Getting Started
Get up and running with Auto.dev API v1 in minutes
Getting Started with Auto.dev API v1
This guide will walk you through setting up your account, getting your API key, and making your first API call to our v1 endpoints.
Sign Up for Your Account
Visit auto.dev to sign up or log in. Choose your plan based on your needs.
Get Your API Key
Once your account is set up:
- Log into your Auto.dev dashboard
- Navigate to API Keys in the sidebar
- Click Create New Key
- Copy your API key and store it securely
Make Your First API Call
Test your setup by decoding a VIN using our v1 endpoint. Auto.dev API supports three authentication methods - choose the one that best fits your use case:
Method 1: View in Browser
For web applications with user sessions, you can use a clickable link to view the API call in your browser:
https://www.auto.dev/api/vin/WP0AF2A99KS165242Method 2: Query Parameter
curl "https://www.auto.dev/api/vin/WP0AF2A99KS165242?apiKey=YOUR_API_KEY"Method 3: Authorization Header (Recommended)
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
https://www.auto.dev/api/vin/WP0AF2A99KS165242Security Best Practices: - Use Authorization header for server-to-server communication - Use query parameters only for testing or simple integrations - View in browser for web applications with user sessions - Never expose API keys in client-side code
You'll get back comprehensive vehicle data including specifications, pricing, and market information.
Explore Available Endpoints
Now that you're set up, explore our v1 API endpoints:
- Models - Get available makes and models
- VIN Decode - Decode vehicle identification numbers
- Vehicle Listings - Access marketplace data
- Vehicle Intelligence - Get pricing and sales history
- Plate-to-VIN - Convert license plates to VINs
- Location APIs - Cities and ZIP code data
Base URL
All v1 endpoints use this base URL:
https://www.auto.dev/api/Rate Limits
API v1 includes these rate limits by plan:
- Starter: 5 requests per second
- Growth: 10 requests per second
- Scale: 50 requests per second
Response Format
All v1 API responses return JSON data. Most endpoints return either:
- Direct data objects for single-item responses
- Structured objects with metadata for list responses
Need Help?
- Visit your dashboard to monitor usage
- Check our API Reference for detailed endpoint documentation
- Contact support through the dashboard for technical assistance