CarBuyerIQ for developers

Vehicle data API

The same data behind CarBuyerIQ, available to dealers, marketplaces and apps. MOT intelligence and risk scoring at no per-lookup cost, plus full finance, write-off and stolen checks billed per use.

Request API access

Authentication

Every request needs a bearer token issued to your account.

curl https://www.carbuyeriq.com/api/v1/mot-stats/ford/fiesta \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN" \
  -H "Accept: application/json"

Rate limit: 60 requests per minute per token.

Only need MOT pass rates, or want to connect ChatGPT, Claude or Cursor? The MCP server and free public API need no key.

Endpoints

GET /api/v1/mot-stats/{make}/{model} No per-lookup charge

MOT pass rate, national ranking, most common failure points, and fail rate broken down by mileage band and year of manufacture.

{
  "make": "Ford",
  "model": "Fiesta",
  "pass_rate": 76.9,
  "fail_rate": 23.1,
  "national_fail_rate": 20.89,
  "national_rank": 202,
  "total_tests": 295633,
  "top_defects": [{"category": "tyres", "percentage": 42.4}],
  "fail_rate_by_mileage": {...},
  "fail_rate_by_year": [...]
}

GET /api/v1/vehicle/{vrm}/mot-summary No per-lookup charge

Complete MOT history for one registration: every test, result, defect, advisory and odometer reading, plus expiry and mileage anomaly detection.

{
  "vrm": "AB12CDE",
  "make": "FORD",
  "model": "FIESTA",
  "mot_expiry_date": "2026-11-23",
  "days_until_expiry": 96,
  "total_tests": 11,
  "passed": 10,
  "failed": 1,
  "advisories": 12,
  "mileage_anomaly": false,
  "tests": [...]
}

GET /api/v1/vehicle/{vrm}/risk-score No per-lookup charge

A 0, 100 score derived from MOT behaviour, fail rate, advisory density, mileage anomalies and expiry status. Use it to triage which vehicles are worth a paid full check.

{
  "vrm": "AB12CDE",
  "risk_score": 95,
  "rating": "low",
  "factors": [
    {"factor": "mot_fail_rate", "value": 9.1, "impact": -4}
  ],
  "basis": "mot_history"
}

GET /api/v1/vehicle/{vrm}/full-check Billed per lookup

Outstanding finance, insurance write-off category, stolen marker, salvage records, keeper history, plate transfers and a current valuation.

{
  "vrm": "AB12CDE",
  "finance": {...},
  "stolen": {...},
  "condition": {...},
  "salvage": {...},
  "valuation": {...},
  "keeper_changes": [...],
  "billing": {"charged": true, "reason": "Fresh lookup."}
}

GET /api/v1/usage No per-lookup charge

Your current billing period: request counts, billable lookups and estimated spend, broken down by endpoint.

{
  "period_start": "2026-08-01",
  "total_requests": 1420,
  "billable_requests": 96,
  "estimated_cost": 528.00,
  "currency": "GBP"
}

Pricing

Endpoint	Per lookup
MOT statistics, MOT summary, risk score	Included
Full check (finance, write-off, stolen, valuation)	£5.50

Repeat full checks on the same registration within 30 days are served from the earlier result and are not charged again, the response tells you either way in its billing object. Volume pricing is available; talk to us.

Get an API key

Tell us what you're building and we'll set you up with a sandbox token.

Request access