API docs and access

The feed is available through a JSON API and a remote MCP server. Read the API's own documentation for the complete response fields and current service status.

Pricing

Pay with Stripe. Your API key appears on screen once, as soon as the payment completes. Copy it right away. Prices are in US dollars. Tax may be added at checkout where it applies.

Builder

$99 per month

60 requests per minute, 5,000 per day, 100,000 per month

Renews every month until you cancel.

Buy Builder

Scale

$499 per month

300 requests per minute, 50,000 per day, 1,000,000 per month

Renews every month until you cancel.

Buy Scale

Two-week pilot

$500 one time

Scale limits for 14 days
300 requests per minute, 50,000 per day, 1,000,000 per month

The key stops working 14 days after it is created, right after payment. It does not renew.

Buy the pilot

Every plan includes the JSON API and the MCP server; a comparison uses one unit per vehicle, with at most 5 vehicles per comparison.

Read the terms for renewal, cancellation and failed payments.

For other needs, email jorge@theusedcarindex.com.

Your key is shown once on the confirmation page after payment. For a replacement or other plans, email jorge@theusedcarindex.com.

Keep your key private and on your server. The demo lookup needs no key.

Copy-ready examples

Replace <key> with your key for authenticated calls.

Vehicle facts with a key

curl 'https://api.theusedcarindex.com/v1/vehicle_risk?make=Toyota&model=RAV4&year=2018' \
  -H 'Authorization: Bearer <key>'

Demo lookup without a key

curl 'https://api.theusedcarindex.com/v1/demo/vehicle_risk?make=Toyota&model=RAV4&year=2018'

MCP client with the mcp-remote bridge

This matches the bridge configuration in the API docs. Add it to a client that supports MCP server configurations. The bridge runs on your computer, not in this page.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "carindex": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "mcp-remote",
        "https://api.theusedcarindex.com/mcp",
        "--header",
        "Authorization: Bearer <key>"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Plan limits

These are the plans defined by this data feed. Limits are units per UTC minute, day and month. A vehicle or listing call uses one unit. A comparison uses one unit per requested vehicle. HTTP and MCP share the same quota.

Units allowed in each time window
Plan	Minute	Day	Month
Demo	60	5,000	100,000
Free	20	200	2,000
Builder	60	5,000	100,000
Scale	300	50,000	1,000,000

Every listed plan supports MCP and at most 5 vehicles per comparison. Demo visitors share the Demo quota. Additional request rate limits apply. Input errors do not consume units. Admitted requests, including unknown vehicles, do. Check GET /v1/usage with your key for its active limits.