Used Car API for Smarter Vehicle Pricing & Research

Pricing a used vehicle accurately takes two things: knowing what it's actually sold for before and knowing what it's worth right now. Our used car API brings together two APIs built for exactly that: the Sales History API and the Vehicle Market Value API. Get started with them now!

How The Used Car APIs Work

Getting used vehicle data only takes three simple steps.

Step 1: Call the API You Need

Submit a 17-character VIN to either API. The Market Value API also supports year, make, and model lookups for vehicles built from 1991 onward

Step 2: Each API Processes Independently

Sales history is pulled from dealership, private sale, and auction listings tied to that VIN. Market value is calculated separately across four condition tiers using current transaction data.

Step 3: Receive Structured JSON From Each

Get a clean response from whichever endpoint you called, ready to power a pricing tool, a listing page, or an internal valuation workflow.

Try Out Any of These APIs for Free

Not sure what to expect? Enter any VIN below and test both the Sales History API and the Market Value API in seconds. No signup or payment required. Try each API individually to see how they work together.

Why Choose Our Used Car API?

The Vehicle Databases used car API gives your applications access to both historical sales activity and current market values from one integration.

Sales History & Values

Retrieve ALL sales data and current market values.

Accurate VIN Lookups

Retrieve data using a vehicle's VIN.

Structured JSON

Receive clean, machine-readable responses.

Frequently Updated Data

Built from continuously updated market records.

Simple REST Integration

Connect using REST API endpoints.

Built to Scale

Support individual and high-volume requests.

Production Ready

Reliable infrastructure with high uptime.

Developer Friendly

Clear documentation and technical support.

What Is a Used Car API?

A used car API helps you evaluate and price vehicles by VIN. Vehicle Databases combines two APIs that work together to provide historical sales data and current market values.

Sales History API

Returns used car sales history for a given VIN, including previous listings, asking prices, mileage, listing dates, seller details, and photos where available.

Market Value API

Returns the current estimated value for a given VIN, broken out by condition tier and value type (trade-in, private party, dealer retail), adjustable by mileage and state.

Used Car API Coverage and Support

The used car API is designed to support a wide range of vehicle pricing and sales history applications across the United States.

US Vehicle Coverage

Supports vehicles across the United States.

Sales History Lookup

Search using a 17-character VIN.

Market Value Lookup

Search by VIN or year, make, and model.

Model Year Support

VIN: 1981 to present

YMM: 1991 to present

What Data Does the Used Car API Return?

With these APIs, you can easily access all historical sales activity, along with current market values. Here’s what you can expect:

Sales History API

Vehicle specifications including the year, make, model, trim, engine, cylinders, drivetrain, etc.
Sale price and documents
Average estimated retail value
Seller type: dealership, auction, or a private sale
Seller’s country and address
Seller description
Primary & secondary damage and repair cost
High-resolution vehicle images posted at the time of sale, among other things.

