Auction History API: 80M+ Vehicle Records by VIN
The Auction API gives you instant access to one of the largest auto auction history databases in the world with over 80 million records covering salvage, insurance, and dealer auctions across North America. Get started to retrieve car auction history by VIN in seconds.
Features of the Auction API That Make Us Stand Out
Automotive platforms need reliable infrastructure when working with vehicle data. The Vehicle Databases Auction API is designed for high-performance environments where speed, accuracy, and scalability matter.
Here are several reasons businesses rely on this API.
99.99% Uptime SLA
Production-grade reliability your business can depend on, day and night.
100% Data Accuracy
Auction records sourced directly from auction platforms and verified before entering our database.
Fast Response Times
Requests are processed quickly in seconds, making it suitable for high-traffic platforms.
Scalable Infrastructure
From a single VIN lookup to millions of API calls per month, our infrastructure scales with you.
Classic & Modern Vehicle Support
Fully supports classic vehicles (pre-1981, 5–14 digit VINs) alongside standard 17-digit VINs.
80M+ Records & Growing
The most comprehensive vehicle auction history database available, updated continuously.
What Is the Auction History API?
The auction history API is a RESTful service that returns a complete record of every time a vehicle has been listed or sold through a North American auction, including condition, damage status, sale price, and photos, exactly as documented at the time of sale.
Unlike retail listings that show asking prices, auto auction history shows what buyers actually paid. This is real data recorded at the source, not estimates. The API supports both standard 17-digit VINs and classic vehicle VINs, making it the most versatile auction API for businesses working across all vehicle types.
How the Auction History API Works
Getting up and running with our auction API takes minutes. Here’s the full flow from signup to results:
Step 1: Send a VIN Request
Make a simple GET request to the auction API endpoint, passing the vehicle's VIN as a parameter. The API supports standard 17-digit VINs as well as classic 5–14 digit VINs for older and collector vehicles.
Step 2: Receive Structured Data
The API responds with a structured JSON object containing the full vehicle auction history.
Step 3: Integrate Into Your Platform
Map the JSON response fields into your DMS, website, valuation tool, or internal system. Code examples are available in Python, JavaScript, PHP, Java, and C#. Full documentation is available in the API docs.
Coverage, Vehicle Types & Technical Specifications
The auction API is built to handle the full breadth of vehicles that pass through North American auctions, including:
Classic vehicles: Pre-1981 vehicles with 5–14 digit VINs (fully supported)
Modern vehicles: 1981 to present with standard 17-digit VINs
Cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, and motorcycles
US and Canada regional coverage
Try the Auction History API for Free — No Integration Required
Not ready to integrate yet? You can run a live car auction history by VIN lookup directly below. Enter any VIN to see real auction records returned instantly. No signup required for a preview.
Get Auction History Without Any Integration
Need auction history data without writing a single line of code? Vehicle Databases also offers a self-serve lookup portal where you can search vehicle auction history by VIN directly in your browser.
This is ideal for dealers, appraisers, and anyone who needs occasional lookups, due diligence on a specific vehicle, or to evaluate the data quality before committing to a full API integration.
What Data Does the Auction History API Return?
Every car auction data response is a structured JSON object containing multiple data groups. Here’s a complete breakdown of all fields returned:
Auction Sale Information
- Auction sale price
- Sale status
- Auction date
- Auction location
- Auction lot number
Vehicle Specifications
- Year
- Make
- Model
- Engine type
- Transmission
- Body style
- Fuel type
Damage and Condition Details
- Primary damage classification
- Secondary damage classification
- Title type
- Estimated repair costs
Odometer Records
The API includes the odometer reading recorded at the time of the auction.
Auction Photos
View 10+ high-resolution images per auction event
These images may show:
- Exterior views
- Interior condition
- Damage areas
- Engine components
See the Auction API in Action
Below are real examples of what a car auction history by VIN request looks like, and the structured data returned.
Example API Request
GET https://api.vehicledatabases.com/auction/{vin}
Example API Response
Below are examples showing how auction records are returned by the API.
