01
Vehicle stock intake
Create stock records from registration and populate agreed identity and specification fields.
Dealer management software vehicle API
Vehicle data API for dealer management software
Populate stock, appraisal and customer records from a UK registration then add specialist vehicle information where required
Reduce manual stock entry and give dealer teams a clearer vehicle record. Rapid Car Check can provide standard registration-based data and assess specialist services such as valuation, salvage, stolen, imagery and historical listings for dealer management software, stock platforms and appraisal tools.
How the dealer data journey works
1
Enter or import a registration
Create the vehicle record with fewer manual fields
2
Return core vehicle data
Populate identity, MOT, tax and specification information
3
Add dealer data services
Connect valuation, salvage, images or history where agreed
4
Continue dealer operations
Use the record for appraisal, stock, sales and reporting
Faster stock creation
Reduce repetitive manual vehicle entry
Consistent records
Use structured fields across dealer workflows
Specialist data options
Assess valuation, salvage, images and history services
Custom integration
Connect existing DMS, CRM and stock systems
Dealer software workflows
Build a more complete vehicle record from the registration
Use the core vehicle response to create the record then connect appraisal, stock, history and operational information around it.
02
Vehicle appraisal
Combine vehicle identity, mileage, condition and valuation information within an appraisal workflow.
03
Salvage review
Add available salvage records, auction information and damage descriptions where commercially approved.
04
Vehicle history checks
Assess available stolen, keeper, plate, mileage, taxi and historical listing services.
05
Vehicle valuation
Connect suitable valuation services for appraisal, buying, part exchange and stock pricing.
06
Vehicle imagery
Use approved image services or connect the record to the dealer’s own photography process.
07
Sales and customer records
Attach the vehicle to enquiries, appointments, deals, finance stages and customer communications.
08
Dealer administration
Add permissions, notes, tasks, exports, audit records and operational status controls.
09
Customer-facing results
Display selected vehicle information inside listings, appraisals or approved report journeys.
Dealer vehicle data
Start with core vehicle information then add the services your platform needs
The standard Basic and Premium API products cover vehicle identity, MOT, tax and technical information. Specialist dealer services require a complete requirements list and separate commercial review.
Define the precise data needed for stock intake, appraisal, internal checks and customer-facing output. A broad request for a full history API is not enough to price or license the service correctly.
Vehicle identity
Registration, manufacturer, model description, year, fuel, body type, colour and available identity fields.
MOT and tax
MOT status, expiry, test history, mileage, advisories, failures, tax status and due dates.
Technical specification
Engine, transmission, performance, dimensions, weight, emissions, derivative and EV information.
Valuation
Suitable trade, retail, private or mileage-adjusted valuation services where available.
Salvage information
Available salvage records, auction information, damage descriptions and related vehicle events.
Stolen information
Stolen vehicle services may be available but source, guarantee and commercial terms must be confirmed.
Keeper and plate history
Available keeper counts, keeper change dates, plate changes and registration history fields.
Historical listings
Previous advertised listings, dates, descriptions and marketplace information where available.
Vehicle imagery
Vehicle images from registration, VIN or description where the required licence is available.
Taxi and specialist indicators
Taxi, private hire, recall, condition and other specialist services where supported.
Rapid Car Check cannot treat “full history” as one fixed data product. Specify the exact requirements, such as salvage, stolen, valuation, keeper, plate, taxi, mileage, images, recalls or historical listings. Customer-facing use, guarantees, storage, resale and branding must also be confirmed.
Dealer management software use cases
Support stock, appraisal, purchasing and sales workflows
The same vehicle data foundation can serve dealer software providers, independent dealers and multi-site dealer groups.
01
Independent dealer systems
Add vehicle data to a bespoke or third-party stock, appraisal and sales platform.
02
Dealer group platforms
Standardise vehicle records across branches, brands and internal business units.
03
Vehicle appraisal tools
Support buyer inspections, valuations, condition capture and acquisition decisions.
04
Trade purchasing systems
Route suitable vehicles to purchasing teams and match them to stock requirements.
05
Dealer marketplaces
Populate listings and expose approved vehicle information to retail or trade buyers.
06
Automotive SaaS platforms
Embed UK vehicle data into software sold to dealers and automotive businesses.