Sales History API Sample Response

				
					{
    "status": "success",
    "data": {
      "_id": {
        "$oid": "62cfea3d6165e0ca15a9b064"
      },
      "vin": "ABCEX1RG3LFXXXXXX",
      "trim": "Se",
      "year": "2017",
      "make": "Ford",
      "model": "Focus",
      "sales_history": [
        {
          "post_date": "",
          "data": {
            "description": "",
            "phone": "",
            "email": "",
            "seller_type": "",
            "dealer_name": "",
            "drivetrain": "Front wheel drive",
            "transmission": "Automatic transmission",
            "fuel": "Other",
            "cylinders": "2.0L I4 FI DOHC 16V NF4  (4 cyl)",
            "engine": "",
            "odometer_km": 88195,
            "odometer_mi": 54802,
            "primary_damage": "",
            "secondary_damage": "",
            "condition": "",
            "exterior_color": "",
            "interior_color": "",
            "interior_condition": "",
            "exterior_condition": "",
            "fuel_capacity": "",
            "doors": "",
            "features": [],
            "interior_features": [],
            "exterior_features": [],
            "listing_id": "",
            "listing_price": {
              "price": "",
              "retail_value": "$8,398",
              "repair_cost": "$15,275",
              "currency": "USD"
            },
            "airbags": false,
            "report_url": "",
            "safety": [],
            "sale_status": "On Approval",
            "sale_date": "Oct. 7, {year}",
            "sale_document": "",
            "accident_records": "",
            "title_record": "",
            "owner_record": "",
            "images": [
              "https://vhr.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/sales-history/2017/Ford/Focus/{vin}/Oct.-7-{year}/5/62cfea3d6165e0ca15a9b064-0-5.jpg",
              "https://vhr.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/sales-history/2017/Ford/Focus/{vin}/Oct.-7-{year}/5/62cfea3d6165e0ca15a9b064-1-5.jpg",
              "https://vhr.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/sales-history/2017/Ford/Focus/{vin}/Oct.-7-{year}/5/62cfea3d6165e0ca15a9b064-2-5.jpg",
              "https://vhr.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/sales-history/2017/Ford/Focus/{vin}/Oct.-7-{year}/5/62cfea3d6165e0ca15a9b064-3-5.jpg",
              "https://vhr.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/sales-history/2017/Ford/Focus/{vin}/Oct.-7-{year}/5/62cfea3d6165e0ca15a9b064-4-5.jpg",
              "https://vhr.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/sales-history/2017/Ford/Focus/{vin}/Oct.-7-{year}/5/62cfea3d6165e0ca15a9b064-5-5.jpg",
              "https://vhr.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/sales-history/2017/Ford/Focus/{vin}/Oct.-7-{year}/5/62cfea3d6165e0ca15a9b064-6-5.jpg",
              "https://vhr.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/sales-history/2017/Ford/Focus/{vin}/Oct.-7-{year}/5/62cfea3d6165e0ca15a9b064-7-5.jpg",
              "https://vhr.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/sales-history/2017/Ford/Focus/{vin}/Oct.-7-{year}/5/62cfea3d6165e0ca15a9b064-8-5.jpg",
              "https://vhr.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/sales-history/2017/Ford/Focus/{vin}/Oct.-7-{year}/5/62cfea3d6165e0ca15a9b064-9-5.jpg"
            ],
            "technology": [],
            "other": [],
            "mechanical": [],
            "vhr_preview": [],
            "zip_code": "20613",
            "country": "United States",
            "state": "MD",
            "city": "Brandywine",
            "address": "",
            "manufactured_in": "",
            "fair_market_value": {
              "min": "",
              "max": ""
            },
            "keys": "",
            "vehicle_type": "",
            "reduced_price": false,
            "is_hot": false,
            "money_back_guarantee": false,
            "monster_ad": false,
            "special_offer": false,
            "newly_listed": false,
            "last_updated": "2022-04-17 16:17:52.760527+00:00"
          }
        },
        {
          "post_date": "",
          "data": {
            "description": "",
            "phone": "",
            "email": "",
            "seller_type": "",
            "dealer_name": "",
            "drivetrain": "Front wheel drive",
            "transmission": "Automatic transmission",
            "fuel": "Other",
            "cylinders": "2.0L I4 FI DOHC 16V NF4  (4 cyl)",
            "engine": "",
            "odometer_km": 88195,
            "odometer_mi": 54802,
            "primary_damage": "",
            "secondary_damage": "",
            "condition": "",
            "exterior_color": "",
            "interior_color": "",
            "interior_condition": "",
            "exterior_condition": "",
            "fuel_capacity": "",
            "doors": "",
            "features": [],
            "interior_features": [],
            "exterior_features": [],
            "listing_id": "",
            "listing_price": {
              "price": "",
              "retail_value": "$8,398",
              "repair_cost": "$15,275",
              "currency": "USD"
            },
            "airbags": false,
            "report_url": "",
            "safety": [],
            "sale_status": "On Approval",
            "sale_date": "Oct. 7, {year}",
            "sale_document": "",
            "accident_records": "",
            "title_record": "",
            "owner_record": "",
            "images": [
              "https://vhr.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/sales-history/2017/Ford/Focus/{vin}/Oct.-7-{year}/2/62cfef57f8558a4b15f66308-0-2.jpg",
              "https://vhr.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/sales-history/2017/Ford/Focus/{vin}/Oct.-7-{year}/2/62cfef57f8558a4b15f66308-1-2.jpg",