Classic Vehicle - 1930 Ford Model A (VIN: A304656)
Example of auction data returned for a classic vehicle:
{
"status": "success",
"data": [
{
"sale_index": "sold-1",
"price": "N/A",
"sale status": "Sold",
"vname": "1930 Ford Model A",
"lot-number": "0-25908422",
"car-features": {
"Has_Keys": "yes",
"Runs_Drives": "no",
"Engine_Starts": "no"
},
"title-and-condition": {
"Title Type": "Registration",
"Title Description": "TITLE DELAY",
"Primary Damage": "Unknown",
"Secondary Damage": "N/A",
"VIN": "A304656",
"Common": "N/A"
},
"technical-specs": {
"Odometer": "11,075 mi (17,823 km)",
"Estimated Repair Cost": "$0",
"Avg. Estimated Retail Value": "N/A",
"Damage Ratio": "N/A",
"Estimated Winning Bid": "N/A",
"Body Style": "N/A",
"Color": "N/A",
"Engine Type": "",
"Fuel Type": "N/A",
"Cylinders": "N/A",
"Transmission": "Unknown",
"Drive": ""
},
"sale-date-location": {
"Seller Type": "No information",
"Auction Date": "09-03-2019",
"Auction Type": "N/A",
"Location": "Long Island (NY)",
"Buyer Country": "N/A"
},
"listing-history": {
"2019-09-03": "Sold N/A"
},
"year": "1930",
"make": "1930 FORD MODEL A",
"model": "",
"images": [
"https://vhr-dev.sfo3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/Report/auction/A304656/09-03-2019/img-0-0.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=OPBFNLV5HC3ST3HB6RTF&Expires=1696636813&Signature=qvA1ikpEWzG5MItdrSeFujhwQUo%3D",
"https://vhr-dev.sfo3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/Report/auction/A304656/09-03-2019/img-0-1.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=OPBFNLV5HC3ST3HB6RTF&Expires=1696636813&Signature=Yg5XhgD%2BZ6706gExQAui5oQk4A8%3D",
"https://vhr-dev.sfo3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/Report/auction/A304656/09-03-2019/img-0-2.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=OPBFNLV5HC3ST3HB6RTF&Expires=1696636813&Signature=nCml8zN0MtvDsGAiFvcK9NJwAJs%3D",
"https://vhr-dev.sfo3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/Report/auction/A304656/09-03-2019/img-0-3.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=OPBFNLV5HC3ST3HB6RTF&Expires=1696636813&Signature=h3CNaHVPQ%2F%2Fa2olpcliv1nLZmac%3D",
"https://vhr-dev.sfo3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/Report/auction/A304656/09-03-2019/img-0-4.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=OPBFNLV5HC3ST3HB6RTF&Expires=1696636813&Signature=BSzyIz%2BdWBXifMvUADEXJ9%2Bv1UQ%3D",
"https://vhr-dev.sfo3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/Report/auction/A304656/09-03-2019/img-0-5.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=OPBFNLV5HC3ST3HB6RTF&Expires=1696636813&Signature=lxHsJ1fOTmsT3DjvVPd30fJjfIY%3D",
"https://vhr-dev.sfo3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/Report/auction/A304656/09-03-2019/img-0-6.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=OPBFNLV5HC3ST3HB6RTF&Expires=1696636813&Signature=PLNl5c%2FF3iLc%2B1HIM9ppfJwKcDI%3D",
"https://vhr-dev.sfo3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/Report/auction/A304656/09-03-2019/img-0-7.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=OPBFNLV5HC3ST3HB6RTF&Expires=1696636813&Signature=w7J%2BAPCYcP0VVSNGOrpcolSXpl0%3D",
"https://vhr-dev.sfo3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/Report/auction/A304656/09-03-2019/img-0-8.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=OPBFNLV5HC3ST3HB6RTF&Expires=1696636813&Signature=CM95mQ8DBAuvicF%2FAKb%2Bt40d5hk%3D",
"https://vhr-dev.sfo3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/Report/auction/A304656/09-03-2019/img-0-9.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=OPBFNLV5HC3ST3HB6RTF&Expires=1696636813&Signature=H2z7ZGajGbdbnyL%2F4PN3gklyZK8%3D"
],
"market-value": {},
"vin": "A304656"
}
]
}
Modern Vehicle - 2016 Ford Escape (VIN: 1FMCU0G93GUB08696)
Example of auction data returned for a modern vehicle:
{
"data": [
{
"sale_index": "sold-1",
"price": "$2,500",
"sale status": "Vehicle sold at this price",
"vname": "2016 FORD ESCAPE",
"lot-number": "Stock: Stock:",
"car-features": {
"Runs_Drives": "no",
"Engine_Starts": "no",
"Has_Keys": "yes"
},
"title-and-condition": {
