# CarsXE, free, Sandbox, GET /specs: VIN decoder API

> Decode any 17-character VIN into year, make, model, trim, engine, drivetrain, dimensions, colors, and OEM standard/optional equipment in one response.

CarsXE's VIN decoder API on its Sandbox plan. It costs $0.00 per 1,000 VINs. It returns 5 of the 8 key fields we check: Type, Engine, Fuel, Drivetrain, Size and weight.
We rank 47 plans by price. [API Ninjas's $299 monthly plan](https://datacircle.dev/vin-decoder-apis/api-ninjas/299-monthly/llms.txt) is the cheapest paid plan per 1,000 VINs: $0.03.
[VINquery's $180 pack](https://datacircle.dev/vin-decoder-apis/vinquery/180-pack/llms.txt) covers any number of VINs. VINquery's $180 pack costs less to start than API Ninjas's $299 monthly plan.

- This page: https://datacircle.dev/vin-decoder-apis/carsxe/free-sandbox-get-specs
- Get it: https://carsxe.com/pricing
- Request: `GET https://api.carsxe.com/specs`
- API key: with the plan, on https://carsxe.com/pricing
- Its API docs: https://docs.carsxe.com/api-reference/specifications/vehicle-specifications-vin-decoder
- Sold by: CarsXE (https://carsxe.com)
- Checked: 2026-10-30

## In the answer

- Completeness: 63%
- Type: ✓
- Engine: ✓
- Fuel: ✓
- Drivetrain: ✓
- Size and weight: ✓

## Price

- $ per 1,000 VINs: $0.00
- Per: call
- Billing: free

## Charges

- Also pays for: Market Value · History · Lien & Theft · Recalls Batch · from the same budget: Specifications (Basic) · International VIN Decoder · Plate Decoder · Vehicle Images · Vehicle Recalls · Recalls by YMM · Recall Campaign · Plate Image Recognition · VIN OCR · OBD Codes Decoder · Year Make Model API · Year Make Model Options API

## Overage

- Units cap: hard

## Not found

- $ per 1,000: $0.00

## In their words

- Their pitch: Decode any 17-character VIN into year, make, model, trim, engine, drivetrain, dimensions, colors, and OEM standard/optional equipment in one response.

## Data

- Freshness: 1 month
- Keep data: no API terms
- Use data: no API terms

## Plan

- Pay: $0
- You get: 100 requests
- Enough for: 100 calls, once

## Rate limit

- Batch: 1

## Speed

- Answer: in the call
- Median: 0.12 s

## The call

- You send: vin. Optional: deepdata, disableIntVINDecoding
- Method: GET
- Path: /specs

## About the plan

- Plan: Sandbox
- Who can get it: anyone

## The 35 fields the plan's answer can hold

VIN, year, make, model, trim, body style, vehicle type, assembly country, assembly city, engine, engine size, engine cylinders, fuel type, fuel capacity, city mileage, highway mileage, transmission, transmission short, transmission type, transmission speeds, drivetrain, overall height, overall length, overall width, wheelbase length, curb weight, gross vehicle weight rating, doors, standard seating, invoice price, manufacturer suggested retail price, equipment, colors, warranties, extended data

## CarsXE's plans (8)

- [CarsXE, free, Sandbox, GET /specs](https://datacircle.dev/vin-decoder-apis/carsxe/free-sandbox-get-specs/llms.txt): $0.00 per 1,000, 63% complete, 1 month
- [CarsXE, pay as you go, Pay per request (x402 or MPP), GET /specs](https://datacircle.dev/vin-decoder-apis/carsxe/pay-as-you-go-pay-per-request-x402-or-mpp-get-specs/llms.txt): $150.00 per 1,000, 63% complete
- [CarsXE, top-up from $5, Pay-as-you-go credits, GET /specs](https://datacircle.dev/vin-decoder-apis/carsxe/top-up-from-5-pay-as-you-go-credits-get-specs/llms.txt): 63% complete
- [CarsXE, $49 monthly, Starter, GET /specs](https://datacircle.dev/vin-decoder-apis/carsxe/49-monthly-starter-get-specs/llms.txt): $24.50 per 1,000, 63% complete, 7 days
- [CarsXE, $249 monthly, Pro, GET /specs](https://datacircle.dev/vin-decoder-apis/carsxe/249-monthly-pro-get-specs/llms.txt): $9.96 per 1,000, 63% complete, 1 day
- [CarsXE, $490 yearly, Starter (billed annually), GET /specs](https://datacircle.dev/vin-decoder-apis/carsxe/490-yearly-starter-billed-annually-get-specs/llms.txt): $20.417 per 1,000, 63% complete, 7 days
- [CarsXE, $2,490 yearly, Pro (billed annually), GET /specs](https://datacircle.dev/vin-decoder-apis/carsxe/2490-yearly-pro-billed-annually-get-specs/llms.txt): $8.30 per 1,000, 63% complete, 1 day
- [CarsXE, contact us, Business, GET /specs](https://datacircle.dev/vin-decoder-apis/carsxe/contact-us-business-get-specs/llms.txt): 63% complete, live

## CarsXE's calls (2)

- `GET /v1/international-vin-decoder`: [CarsXE, free, Sandbox, GET /v1/international-vin-decoder](https://datacircle.dev/vin-decoder-apis/carsxe/free-sandbox-get-v1-international-vin-decoder/llms.txt)
- `GET /specs`: [CarsXE, free, Sandbox, GET /specs](https://datacircle.dev/vin-decoder-apis/carsxe/free-sandbox-get-specs/llms.txt)

## CarsXE's APIs (1)

- [CarsXE: VIN decoder API pricing, 8 plans, GET /specs](https://datacircle.dev/vin-decoder-apis/carsxe/free-sandbox-get-specs/llms.txt)

## CarsXE: VIN decoder API alternatives

- [CarAPI, $299 yearly](https://datacircle.dev/vin-decoder-apis/carapi/299-yearly/llms.txt): $0.137 per 1,000, 75% complete, 1 day
- [MarketCheck, $299 monthly, Basic, GET /v2/decode/car/neovin/{vin}/specs](https://datacircle.dev/vin-decoder-apis/marketcheck/299-monthly-basic-get-v2-decode-car-neovin-vin-specs/llms.txt): $80.00 per 1,000, 63% complete, 1 day

## Sources

From each provider's own pricing page and docs, and from what providers tell us. We read this row from these pages on 2026-10-30.

- https://api.carsxe.com
- https://api.carsxe.com/llms.txt
- https://carsxe.com/openapi.yaml
- https://carsxe.com/pricing
- https://carsxe.com/pricing/calculator
- https://carsxe.com/service-credit-terms
- https://carsxe.com/terms-and-conditions
- https://docs.carsxe.com/docs/guides/billing-units
- https://docs.carsxe.com/docs/guides/rate-limits
- https://docs.carsxe.com/docs/products/specifications