CarsXE Skill

CarsXE provides a REST API for comprehensive vehicle data at https://api.carsxe.com.

API Key

The API key is injected as the CARSXE_KEY environment variable. Read it before making any request:

Use process.env.CARSXE_KEY in Node.js
Use $env:CARSXE_KEY in PowerShell
Use $CARSXE_KEY in bash/zsh

If CARSXE_KEY is empty or missing, tell the user to run:

openclaw config set skills.entries.carsxe.env.CARSXE_KEY "cxe_live_YOUR_KEY"

Then restart the gateway.

Always append &source=openclaw to every request.

Quick API Map

| User intent | Endpoint | Method | Key Parameters | | ------------------------ | ----------------------------------- | ------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Decode a VIN / get specs | GET /specs | GET | vin, optional: deepdata, disableIntVINDecoding | | Decode a license plate | GET /v2/platedecoder | GET | plate, country (required), state, district (optional) | | Market value | GET /v2/marketvalue | GET | vin, optional: state, mileage, condition | | Vehicle history report | GET /history | GET | vin | | Vehicle images | GET /images | GET | make, model, optional: year, trim, color, angle, photoType, size, license, transparent | | Safety recalls | GET /v1/recalls | GET | vin | | Lien & theft check | GET /v1/lien-theft | GET | vin | | International VIN | GET /v1/international-vin-decoder | GET | vin | | Year/Make/Model lookup | GET /v1/ymm | GET | year, make, model, optional: trim | | OBD code diagnosis | GET /obdcodesdecoder | GET | code | | VIN OCR from image | POST /v1/vinocr | POST | JSON body: {"image": "<URL>"} | | Plate OCR from image | POST /platerecognition | POST | JSON body: {"image": "<URL>"} | | Validate API key | GET /v1/auth/validate | GET | key |

Workflow

1. Build the request URL

Replace $CARSXE_KEY with the actual value of the CARSXE_KEY environment variable.

2. Choose the right endpoint

VIN provided → /specs first, chain to other endpoints as needed
Plate provided → /v2/platedecoder to resolve VIN, then chain if needed
Make/Model/Year only → /v1/ymm or /images
OBD code (P/C/B/U + digits) → /obdcodesdecoder
Image URL for VIN → POST /v1/vinocr with {"image": "<URL>"}
Image URL for plate → POST /platerecognition with {"image": "<URL>"}

3. Chain requests when helpful

Example: "Is this plate stolen and does it have open recalls?"

GET /v2/platedecoder → extract VIN
In parallel: GET /v1/lien-theft + GET /v1/recalls

4. Present results

Format output clearly. Highlight important findings (open recalls, theft records, salvage titles) prominently.

Error Handling

| HTTP Status | Meaning | Action | | ------------------- | ---------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 401 / invalid key | Bad or missing API key | Tell user to set key via openclaw config set skills.entries.carsxe.env.CARSXE_KEY | | 404 / no results | VIN/plate not found | Inform user, suggest double-checking | | 429 | Rate limit exceeded | Wait and retry | | 5xx | Server error | Retry once, then report error |

Always check the error field in JSON responses — CarsXE sometimes returns HTTP 200 with an error body.

Examples (replace $CARSXE_KEY with actual env var value)

"What are the specs for VIN WBAFR7C57CC811956?" → GET https://api.carsxe.com/specs?key=$CARSXE_KEY&vin=WBAFR7C57CC811956&source=openclaw

"Decode California plate 7XER187" → GET https://api.carsxe.com/v2/platedecoder?key=$CARSXE_KEY&plate=7XER187&country=US&state=CA&source=openclaw

"What's my car worth? VIN WBAFR7C57CC811956, 45k miles, clean condition, California" → GET https://api.carsxe.com/v2/marketvalue?key=$CARSXE_KEY&vin=WBAFR7C57CC811956&state=CA&mileage=45000&condition=clean&source=openclaw

"Does this car have any recalls? 1C4JJXR64PW696340" → GET https://api.carsxe.com/v1/recalls?key=$CARSXE_KEY&vin=1C4JJXR64PW696340&source=openclaw

"Check liens and theft for WBAFR7C57CC811956" → GET https://api.carsxe.com/v1/lien-theft?key=$CARSXE_KEY&vin=WBAFR7C57CC811956&source=openclaw

"Decode this international VIN: WF0MXXGBWM8R43240" → GET https://api.carsxe.com/v1/international-vin-decoder?key=$CARSXE_KEY&vin=WF0MXXGBWM8R43240&source=openclaw

"Look up 2020 Toyota Camry LE" → GET https://api.carsxe.com/v1/ymm?key=$CARSXE_KEY&year=2020&make=Toyota&model=Camry&trim=LE&source=openclaw

"My check engine light shows P0300" → GET https://api.carsxe.com/obdcodesdecoder?key=$CARSXE_KEY&code=P0300&source=openclaw

"Extract the VIN from this photo: https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/5663423/30922082-64edb4fa-a3a8-11e7-873e-3fbcdce8ea3a.png" → POST https://api.carsxe.com/v1/vinocr?key=$CARSXE_KEY&source=openclaw → Body: {"image": "https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/5663423/30922082-64edb4fa-a3a8-11e7-873e-3fbcdce8ea3a.png"}

"Extract the plate from this photo: https://imagedelivery.net/moyiiSImjJPI_EZVxNMBBw/f49aed53-d736-4370-f3f4-97418841c800/public" → POST https://api.carsxe.com/platerecognition?key=$CARSXE_KEY&source=openclaw → Body: {"image": "https://imagedelivery.net/moyiiSImjJPI_EZVxNMBBw/f49aed53-d736-4370-f3f4-97418841c800/public"}

"Get vehicle images for BMW X5 2019" → GET https://api.carsxe.com/images?key=$CARSXE_KEY&make=BMW&model=X5&year=2019&source=openclaw