"Title Type": "Salvage",
"Title Description": "new Jersey - Salvage",
"Primary Damage": "Front End",
"VIN": "1FMCU0G93GUB08696",
"Common": "195 auctioned yearly"
},
"technical-specs": {
"Odometer": "98,042 actual miles8,974 less than average",
"Estimated Repair Cost": "$10,676",
"Estimated Retail Value": "$12,509",
"Avg. Estimated Retail Value": "$15,252",
"Damage Ratio": "85%",
"Estimated Winning Bid": "$3,377 - $4,127",
"Body Style": "Sport Utility Vehicle",
"Color": "White",
"Engine Type": "2.0L 4 FI DOHC 16V F",
"Fuel Type": "Gasoline",
"Cylinders": "4",
"Transmission": "Automatic",
"Drive": "Front Wheel Drive",
"City Mileage": "23 miles/gallon",
"Delivery Charges": "$895",
"Highway Mileage": "32 miles/gallon",
"Standard Seating": "5",
"Engine Size": "1.6 Liters",
"Invoice Price": "$24,049",
"Vehicle Style": "SUV (4-Door)",
"Engine": "2.0L L4 DOHC 16V",
"Made In": "United States",
"Vehicle Size": "Compact",
"Overall Length": "178.10 inches",
"Steering Type": "R&P",
"Anti-Brake System": "4-Wheel ABS",
"Fuel Capacity": "15.5 gallon",
"Overall Height": "66.30 inches",
"Doors": "4",
"Curb Weight": "3515",
"Trim": "SE",
"Overall Width": "72.40 inches",
"Transmission Gears": "6",
"MSRP": "$25,790"
},
"sale-date-location": {
"Seller Type": "Insurance Company",
"Seller Name": "Progressive Casualty Insurance",
"Auction Date": "January 21, {year} 2:00 PM CST",
"Location": "Southern new Jersey, NJ"
},
"listing-history": {},
"year": "2016",
"make": "FORD",
"model": "ESCAPE",
"images": [
"https://vhr-dev.sfo3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/Report/auction/1FMCU0G93GUB08696/January-21--{year}-2-00-PM-CST/img-0-0.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=OPBFNLV5HC3ST3HB6RTF&Expires=1658322613&Signature=ycz32Re57kWk%2BJHaswtAQedMOfk%3D",
"https://vhr-dev.sfo3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/Report/auction/1FMCU0G93GUB08696/January-21--{year}-2-00-PM-CST/img-0-1.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=OPBFNLV5HC3ST3HB6RTF&Expires=1658322613&Signature=u09GO7XxlU1YJ7Xw6uEHaR%2F3bm0%3D",
"https://vhr-dev.sfo3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/Report/auction/1FMCU0G93GUB08696/January-21--{year}-2-00-PM-CST/img-0-10.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=OPBFNLV5HC3ST3HB6RTF&Expires=1658322613&Signature=SrD0qb1P%2BSx5UBK4VXlb8lvebks%3D",
"https://vhr-dev.sfo3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/Report/auction/1FMCU0G93GUB08696/January-21--{year}-2-00-PM-CST/img-0-2.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=OPBFNLV5HC3ST3HB6RTF&Expires=1658322613&Signature=AtxicYf39gD1mUHlS%2BALZt77bUQ%3D",
"https://vhr-dev.sfo3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/Report/auction/1FMCU0G93GUB08696/January-21--{year}-2-00-PM-CST/img-0-3.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=OPBFNLV5HC3ST3HB6RTF&Expires=1658322613&Signature=Epb7FrBC3E5UPt091XL57hxMVVc%3D",
"https://vhr-dev.sfo3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/Report/auction/1FMCU0G93GUB08696/January-21--{year}-2-00-PM-CST/img-0-4.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=OPBFNLV5HC3ST3HB6RTF&Expires=1658322613&Signature=RGXW6Nwy%2Fj%2BgXyXBR9nrd%2Fq%2FEpc%3D",
"https://vhr-dev.sfo3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/Report/auction/1FMCU0G93GUB08696/January-21--{year}-2-00-PM-CST/img-0-5.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=OPBFNLV5HC3ST3HB6RTF&Expires=1658322613&Signature=CHx2w6gMJxPYV1ZdCTgtGKS74qk%3D",
"https://vhr-dev.sfo3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/Report/auction/1FMCU0G93GUB08696/January-21--{year}-2-00-PM-CST/img-0-6.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=OPBFNLV5HC3ST3HB6RTF&Expires=1658322613&Signature=QCh3o7D6cY7XYm%2F1I0awKzTQlsI%3D",
"https://vhr-dev.sfo3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/Report/auction/1FMCU0G93GUB08696/January-21--{year}-2-00-PM-CST/img-0-7.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=OPBFNLV5HC3ST3HB6RTF&Expires=1658322613&Signature=ojeN6c0ewUOGkh8X1%2FKpcRHVA1Y%3D",
