How to Look Up Vehicles Using SteadyAPI

AutoHub is in the SteadyAPI footer, and the how-to series never shows a vehicle lookup. This guide lists makes for a model year, lists models for that make, then decodes a 17-character VIN.

👉 To access these endpoints, you must obtain an API key: https://steadyapi.com/register

Authentication

Every call uses a Bearer token from your SteadyAPI dashboard.

Documentation:
https://docs.steadyapi.com/#authenticating-requests

headers = {
  'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY'
}

1. List makes for a year

Endpoint: GET /v1/vehicles/make

Documentation:
https://docs.steadyapi.com/#autohub-api-GETapi-v1-vehicles-make

Parameters

• year — required model year, up to 4 characters (example: 2024)

Python

import requests

headers = {"Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"}
make_url = "https://api.steadyapi.com/v1/vehicles/make"

response = requests.get(make_url, headers=headers, params={"year": "2024"})
response.raise_for_status()
makes = response.json().get("body", [])

make = next(item for item in makes if item["name"] == "Chevrolet")
print(make["name"], make["modelId"])

Response fields

meta includes year and total. Each item in body includes:

• name — make name
• modelId — make id. Pass this value as makeId on the model endpoint.

2. List models for that make

Endpoint: GET /v1/vehicles/model

Documentation:
https://docs.steadyapi.com/#autohub-api-GETapi-v1-vehicles-model

Parameters

• year — required model year
• makeId — required make id from the previous call

Python

model_url = "https://api.steadyapi.com/v1/vehicles/model"
model_params = {"year": "2024", "makeId": make["modelId"]}

models = requests.get(model_url, headers=headers, params=model_params)
models.raise_for_status()

for item in models.json().get("body", [])[:8]:
    print(item["modelId"], item["name"])

Each model includes modelId and name. meta includes year, makeId, and total.

3. Decode a VIN

When you already have a VIN, skip the year and make steps. The value must be exactly 17 characters.

Endpoint: GET /v1/vehicles/vin

Documentation:
https://docs.steadyapi.com/#autohub-api-GETapi-v1-vehicles-vin

Parameters

• vin — required, exactly 17 characters

Python

vin_url = "https://api.steadyapi.com/v1/vehicles/vin"
vin = requests.get(vin_url, headers=headers, params={"vin": "JM3KKBHA5R1166850"})
vin.raise_for_status()
body = vin.json().get("body", {})

print(body.get("vehicle_id"), body.get("trim_name"), body.get("body_style"))
print(body.get("engine"), body.get("transmission"), body.get("drivetrain"))

Response fields

meta includes vin and has_results. body includes:

• vehicle_id — id used by later value and details calls
• trim_name
• body_style
• engine
• transmission
• drivetrain
• vehicle_option_ids — option ids on the decoded vehicle

Practical use

Use make and model when a shopper picks a year and name. Use VIN when a listing already has the plate number. Keep vehicle_id if the next step is value, reviews, or details.

👉 Get your API key and look up a vehicle: https://steadyapi.com/register