API documentation

Build with source reported results from completed collector car auctions, active listings, and bid history, delivered through one REST API and MCP server.

400k+

Completed sales

14

Live auction sources

19

Auction sources

Getting startedCopy Anchor Link

1. Create an account. Sign in, choose a plan, and generate an API key.
2. Query the market. Filter completed sales or live auction listings by make, model, year, source, and more.
3. Connect your workflow. Use REST for applications, MCP for AI tools, or webhooks for auction events.

Send requests to https://api.oldcarsdata.com. Protected endpoints require your API key in the Authorization header:

curl "https://api.oldcarsdata.com/auctions/live?sort=ending&direction=asc&limit=10" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"

Live auctions are currently in beta. See the live auctions reference for coverage and available filters.

Rate limitsCopy Anchor Link

REST and MCP share a limit of 250 requests per minute in a rolling 60 second window. The limit applies per API key, per account for OAuth, and per IP address on public endpoints. It is separate from your plan's monthly query quota.

Public make and model lookups and MCP discovery tools do not consume your monthly query quota, but they do count toward the per minute limit. When you receive 429, wait for Retry-After seconds before retrying.

Successful webhook deliveries share the monthly allowance: one event accepted by one endpoint uses one unit. Failed attempts, webhook tests, and management are free. At quota, new deliveries wait until capacity is available.

API referenceCopy Anchor Link

More ways to connectCopy Anchor Link

curl "https://api.oldcarsdata.com/auctions/live?sort=ending&direction=asc&limit=10" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $OCD_API_KEY"

{
  "data": [
    {
      "id": 98765,
      "title": "1997 Porsche 911 Carrera Coupe",
      "auction_status": "active",
      "auction_end_at": "2026-05-06 19:30:00"
    }
  ]
}