aid: dot
name: US Department of Transportation
description: >-
  The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) oversees federal transportation
  policy and operates multiple agencies that publish public REST APIs covering
  trucking and motor carrier safety (FMCSA), vehicle product information and
  safety recalls (NHTSA), aviation safety and airspace data (FAA), transit
  statistics, and transportation data portals. DOT APIs are free public
  government services requiring API key registration via Login.gov or the
  relevant agency developer portal.
type: Index
image: https://kinlane-productions.s3.amazonaws.com/apis-json/apis-json-logo.jpg
url: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/api-evangelist/dot/refs/heads/main/apis.yml
created: '2026-06-13'
modified: '2026-06-13'
specificationVersion: '0.19'
tags:
  - Government
  - Transportation
  - Trucking
  - Aviation
  - VehicleSafety
  - Transit
  - OpenData
apis:
  - aid: dot:fmcsa-qcmobile-api
    name: FMCSA QCMobile API
    description: >-
      The FMCSA QCMobile API provides safety performance data for U.S.
      Department of Transportation registered motor carriers. Developers can
      query carrier registration information, licensing, insurance, operating
      authority, and BASIC safety scores by U.S. DOT number, MC docket number,
      or carrier name. All responses are returned in JSON format. Access
      requires a developer account and API webkey obtained through Login.gov.
    humanURL: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/QCDevsite/docs/qcApi
    baseURL: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services
    tags:
      - Trucking
      - Motor Carriers
      - Safety
      - FMCSA
    properties:
      - type: Documentation
        url: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/QCDevsite/docs/qcApi
      - type: Authentication
        url: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/QCDevsite/docs/apiAccess

  - aid: dot:fmcsa-saferbus-api
    name: FMCSA SaferBus API
    description: >-
      The FMCSA SaferBus API is a RESTful service making available safety
      performance data for U.S. DOT-registered bus companies. It enables
      developers to build consumer-facing products that help travelers check the
      safety record of motorcoach operators before booking travel. Access
      requires a developer account and API webkey obtained through Login.gov.
    humanURL: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/application-programming-interface-data-behind-saferbus
    baseURL: https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services
    tags:
      - Bus Safety
      - Motorcoach
      - FMCSA
      - Consumer Safety
    properties:
      - type: Documentation
        url: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/application-programming-interface-data-behind-saferbus
      - type: Documentation
        url: https://data.transportation.gov/Trucking-and-Motorcoaches/SaferBus-API-Documentation/edyh-n3ic

  - aid: dot:nhtsa-vpic-api
    name: NHTSA vPIC Vehicle API
    description: >-
      The NHTSA Vehicle Product Information Catalog (vPIC) API provides
      programmatic access to vehicle make, model, manufacturer, and type data
      compiled by NHTSA. Key capabilities include VIN decoding (single and
      batch up to 50 VINs), World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) lookup,
      manufacturer details, vehicle variables, plant codes, and Canadian vehicle
      specifications. No authentication required; responses available in JSON,
      XML, or CSV.
    humanURL: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/
    baseURL: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/vehicles
    tags:
      - Vehicle Safety
      - VIN
      - NHTSA
      - Recalls
      - Manufacturers
    properties:
      - type: Documentation
        url: https://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/api/

  - aid: dot:nhtsa-datasets-api
    name: NHTSA Datasets and APIs
    description: >-
      NHTSA provides public datasets and APIs covering vehicle safety complaints,
      recalls, safety ratings (NCAP), and defect investigations. Complaint data
      entered into NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database is
      searchable by make, model, and year, providing safety defect details,
      crash/fire/injury records, and recall campaign remedies.
    humanURL: https://www.nhtsa.gov/nhtsa-datasets-and-apis
    baseURL: https://api.nhtsa.gov
    tags:
      - Vehicle Safety
      - Recalls
      - Complaints
      - NHTSA
      - Crash Data
    properties:
      - type: Documentation
        url: https://www.nhtsa.gov/nhtsa-datasets-and-apis

  - aid: dot:dot-data-portal
    name: DOT Open Data Portal
    description: >-
      The U.S. Department of Transportation Open Data Portal provides access to
      transportation datasets published by DOT agencies including FMCSA, NHTSA,
      FTA, BTS, FAA, PHMSA, and more. The portal supports REST API access to
      tabular datasets enabling programmatic retrieval, filtering, and export of
      transportation statistics.
    humanURL: https://data.transportation.gov/
    baseURL: https://data.transportation.gov/api
    tags:
      - OpenData
      - Transportation Statistics
      - Government
      - BTS
    properties:
      - type: Documentation
        url: https://data.transportation.gov/

common:
  - type: Website
    url: https://www.transportation.gov/
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://www.transportation.gov/developer
  - type: GitHubOrg
    url: https://github.com/usdot-jpo-ode
  - type: Blog
    url: https://www.transportation.gov/newsroom
  - type: StatusPage
    url: https://www.transportation.gov/status
  - type: X
    url: https://twitter.com/USDOT
  - type: LinkedIn
    url: https://www.linkedin.com/company/us-department-of-transportation
  - type: Plans
    url: plans/dot-plans-pricing.yml
  - type: RateLimits
    url: rate-limits/dot-rate-limits.yml
  - type: FinOps
    url: finops/dot-finops.yml
maintainers:
  - FN: Kin Lane
    email: kin@apievangelist.com