API Reference v1.0

API Documentation

Everything you need to integrate VIN API into your application. Complete guides, cURL examples, and interactive testing.

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Simple REST API

Introduction

The VIN API provides a simple, fast, and reliable way to decode Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) and get comprehensive vehicle data including specifications, risk assessments, and AI-powered insights.

RESTful API

Standard HTTP methods with JSON responses. Easy to integrate with any programming language.

Secure & Reliable

All requests are encrypted via HTTPS. 99.9% uptime SLA with global CDN distribution.

Quick Start

Get started in 3 simple steps

Get your API key

Subscribe to VIN API on RapidAPI and copy your API key from the dashboard.

Make your first request

Use the cURL command below to make your first API call.

curl -X 'GET' \
  'https://vin-api-by-api-sphere.p.rapidapi.com/Vin/check/5YFB4MDE8SP291981' \
  -H 'accept: */*' \
  -H 'X-RapidAPI-Key: YOUR_API_KEY' \
  -H 'X-RapidAPI-Host: vin-api-by-api-sphere.p.rapidapi.com'

Get vehicle data

Receive comprehensive vehicle information including make, model, year, and risk data.

Base URL

https://vin-api-by-api-sphere.p.rapidapi.com

Authentication

All API requests must be authenticated using RapidAPI headers. Include the following headers in every request:

Required Headers

Header

X-RapidAPI-Key

Value

YOUR_API_KEY

Description

Your RapidAPI subscription key

Header

X-RapidAPI-Host

Value

vin-api-by-api-sphere.p.rapidapi.com

Description

API host identifier

Header	Value	Description
X-RapidAPI-Key	YOUR_API_KEY	Your RapidAPI subscription key
X-RapidAPI-Host	vin-api-by-api-sphere.p.rapidapi.com	API host identifier

Keep your API key secure

Never expose your API key in client-side code or public repositories. Use environment variables or secure key management systems.

API Endpoints

The VIN API provides two powerful endpoints for vehicle data retrieval and AI-powered risk assessment.

GET/Vin/check/{vin}

VIN Check

Decode VINs and get vehicle specs with recall and complaint data.

POST/Vin/summary/{vin}

VIN Summary

Get AI-powered risk assessment and business recommendations.

GET

/Vin/check/{vin}

Decode a Vehicle Identification Number to retrieve comprehensive vehicle specifications, including make, model, year, engine details, and risk information such as open recalls and consumer complaints.

Path Parameters

Name

vin

stringYes

Description

17-character Vehicle Identification Number. Must contain only valid characters (A-Z, 0-9, excluding I, O, Q).

Name	Type	Required	Description
vin	string	Yes	17-character Vehicle Identification Number. Must contain only valid characters (A-Z, 0-9, excluding I, O, Q).

Request Example

curl -X 'GET' \
  'https://vin-api-by-api-sphere.p.rapidapi.com/Vin/check/5YFB4MDE8SP291981' \
  -H 'accept: */*' \
  -H 'X-RapidAPI-Key: YOUR_API_KEY' \
  -H 'X-RapidAPI-Host: vin-api-by-api-sphere.p.rapidapi.com'

Response Structure

objectvehicle

vinVehicle Identification Number

vinValidBoolean indicating VIN validity

yearModel year (integer)

makeVehicle manufacturer (e.g., TOYOTA)

modelVehicle model name

trimTrim level (e.g., LE, Sport)

bodyBody type (e.g., Sedan/Saloon)

styleVehicle style category

engineEngine code/description

transmissionTransmission type (nullable)

driveDrivetrain (e.g., 4x2, AWD)

originCountry of manufacture

objectrisk

openRecallsCountNumber of unresolved safety recalls

complaintsCountTotal consumer complaints filed

Example Response

{
  "vehicle": {
    "vin": "5YFB4MDE8SP291981",
    "vinValid": true,
    "year": 2025,
    "make": "TOYOTA",
    "model": "Corolla",
    "trim": "LE",
    "body": "Sedan/Saloon",
    "style": "PASSENGER CAR",
    "engine": "M20A-FKS",
    "transmission": null,
    "drive": "4x2",
    "origin": "UNITED STATES (USA)"
  },
  "risk": {
    "openRecallsCount": 0,
    "complaintsCount": 13
  }
}

POST

/Vin/summary/{vin}

Get AI-powered risk assessment and actionable business recommendations. This endpoint analyzes vehicle history, recalls, complaints, and safety data to provide intelligent insights for automotive businesses.

