old cars data

API Documentation

Access comprehensive auction data for classic and vintage vehicles through our RESTful API.

Getting Started

Base URL

https://api.oldcarsdata.com

Authentication

All API requests require authentication using an API key. Include your API key in the request headers:

Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY

Getting an API Key

To get an API key, you need to:

  1. Sign in or create an account
  2. Subscribe to an active plan
  3. Generate API keys in your profile

API keys are required for all endpoints and must be kept secure. Do not share your API key publicly or commit it to version control.

Response Format

All API responses are returned in JSON format. Successful responses include a data field containing the requested information, and paginated endpoints include a meta field with pagination details.

Error responses follow a consistent format with an error type and a message describing what went wrong.

Data Updates

Auction data is updated daily around 12pm ET / 9am PT.

Rate Limits

Rate limits are applied per API key. Specific limits depend on your subscription plan. Rate limit headers are included in all responses:

  • X-RateLimit-Limit: Maximum requests allowed
  • X-RateLimit-Remaining: Remaining requests in current window
  • X-RateLimit-Reset: Timestamp when the rate limit resets

Error Handling

The API uses standard HTTP status codes:

  • 200: Success
  • 400: Bad Request (validation errors)
  • 401: Unauthorized (invalid or missing API key)
  • 429: Too Many Requests (rate limit exceeded)
  • 500: Internal Server Error
  • 503: Service Unavailable

Available Endpoints

Browse the available endpoints in the navigation sidebar to view detailed documentation, request parameters, response formats, and code examples.