nhtsa-dot API for agents (unofficial) — JSON over curl | clify
NHTSA vPIC (Product Information Catalog and Vehicle Listing): decode VINs and WMIs, look up makes, models and manufacturers through the public vPIC REST API, browse Canadian Vehicle Specifications, list approved replica manufacturers, and view MID manufacturer and vehicle-modifier detail pages.
Host: vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov. Call these verified read commands with plain curl; no install, key, or account. Use the public JSON API with plain curl. No install, key, account, or browser is needed. Example: curl 'https://clify-dev.netlify.app/sites.json'. Start with /search?q=weather, then call /abc/COMMAND. Responses are one JSON object. The hosted MCP and GitHub repo are also available.
Commands
decode-vin
Decode a full or partial VIN (use * as a wildcard) into a flat record with make, model, year, body, engine, safety equipment, plant and more Params: vin*, modelyear
curl 'https://clify-dev.netlify.app/nhtsa-dot/decode-vin?modelyear=2011'
decode-wmi
Decode a World Manufacturer Identifier (the first 3 or 6 VIN characters) into its manufacturer, make and vehicle type Params: wmi*
curl 'https://clify-dev.netlify.app/nhtsa-dot/decode-wmi'
list-models-for-make-year
List the models a make offers in a given model year Params: make*, year*
curl 'https://clify-dev.netlify.app/nhtsa-dot/list-models-for-make-year'
list-models-for-make-id
List all models for a make, identified by its numeric vPIC Make_ID Params: makeId*
curl 'https://clify-dev.netlify.app/nhtsa-dot/list-models-for-make-id'
list-all-makes
List every make in vPIC with its Make_ID (a large list, roughly 10k entries) Params: none
curl 'https://clify-dev.netlify.app/nhtsa-dot/list-all-makes'
get-manufacturer-details
Look up manufacturers by full or partial name (or numeric manufacturer ID) and get address, country and vehicle types Params: manufacturer*, page
curl 'https://clify-dev.netlify.app/nhtsa-dot/get-manufacturer-details'
list-wmis-for-manufacturer
List the WMI codes assigned to a manufacturer, matched by full or partial name or ID Params: manufacturer*
curl 'https://clify-dev.netlify.app/nhtsa-dot/list-wmis-for-manufacturer'
list-canadian-spec-makes
List the makes that have Canadian Vehicle Specifications data for a model year Params: year*
curl 'https://clify-dev.netlify.app/nhtsa-dot/list-canadian-spec-makes?year=2020'
list-canadian-spec-models
List the Canadian Vehicle Specifications model names for a year, optionally limited to one make Params: year*, make
curl 'https://clify-dev.netlify.app/nhtsa-dot/list-canadian-spec-models?year=2003&make=FORD'
get-canadian-specs
Get Canadian Vehicle Specifications dimensions (length, width, height, wheelbase, curb weight, track, weight distribution) for a year and make, optionally one model Params: year*, make*, model, units
curl 'https://clify-dev.netlify.app/nhtsa-dot/get-canadian-specs?year=2003&make=HONDA&units=Metric'
list-replica-manufacturers
List NHTSA-approved low-volume replica vehicle manufacturers with their approved vehicles and status, paginated and searchable Params: search, start, length, sort_column, sort_dir
curl 'https://clify-dev.netlify.app/nhtsa-dot/list-replica-manufacturers'
get-mid-manufacturer
Get a manufacturer's MID profile by manufacturer ID: contacts, address, makes and models, WMIs, manufacturer types and Part 565/566 filings Params: id*
curl 'https://clify-dev.netlify.app/nhtsa-dot/get-mid-manufacturer'
get-modifier
Get a registered adapted-vehicle modifier's details (DBAs, address, phone, contact) by modifier ID Params: id*
curl 'https://clify-dev.netlify.app/nhtsa-dot/get-modifier'