              "https://vhr.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/sales-history/2017/Ford/Focus/{vin}/Oct.-7-{year}/2/62cfef57f8558a4b15f66308-2-2.jpg",
              "https://vhr.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/sales-history/2017/Ford/Focus/{vin}/Oct.-7-{year}/2/62cfef57f8558a4b15f66308-3-2.jpg",
              "https://vhr.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/sales-history/2017/Ford/Focus/{vin}/Oct.-7-{year}/2/62cfef57f8558a4b15f66308-4-2.jpg",
              "https://vhr.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/sales-history/2017/Ford/Focus/{vin}/Oct.-7-{year}/2/62cfef57f8558a4b15f66308-5-2.jpg",
              "https://vhr.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/sales-history/2017/Ford/Focus/{vin}/Oct.-7-{year}/2/62cfef57f8558a4b15f66308-6-2.jpg",
              "https://vhr.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/sales-history/2017/Ford/Focus/{vin}/Oct.-7-{year}/2/62cfef57f8558a4b15f66308-7-2.jpg",
              "https://vhr.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/sales-history/2017/Ford/Focus/{vin}/Oct.-7-{year}/2/62cfef57f8558a4b15f66308-8-2.jpg",
              "https://vhr.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/sales-history/2017/Ford/Focus/{vin}/Oct.-7-{year}/2/62cfef57f8558a4b15f66308-9-2.jpg"
            ],
            "technology": [],
            "other": [],
            "mechanical": [],
            "vhr_preview": [],
            "zip_code": "20613",
            "country": "United States",
            "state": "MD",
            "city": "Brandywine",
            "address": "",
            "manufactured_in": "",
            "fair_market_value": {
              "min": "",
              "max": ""
            },
            "keys": "",
            "vehicle_type": "",
            "reduced_price": false,
            "is_hot": false,
            "money_back_guarantee": false,
            "monster_ad": false,
            "special_offer": false,
            "newly_listed": false,
            "last_updated": "2022-04-17 16:17:52.760527+00:00"
          }
        },
        {
          "post_date": "",
          "data": {
            "description": "",
            "phone": "",
            "email": "",
            "seller_type": "Auction",
            "dealer_name": "******",
            "drivetrain": "Front wheel drive",
            "transmission": "Automatic transmission",
            "fuel": "Other",
            "cylinders": "2.0L I4 FI DOHC 16V NF4  (4 cyl)",
            "engine": "",
            "odometer_km": 88195,
            "odometer_mi": 54802,
            "primary_damage": "",
            "secondary_damage": "",
            "condition": "",
            "exterior_color": "Red",
            "interior_color": "",
            "interior_condition": "",
            "exterior_condition": "",
            "fuel_capacity": "",
            "doors": "",
            "features": [],
            "interior_features": [],
            "exterior_features": [],
            "listing_id": "27907710",
            "listing_price": {
              "price": "",
              "retail_value": "$8,398",
              "repair_cost": "$15,275",
              "currency": "USD"
            },
            "airbags": false,
            "report_url": "",
            "safety": [],
            "sale_status": "On Approval",
            "sale_date": "Oct. 7, {year}",
            "sale_document": "",
            "accident_records": "",
            "title_record": "",
            "owner_record": "",
            "images": [
              "https://vhr.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/sales-history/2017/Ford/Focus/{vin}/Oct.-7-{year}/5/62d10412b15fbb88f32fffde-0-5.jpg",
              "https://vhr.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/sales-history/2017/Ford/Focus/{vin}/Oct.-7-{year}/5/62d10412b15fbb88f32fffde-1-5.jpg",
              "https://vhr.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/sales-history/2017/Ford/Focus/{vin}/Oct.-7-{year}/5/62d10412b15fbb88f32fffde-2-5.jpg",
              "https://vhr.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/sales-history/2017/Ford/Focus/{vin}/Oct.-7-{year}/5/62d10412b15fbb88f32fffde-3-5.jpg",
              "https://vhr.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/sales-history/2017/Ford/Focus/{vin}/Oct.-7-{year}/5/62d10412b15fbb88f32fffde-4-5.jpg",
              "https://vhr.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/sales-history/2017/Ford/Focus/{vin}/Oct.-7-{year}/5/62d10412b15fbb88f32fffde-5-5.jpg",
              "https://vhr.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/sales-history/2017/Ford/Focus/{vin}/Oct.-7-{year}/5/62d10412b15fbb88f32fffde-6-5.jpg",
              "https://vhr.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/sales-history/2017/Ford/Focus/{vin}/Oct.-7-{year}/5/62d10412b15fbb88f32fffde-7-5.jpg",
              "https://vhr.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/sales-history/2017/Ford/Focus/{vin}/Oct.-7-{year}/5/62d10412b15fbb88f32fffde-8-5.jpg",
              "https://vhr.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/sales-history/2017/Ford/Focus/{vin}/Oct.-7-{year}/5/62d10412b15fbb88f32fffde-9-5.jpg"
            ],
            "technology": [],
            "other": [],
            "mechanical": [],
            "vhr_preview": [],
            "zip_code": "20613",
            "country": "United States",
            "state": "MD",
            "city": "Brandywine",
            "address": "MD - Brandywine (20613)",
            "manufactured_in": "",
            "fair_market_value": {
              "min": "",
              "max": ""
            },
            "keys": "",
            "vehicle_type": "Sedan 4 door",
            "reduced_price": false,
            "is_hot": false,
            "money_back_guarantee": false,
            "monster_ad": false,
            "special_offer": false,
            "newly_listed": false,
            "last_updated": "2022-04-17 16:17:52.760527+00:00"
          }
        }
      ]
    },
  }