"https://vhr-dev.sfo3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/Report/auction/1FMCU0G93GUB08696/January-21--{year}-2-00-PM-CST/img-0-8.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=OPBFNLV5HC3ST3HB6RTF&Expires=1658322613&Signature=tHWe9QY56MesXKK3um8suKQVkOI%3D",
"https://vhr-dev.sfo3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/Report/auction/1FMCU0G93GUB08696/January-21--{year}-2-00-PM-CST/img-0-9.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=OPBFNLV5HC3ST3HB6RTF&Expires=1658322613&Signature=Gf0g73%2BAGRMUeb9AQdQwrgZh9Nw%3D"
],
"market-value": {
"Price Range": "$775 - $5,500",
"Common Price": "$2,050",
"Avergae Price": "$2,402",
"Weighted Average Price": "$2,098",
"Median Price": "$2,125"
}
}
]
}
How Our Auction API Compares
There are a handful of car auction data providers in the market. Here’s how vehicledatabases.com stacks up against the typical alternatives:
| Feature | Vehicle Databases | Typical Competitors |
|---|---|---|
| Records available | 80M+ | 10M – 30M |
| Classic vehicle support | Yes (5–14 digit VINs) | Rarely |
| Auction photos per record | 10+ high-res images | 0–3 images |
| Response format | REST API / Structured JSON | Varies |
| Classic + Modern in one API | Single endpoint | Separate products |
| Free trial | No credit card required | Limited or unavailable |
| Uptime SLA | 99.99% | Not published |
| Data update frequency | Updated daily | Weekly or monthly |
| Customer support | Dedicated account support | Same day, 5 languages supported |
| Integration time | Same day, 5 languages supported | Days to weeks |
Who Needs an Auction History API?
The vehicle auction history API is used by a wide range of automotive businesses and developers. If your work involves buying, selling, valuing, financing, or insuring vehicles, auction history data gives you a critical edge.
Auto Dealers
Verify vehicle condition and pricing history before adding to inventory or making offers at auction
Vehicle Importers & Exporters
Car Finance & Insurance Companies
Cross-reference declared condition and value with verified auction records before approving loans or claims
Auto Auction Platforms
Enrich listings with historical sale data and previous auction appearances
Vehicle Valuation & Pricing Tools
Power your tool with real sold-price data instead of modeled estimates
Developers & SaaS Products
Integrate car auction data into any vehicle history, fleet management, or classified listing platform
Key Benefits of Using the Auction History API
Access to reliable vehicle auction history can significantly improve how automotive platforms analyze vehicles and make decisions. Here are some benefits of using this API:
| # | Stat | Stat Label | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 80M+ | Auction records | Make smarter buying decisions | Research any vehicle's full auction history before you bid, including how many times it appeared, what it sold for, and its condition each time. |
| 2 | Up to 40% | Below retail value | Validate value with real data | Auction records show what buyers actually paid, not asking prices. Back up appraisals, loan valuations, and insurance estimates with verified sold data. |
| 3 | 10+ | High-res photos per record | Inspect remotely before you buy | Every auction event includes condition photos taken at the time of sale, essential for import decisions and remote buying where physical inspection is not possible. |
| 4 | 100% | Transparency for buyers | Protect your customers | Surface auction history to give buyers full visibility into a vehicle's past. Fewer post-sale disputes, stronger customer trust, and a defensible sales process. |
| 5 | Every record | Includes auction location | Calculate import costs before committing | Know exactly where a vehicle was auctioned, city and state, so importers and logistics teams can price shipping accurately before placing a bid. |
| 6 | 5 languages | Ready-to-use code examples | Live in hours, not weeks | One REST endpoint, clean JSON, and code examples in Python, JavaScript, PHP, Java, and C#. Your team can be pulling live auction data the same day they start. |
Did You Know You Can Resell Auction Data Under Your Own Brand?