Path Parameters

Name	Type	Required	Description
vin	string	Yes	17-character Vehicle Identification Number

Risk Levels Explained

Low Risk

Safe to list and sell. Minimal safety concerns, no critical issues identified.

Medium Risk

Can list with proper disclosure. Monitor for patterns in complaints or recalls.

High Risk

Do not list. Significant safety or compliance concerns require resolution first.

Request Example

curl -X 'POST' \
  'https://vin-api-by-api-sphere.p.rapidapi.com/Vin/summary/5YFB4MDE8SP291981' \
  -H 'accept: */*' \
  -H 'X-RapidAPI-Key: YOUR_API_KEY' \
  -H 'X-RapidAPI-Host: vin-api-by-api-sphere.p.rapidapi.com' \
  -d ''

Response Structure

objectaiSummary

riskLevelRisk assessment: "Low", "Medium", or "High"

decisionBusiness recommendation (e.g., "List with disclosure")

keyFindingsArray of important safety and compliance findings

recommendationDetailed business-focused action items

Example Response

{
  "aiSummary": {
    "riskLevel": "Medium",
    "decision": "List with disclosure",
    "keyFindings": [
      "Overall safety rating is 5 stars across all categories, indicating strong crash performance.",
      "No open recalls found, suggesting no current compliance issues.",
      "Consumer complaints indicate potential electrical and braking issues that could affect safety, with multiple reports of the vehicle shutting down unexpectedly and braking problems.",
      "The presence of 13 total complaints, while not excessive, indicates some recurring issues that may need monitoring."
    ],
    "recommendation": "Proceed to list the vehicle but include a disclosure regarding the consumer complaints, particularly those related to electrical and braking systems. Monitor for any further developments or patterns in complaints."
  }
}

Rate Limits

Rate limits vary by subscription tier. All plans include fair usage policies to ensure optimal performance for all users.

Rate Limit Headers

Each API response includes headers that indicate your current rate limit status:

Header

X-RateLimit-Requests-Limit

Description

Maximum requests allowed per period

Header

X-RateLimit-Requests-Remaining

Description

Remaining requests in current period

Header

X-RateLimit-Requests-Reset

Description

Timestamp when the limit resets

Header	Description
X-RateLimit-Requests-Limit	Maximum requests allowed per period
X-RateLimit-Requests-Remaining	Remaining requests in current period
X-RateLimit-Requests-Reset	Timestamp when the limit resets

Exceeding Rate Limits

When you exceed your rate limit, the API returns a 429 status code. Implement exponential backoff to handle rate limiting gracefully.

Error Handling

The VIN API uses standard HTTP status codes to indicate success or failure. All error responses include a JSON body with additional details.

200

Success - Request completed successfully

400

Bad Request - Invalid VIN format or malformed request

Ensure the VIN is exactly 17 characters and contains only valid characters (A-Z, 0-9, excluding I, O, Q)

401

Unauthorized - Invalid or missing API key

Check that your X-RapidAPI-Key header is present and valid. Get your key from RapidAPI.

403

Forbidden - Subscription limit exceeded

Upgrade your plan or wait for your quota to reset. Check your usage on RapidAPI dashboard.

404

Not Found - VIN not found in database

Verify the VIN is correct. Some older or rare vehicles may not be in our database.

429

Too Many Requests - Rate limit exceeded

Slow down your request rate. Implement exponential backoff and respect rate limits.

500

Internal Server Error - Server-side issue

Try again later. If the problem persists, contact support with your request details.

503

Service Unavailable - Temporary maintenance

The service is temporarily down for maintenance. Try again in a few minutes.

Best Practices

Follow these best practices to ensure optimal performance and reliability when integrating the VIN API.

Security

Store API keys in environment variables

Never expose keys in client-side code

Rotate keys periodically

Use HTTPS for all requests

Performance

Cache responses when appropriate

Implement request timeout handling

Use connection pooling for high volume

Monitor response times

Error Handling

Implement exponential backoff for retries

Log errors with request context

Handle rate limit responses gracefully

Provide user-friendly error messages

Data Validation

Validate VIN format before API calls

Sanitize user input

Check response structure before parsing

Handle null/undefined values safely

VIN Validation Regex

Use this regex pattern to validate VIN format before making API calls:

^[A-HJ-NPR-Z0-9]{17}$

VINs are exactly 17 characters long and exclude the letters I, O, and Q to avoid confusion with numbers.

Support & Resources

Need help? We're here to assist you with integration, troubleshooting, and technical questions.

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