Market Value API

Vehicle identification
Vehicle overview
Market value summary
Vehicle valuation by condition
Trade-in value
Private party value
Dealer retail value
Mileage
State/location
Trim-specific pricing

Car Value API Sample Response

				
					{
        "status": "success",
        "data": {
            "intro": {
                "vin": "WBAPH7G50BNM56522"
            },
            "basic": {
                "make": "BMW",
                "model": "328",
                "year": "2011",
                "trim": "i 4dr Rear-wheel Drive Sedan Manual",
                "state": "NY",
                "mileage": "12,000"
            },
            "market_value": {
                "market_value_data": [
                    {
                        "trim": "i 4dr Rear-wheel Drive Sedan Manual",
                        "market value": [
                            {
                                "Condition": "Outstanding",
                                "Trade-In": "$6,829",
                                "Private Party": "$12,153",
                                "Dealer Retail": "$15,200"
                            },
                            {
                                "Condition": "Clean",
                                "Trade-In": "$6,483",
                                "Private Party": "$11,473",
                                "Dealer Retail": "$14,273"
                            },
                            {
                                "Condition": "Average",
                                "Trade-In": "$5,906",
                                "Private Party": "$10,341",
                                "Dealer Retail": "$12,727"
                            },
                            {
                                "Condition": "Rough",
                                "Trade-In": "$5,157",
                                "Private Party": "$8,869",
                                "Dealer Retail": "$10,719"
                            }
                        ]
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    }

Start Using the Used Car APIs Without Writing Code

Not ready to integrate the API? Sign up and access the used car API directly from your dashboard. Retrieve used car sales history and current vehicle values using a VIN, with no coding required.

Used Car APIs vs. Piecing It Together Manually

If you’ve been working manually with vehicle listings, pricing websites, and marketplace searches, you know how time-consuming it can be. The Sales History API and Market Value API replace that process with fast, structured data delivered in seconds.

	Manual Research	Sales History + Market Value APIs
Data sources	Multiple sites, compared by hand	Two dedicated, purpose-built endpoints
Sales history	Search listings individually	Returned automatically by VIN
Market value	Separate lookup, often a single number	Condition-adjusted, three value types
Time required	Minutes per vehicle	Seconds per API call
Consistency	Varies by source and search	Same structure, every request
Scalability	One vehicle at a time	Handles high-volume requests

The Cost of Pricing a Used Car Without Real Data

Buyers and sellers who skip real sales and value data end up guessing, and the numbers show it.

of car buyers say they felt they overpaid on their last purchase.

$ 0

median savings for buyers who negotiate using researched comparable pricing, about 8% off the asking price.

~ 0 %

of used car buyers check a book value source before buying, meaning close to half don’t.

0 %

of private-party buyers check a vehicle’s sales or ownership history before purchasing.

Every one of these numbers points to the same gap: buyers and sellers making pricing decisions without the data to back them up. A used car workflow built on real sales history and current market value closes that gap before a price is ever quoted.

Everything Developers Need to Ship Apps Fast

No matter what you’re building, dealership software, vehicle marketplaces, or pricing applications, the used car API makes integration simple with developer-friendly tools and documentation.

REST API endpoints
Structured JSON responses
VIN and YMM lookups
Historical sales records
Current vehicle market values
Secure API authentication
Detailed API documentation

Sample requests and responses
Fast response times
High API uptime
Production-ready infrastructure
Developer-friendly error responses
Scalable for high-volume requests
Dedicated technical support

How Businesses Use Vehicle Databases Used Car APIs

From buying and selling to pricing and market analysis, accurate historical and valuation data is essential. Here’s how different businesses use the used car API:

Used Car Dealerships

Price inventory using both what similar vehicles have actually sold for and current condition-adjusted value, instead of relying on gut feel or a single flat number.