Skip the build. White-label our auction history database and deliver a fully branded vehicle data product to your customers without writing a single line of data infrastructure.
Why businesses white-label instead of build
Building your own auction data pipeline means sourcing auction partnerships, managing data ingestion, hosting infrastructure, and maintaining it all ongoingly. White-labeling skips every one of those stages.
Save on costs
Procuring data costs a fraction of building it. No data engineers, no licensing fees, no maintenance budget.
Launch faster
Integrate once and start delivering to your customers immediately. No planning or testing cycles.
Higher ROI
Low procurement cost plus a high-value product means stronger margins from day one.
Instant credibility
Data sourced from the largest North American auction platforms, delivered under your brand.
Interested in white-label access? Let’s talk.
Related APIs: Build a Complete Vehicle Intelligence Platform
The auction history API is one of many data products available from Vehicle Databases. Combine it with these related APIs for a full-picture view of any vehicle:
Decode any 17-character VIN and get the full spec set: make, model, trim, engine, transmission, and installed options.
Pull a comprehensive vehicle history report including accidents, title changes, odometer readings, and previous ownership records.
Check for salvage titles, lien records, odometer fraud flags, and ownership history. Get accurate background checks.
Get accurate market valuation data for any vehicle based on specs, locations, and condition.
Access retail and dealer transaction history to complement car auction data. Together, auction and sales history give you an accurate picture
Look up vehicle specifications by license plate in addition to VIN. Useful for dealerships and fleet managers who need flexible lookup options
Need something more specific? We can create custom automotive APIs for platforms that require unique vehicle datasets or specialized integrations.
Built for the Industry, Backed by Real Results
We let our customers do the talking. Here’s how teams across the automotive industry are using our auction API to work smarter:
Start Accessing Auto Auction History Data Today
Join thousands of automotive businesses using vehicledatabases.com to power smarter decisions. Get started with a free trial and run your first car auction history by VIN lookup in minutes. For businesses that need bulk car auction data without per-call API queries, feel free to request our downloadable automotive database.
Frequently Asked Questions About Auction API
What data points are included in an auction history report?
An auction history report typically includes the auction sale price, vehicle condition notes, damage information, seller details, auction location, odometer readings, and photos showing the vehicle at the time of sale.
How real-time is auction data in an API?
The auction API database is updated regularly as new records are received from partnered auction platforms. It is designed for due-diligence research, historical lookup, and auto auction history verification, not for live bidding feeds.
For most use cases such as dealer sourcing, import decisions, and valuations, the data is more than sufficient.
Can an auction data API help with used car pricing and valuation?
Yes. Car auction data provides the most accurate real-world pricing signal available. Auction sale prices reflect what informed buyers paid in a competitive environment, making them a highly reliable basis for vehicle valuation models, loan underwriting, and insurance appraisal.
How is auction data different from retail listing data?
Retail listings represent final consumer sale prices, while auto auction history reflects wholesale transactions between dealers, insurers, and remarketing companies.
Can I filter auction data by vehicle make, model, year, or sale location?
Retail listings represent final consumer sale prices, while auto auction history reflects wholesale transactions between dealers, insurers, and remarketing companies.
What are the typical costs or subscription models for an auction data API?
We offer subscription-based pricing models that depend on API request volume or monthly usage.
How do I integrate auction data into my dealership management system (DMS) or website?
Developers can integrate the auction API by sending VIN requests to the API endpoint and receiving structured JSON responses containing auction records. If you need assistance with anything, you can send a message via live chat, and we will provide support immediately.
Is historical auction data available for trend analysis?
Yes. The auto auction history database spans years of historical auction events, making it suitable for trend analysis by make, model, year, damage type, and sale location.
Businesses analyzing price depreciation, damage frequency, or geographic auction patterns can access this data via the API or through the downloadable database option.