Lien & Theft Check API

Check for active liens and theft records using a VIN.

The Lien & Theft Check API provides access to lien and theft data by allowing users to search for records based on a vehicle's VIN. This API is useful for developers who need to verify the legal status of a specific vehicle.

This endpoint allows you to retrieve lien and theft information using a VIN.

Required attributes

Name
key
Type
string
Description
Your CarsXE API key.
Name
vin
Type
string
Description
The 17 character long vehicle identification number.

Response attributes

Name
success
Type
boolean
Description
Whether the vehicle data has been retrieved successfully.
Name
input
Type
object
Description
Object detailing the query you made, including the VIN.
Name
timestamp
Type
string
Description
The timestamp of the API response.
Name
year
Type
number
Description
The model year of the vehicle.
Name
make
Type
string
Description
The make (brand) of the vehicle.
Name
model
Type
string
Description
The model name of the vehicle.
Name
type
Type
string
Description
The vehicle type (e.g. CAR).
Name
events
Type
array
Description
A list of events (liens, thefts) associated with the vehicle.
Name
trim_data
Type
object
Description
Detailed trim and specification data for the vehicle.

Event Types

The events array can contain the following types of records:

Event Type	Field Labels	Details	Derived Text
Open Lien	lienholder, location, date	Text as supplied, State, Date	`Vehicle is reported to have an open lien on title: <lienholder>`
Active Theft	location	State	`The vehicle is reported to be an active theft.`
Recovered Theft	location	State	`The vehicle is reported to be a recovered theft`
Exported	date, location	MM/DD/YYYY, State	`Vehicle is reported to have been exported out of the United States`
Towing/Impound	date, location	MM/DD/YYYY, State	`Vehicle is reported as Towed or Impounded`
Vehicle for Sale	date	MM/DD/YYYY	`Vehicle is reported to have been available for sale on eBay Motors.com...`

Veelgestelde vragen

Request

GET

/v1/lien-theft

curl -G https://api.carsxe.com/v1/lien-theft \
  -d key=CARSXE_API_KEY \
  -d vin=2C3CDXFG1FH762860

Response

{
    "success": true,
    "input": {
        "vin": "2C3CDXFG1FH762860"
    },
    "timestamp": "2025-12-07T20:32:11.027Z",
    "year": 2015,
    "make": "DODGE",
    "model": "Charger",
    "type": "CAR",
    "events": [
        {
            "event": "Recovered Theft",
            "location": "OH",
            "details_list": [
                "The vehicle is reported to be an Recovered Theft."
            ]
        }
    ],
    "trim_data": {
        "General": {
            "VIN": "2C3CDXFG*FH",
            "Model Year": "2015",
            "Make": "DODGE",
            "Make ID": "476",
            "Model": "Charger",
            "Model ID": "1895",
            "Body Class": "Sedan/Saloon",
            "Trim": "SE",
            "Vehicle Type": "PASSENGER CAR",
            "Manufacturer Name": "FCA CANADA INC.",
            "Manufacturer Id": "995",
            "Plant City": "BRAMPTON",
            "Plant Company Name": "Brampton Assembly",
            "Plant Country": "CANADA",
            "Plant State": "ONTARIO"
        },
        "Passive Safety System": {
            "Front Air Bag Locations": "1st Row (Driver and Passenger)",
            "Side Air Bag Locations": "All Rows",
            "Other Restraint System Info": "Active Seat Belt: All Seating Positions; Air Bags: Outboard Seating Positions",
            "Seat Belts Type": "Manual"
        },
        "Mechanical": {
            "Drive Type": "AWD/All-Wheel Drive"
        },
        "Exterior": {
            "Bed Type": "Not Applicable",
            "Cab Type": "Not Applicable",
            "Body Class": "Sedan/Saloon",
            "Bus Floor Configuration Type": "Not Applicable",
            "Bus Type": "Not Applicable",
            "Custom Motorcycle Type": "Not Applicable",
            "Doors": "4",
            "Gross Vehicle Weight Rating": "Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)",
            "Gross Vehicle Weight Rating up to": "Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)",
            "Motorcycle Chassis Type": "Not Applicable",
            "Motorcycle Suspension Type": "Not Applicable",
            "Trailer Body Type": "Not Applicable",
            "Trailer Type Connection": "Not Applicable"
        },
        "Engine": {
            "Displacement (Cubic Centimeters)": "3600.0",
            "Displacement (Cubic Litre)": "219.68547874103",
            "Displacement (Litre)": "3.6",
            "Engine Configuration": "V-Shaped",
            "Engine Number of Cylinders": "6",
            "Engine Brake (hp)": "292",
            "Engine Manufacturer": "FCA",
            "Fuel Type - Primary": "Gasoline",
            "Other Engine Info": "Sales Code: ERB",
            "Turbo": "No"
        },
        "Interior": {
            "Steering Location": "Left-Hand Drive (LHD)"
        }
    }
}

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