Plate-to-VIN API

Convert US license plates to VIN numbers and retrieve comprehensive vehicle information

Quickly decode any US license plate to get the VIN, year, make, model, and comprehensive vehicle information. This powerful API connects license plate data to detailed vehicle records across all 50 states.

Endpoint

GET https://api.auto.dev/plate/{plate}?state={state}

Parameters

Prop	Type	Default
`plate`	`string`	-
`state`	`string`	-

Example Request

curl -X GET "https://api.auto.dev/plate/ABC123?state=CA" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json"

Response Structure

Prop	Type	Default
`vin?`	`string`	-
`year?`	`number`	-
`make?`	`string`	-
`model?`	`string`	-
`trim?`	`string`	-
`drivetrain?`	`string`	-
`engine?`	`string`	-
`transmission?`	`string`	-
`isDefault?`	`boolean`	-

Example Response

{
  "vin": "1N4BL4BV3LC205823",
  "year": 2020,
  "make": "Nissan",
  "model": "Altima",
  "trim": "2.5 S Sedan 4D",
  "drivetrain": "FWD",
  "engine": "4-Cyl, 2.5 Liter",
  "transmission": "Automatic, Xtronic CVT",
  "isDefault": true
}

State Coverage

The Plate-to-VIN API supports license plate lookups across all 50 US states with varying coverage levels by region.

Supported Plate Formats

Standard plates: ABC123, 123ABC, AB1234
Vanity plates: Custom personalized plates
Commercial plates: Truck, taxi, and fleet vehicles
Special formats: Plates with hyphens (AB-123) are automatically handled

Use Cases

Law Enforcement & Security: Quickly identify vehicles using license plate data for investigations and verification
Insurance & Claims Processing: Verify vehicle information and detect discrepancies in insurance claims
Fleet Management: Track and verify fleet vehicles, ensuring accurate inventory records

Error Responses

Invalid License Plate

{
  "status": 400,
  "error": "License plate must be 2-8 alphanumeric characters",
  "code": "INVALID_PLATE_FORMAT",
  "path": "/plate/ABC12345XYZ?state=CA",
  "requestId": "a1b2c3d4e5f6g7h8"
}

Invalid State Code

{
  "status": 400,
  "error": "State must be a valid 2-letter US state code (e.g., CA, NY, TX)",
  "code": "INVALID_STATE_CODE",
  "path": "/plate/ABC123?state=XX",
  "requestId": "b2c3d4e5f6g7h8i9"
}

No Data Found

{
  "status": 404,
  "error": "License plate found but no vehicle data available",
  "code": "NO_DATA_FOUND",
  "path": "/plate/ABC123?state=CA",
  "requestId": "d4e5f6g7h8i9j0k1"
}

Plate Not Found

{
  "status": 404,
  "error": "No vehicle found for the provided license plate",
  "code": "PLATE_NOT_FOUND",
  "path": "/plate/XYZ999?state=CA",
  "requestId": "c3d4e5f6g7h8i9j0"
}

Plan Availability

Starter: ❌ Not available
Growth: ❌ Not available
Scale: ✅ Available

See pricing for plan details and signup.

Plate-to-VIN API

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