Auto Marketplaces and Classifieds

Power a cars-for-sale API experience where every listing can show both a fair market value and real comparable sales history, giving buyers more to evaluate than price alone.

Lenders and Finance Companies

Cross-reference sales history against current market value to sanity-check loan-to-value calculations before approving financing.

Insurance Companies

Support total loss and claims payouts with both a current value and historical sales context, giving adjusters more to point to than a single modeled figure.

Auction Platforms

Set realistic reserve prices using actual past sales data alongside current market value, rather than guesswork.

Car Valuation Websites

Offer your customers full-fledged vehicle pricing information based on the vehicle’s year, make, model, trim condition, color, mileage, and history.

The Used Car API Pairs Naturally With These APIs

Sales history and market value answer the pricing question, but pricing is rarely the only thing you need to know about a vehicle. These APIs round out the picture.

Vehicle History API

Add title, accident, and ownership records alongside sales and pricing data for a complete picture of a specific VIN.

VIN Decoder API

Get exact year, make, model, and trim before calling either sales history or market value.

Auction History API

Layer in auction-specific sales data alongside dealership and private party listings.

Window Sticker API

Compare original MSRP and factory options against current market value and past sale prices.

Vehicle Specifications API

Cross-reference factory equipment and trim-level details that can explain why two similar listings priced differently.

Vehicle Maintenance API

Pair pricing data with the OEM service schedule to flag upcoming costs a buyer or appraiser should factor in.

Building something unique? We create custom automotive APIs and integrations to support specialized use cases and business requirements. Reach out to us and we’ll take it from there.

See Why Customers Trust Vehicle Databases

Thousands of developers and businesses rely on Vehicle Databases to power their automotive applications. Read what customers say about our APIs, support, and overall experience.

Better experience... impossible

These guys help you with everything and they put all the effort to create the best experience and satisfaction. We are very thankful with them.

Redline Used Auto Parts

Spain

Date of experience:

Jan 11, 2024

Easy to use, Excellent service

Great service, their apis have allowed my business to quickly get up and running, with minimal development costs. Someone is also always at hand whether it be Whats app or over the phone to help with any issues. Would 100% recommend.

Lionel Yarbol

Ghana

Date of experience:

May 30, 2024

The support is top-notch

The support is top-notch. I don't think I have ever worked with a company that has ever reached out to me repeatedly to just check on me and my progress. I can't say enough good things about them. Also, the product is awesome.

Gearshift Solutions

United States

Date of experience:

Jul 26, 2024

Get in touch

Have more questions?

Send in a query

Book a demo to connect directly with our team and explore how we can best serve your needs.

Give Your Users Better Vehicle Insights

Help buyers, sellers, and businesses make better decisions with accurate sales data and current car valuations. Integrate our APIs or access downloadable datasets to power your next automotive application.

FAQs About Used Car API

What's the difference between sales history and market value in this API?

Sales history tracks real historical transactions and past dealer listings, while market value calculates what the vehicle is estimated to be worth right now.

Sales history gives you hard historical data on what comparable cars actually listed or sold for, whereas market value generates an up-to-date price estimate adjusted for current mileage, location, and vehicle condition.

Does the sales history include photos?

Yes, sales history includes listing photos whenever they are available. In addition to pricing, mileage, and seller details, many past dealer listings feature original photo records attached directly to the VIN response.

How is market value calculated?

Market value is calculated using data from millions of vehicle sales, active dealer transactions, and vehicle condition. The pricing engine breaks estimates down into four distinct vehicle condition tiers, allowing you to fine-tune values based on exact mileage and state-by-state market adjustments.

Is there a free way to test it before integrating?

Yes, you can sign up for a free trial to test real API requests. This lets you inspect complete payload responses, review real data, and test integrations before picking a paid plan.

Can I use this to price my own inventory?

Yes, dealerships and online marketplaces frequently use this API to set inventory pricing. Combining real historical sales data with live market values helps you price vehicles accurately and justify your asking prices to potential buyers.

How does this compare to a single-purpose market value tool?

Unlike single-purpose market tools that only return a static estimate, this API combines up-to-date valuations with actual historical sales records. Having real past listing data alongside a current valuation gives you the full picture and deep market context instead of just a single standalone number.