Exterior/Truck"
    },
    {
      "id": 4,
      "name": "Cab Type",
      "group": "Exterior/Truck"
    },
    {
      "id": 5,
      "name": "Body Class",
      "group": "Exterior/Body"
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    "NHTSA vPIC"
  ],
  "_attribution": "Data from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Vehicle Product Information Catalog (vPIC), https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov. Reference data only; not a substitute for manufacturer or title records."
}
```

## Status Codes

| Code | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 200 | OK | The request succeeded and the response body holds the result. |
| 400 | Bad Request | A required parameter is missing or a value is invalid. Check the parameter table for the endpoint. |
| 401 | Unauthorized | The `x-api-market-key` header is missing or the key is not valid. |
| 403 | Forbidden | Your key is valid but your subscription does not allow this request, for example an endpoint outside your plan. |
| 404 | Not Found | The path does not exist, or the resource you asked for was not found. |
| 429 | Too Many Requests | You sent more than 10 requests per second. Slow down and retry, honouring the `Retry-After` header. |
| 500 | Internal Server Error | Something went wrong while processing the request. Retry after a short wait. |
| 503 | Service Unavailable | The service or its upstream data source is temporarily unavailable. Retry with backoff. |

## Rate Limits

Every plan allows up to 10 requests per second. Subscription plans also have a monthly call quota shown on the pricing page. Sending more than 10 requests per second returns `429 Too Many Requests`. Throttle your client to stay under 10 requests per second, back off and retry when you get a 429, and honour the `Retry-After` header when it is present.

## FAQ

*   **What if the VIN is incomplete or wrong?**

    The decode still returns what NHTSA can read, with `errorCode` and `errorText` explaining the problem. Check `errorCode` is `0` for a clean decode.

*   **Does it cover vehicles outside the US?**

    It decodes any VIN in NHTSA's vPIC database, which focuses on vehicles sold in the US. Coverage for other markets is limited.

*   **Does it include vehicle history?**

    No. It decodes the vehicle's specification, not accidents, owners or title records.

## Contact Us

If you have any questions or need assistance, you can reach out to us through the embedded chat on the bottom right corner of the page or send an email to hello@magicapi.com.


Decode a VIN into make, model, year, trim, engine, transmission and plant from NHTSA vPIC, and list makes, models and variables.

VinScope VIN Decoder API: Make, Model, Engine and Year