generated: '2026-09-05'
method: searched
source: >-
  https://carsxe.com/pricing, https://carsxe.com/llms.txt, https://carsxe.com/docs/quickstart,
  https://carsxe.com/docs/agents, https://carsxe.com/docs/v1/recalls-batch,
  https://raw.githubusercontent.com/carsxe/carsxe-mcp-server/main/README.md
model: free-tier
note: >-
  CarsXE has no separate test-mode host, no test/live key prefix split and no fixture or simulation
  tooling. What it publishes instead is a free Sandbox subscription tier: a real key calling the
  real production endpoints against a small lifetime allowance. Every value below is published by
  CarsXE — no test values are invented here. Because Sandbox calls hit production data, there is no
  way to rehearse a call without consuming allowance; see conventions/carsxe-conventions.yml
  dry_run_mode = false.
test_live_separation:
  separate_host: false
  key_prefix_split: false
  mode_flag: false
  note: the same key and the same https://api.carsxe.com host serve every tier
sandbox_tier:
  name: Sandbox
  price_usd: 0
  quota_type: lifetime shared pool
  quota: 100 successful API calls (not monthly, does not reset)
  premium_caps_within_pool:
    market_value: 5
    history: 1
    lien_theft: 5
    recalls_batch: 5
  signup: https://carsxe.com/register
  trial_on_paid_tiers: false
  note: >-
    "There is no time-limited free trial on paid tiers; start with Sandbox, then upgrade to a paid
    plan when you are ready for production quotas."
published_example_values:
  note: >-
    Example identifiers CarsXE uses in its own documentation and MCP examples. They are real
    vehicles and real hosted images, not synthetic test fixtures, and they consume quota when
    called. Recorded verbatim so a first call can be made without inventing an input.
  vins:
    - {vin: WBAFR7C57CC811956, used_for: specs, market value, history, recalls, lien and theft}
    - {vin: 1HGBH41JXMN109186, used_for: specs, recalls batch}
    - {vin: SHHFK7H47LU419620, used_for: recalls}
    - {vin: 1C4JJXR64PW696340, used_for: recalls, recalls batch}
    - {vin: 5YJSA1E26HF000001, used_for: recalls batch}
    - {vin: 1HGCM82633A004352, used_for: error-handling code samples}
    - {vin: WF0MXXGBWM8R43240, used_for: international VIN decoder (EU)}
    - {vin: WAUZZZ8K9AA123456, used_for: international VIN decoder (German)}
  plates:
    - {plate: 7XER187, state: CA, country: US, used_for: plate decoder}
    - {plate: ABC123, state: CA, country: US, used_for: plate decoder}
  ymm:
    - {year: 2012, make: BMW, model: 5-Series, used_for: year make model, images}
  obd_codes: [P0115, P0300, C1234]
  images:
    - {url: "https://api.carsxe.com/img/apis/plate_recognition.JPG", used_for: plate image recognition}
    - {url: "https://res.cloudinary.com/carsxe/image/upload/q_auto/f_auto/v1713204144/base/images/vin-ocr/vin.jpg", used_for: VIN OCR}
console:
  dashboard_search: https://carsxe.com/dashboard
  note: >-
    The dashboard carries an API search tool that runs live queries with real-time JSON output — the
    closest thing CarsXE ships to a console or playground. It requires an account.
onboarding:
  browser_login_cli: "carsxe login — opens https://carsxe.com/cli-auth, stores the key in ~/.carsxe/config.json"
  agent_pkce_flow: https://carsxe.com/agent-onboarding/SKILL.md
  env_var: CARSXE_API_KEY