Dealer workflow design
Decide where each vehicle data service belongs
Separate routine record creation from optional appraisal, risk and customer-facing checks.
Standard record creation
Registration lookup
Make and model description
Year and registration dates
Fuel and body type
MOT status and history
Tax status
Technical and EV specifications
Manual correction route
Optional dealer checks
Salvage search
Stolen vehicle search
Valuation request
Keeper or plate history
Historical listing search
Vehicle image request
Taxi or specialist checks
Customer-facing report generation
Optional data calls should only run when required by the dealer workflow. This keeps costs clearer and prevents a routine registration lookup from triggering every available specialist service.
API integration behaviour
Handle successful, missing and partial vehicle responses properly
Dealer software should never assume that every registration and every field will return a complete record.
| Response | Dealer software behaviour | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|
| Successful vehicle record | Populate agreed vehicle fields and store the lookup reference required by the workflow. | Allow staff to review and confirm the vehicle before appraisal or publication. |
| No content | No record was available from the service queried for that registration. | Check the registration and allow manual vehicle creation or another approved lookup route. |
| Partial content | Some fields were returned but others were unavailable. | Populate the available information and clearly identify missing mandatory fields. |
| Invalid request | The registration or another required value was missing or incorrectly formatted. | Validate the request before sending and show staff a useful correction message. |
| Access problem | The service, credentials, domain or account permissions were not accepted. | Log the technical detail and alert the system administrator rather than the customer. |
| Allowance reached | The available quota or rate limit was exceeded. | Prevent repeated automatic calls and notify the account administrator. |
| Temporary service issue | The upstream vehicle service could not complete the request. | Retry under controlled rules and preserve the dealer’s incomplete vehicle record. |
Integration process
Move from dealer requirements to a working API connection
Define the dealer workflow, exact data products, licence requirements and system behaviour before development starts.
1
Map the dealer workflow
Identify stock intake, appraisal, customer, sales and reporting journeys.
2
List required fields
Separate core vehicle fields from optional salvage, valuation and history services.
3
Confirm commercial use
Define internal, dealer-facing and customer-facing output, storage and expected volumes.
4
Design the integration
Map requests, responses, errors, retries, security and system data fields.
5
Test dealer scenarios
Test clean records, missing vehicles, partial results and specialist checks.
6
Deploy and monitor
Track usage, failed lookups, field coverage, costs and dealer support issues.
Dealer management software FAQs
Questions dealer software providers ask
These answers cover core data, salvage, valuation, history, customer reports and existing DMS integration.
Can the API populate dealer stock from a registration?
Yes. The integration can populate agreed vehicle identity, MOT, tax and specification fields where data is available.
What basic vehicle data can be returned?
Basic coverage can include registration, manufacturer, model description, year, body type, fuel, colour, registration dates, vehicle status, tax and MOT information.
Can we add salvage data as an optional dealer search?
Salvage information may be available as a separately priced service. Provide expected volumes, intended output and the exact fields required for assessment.
Can we add vehicle history data?
Vehicle history is not one single data product. Specify whether you need stolen, salvage, keeper, plate, mileage, taxi, valuation, recalls, images or historical listings.
Can Rapid Car Check provide an HPI or Experian check through the dealer API?
Do not assume an Experian HPI product is available through the standard dealer integration. Submit the exact finance, stolen, guarantee and history requirements for confirmation.
Can Rapid Car Check integrate with our existing DMS?
Yes, where the DMS provides a suitable API, import, webhook or development route. Technical access and field mapping must be reviewed.
Can the API support vehicle appraisals?
Yes. A custom appraisal journey can combine vehicle information, mileage, condition, photographs, valuation data and buyer decisions.
Can we access vehicle valuations?
Valuation services may be available depending on the required valuation type, intended use, expected volume and provider terms.
Can we access vehicle images?
Vehicle image services may be available but can require an additional image licence or direct data-provider agreement.
Can the system create customer-facing vehicle reports?
Customer-facing output requires separate agreement covering data rights, branding, attribution, report content, guarantees and commercial use.
Can we store vehicle responses?
Storage and caching rules depend on the selected data product and licence. Confirm the operational reason, fields and proposed retention period.
What happens when a registration returns no record?
The DMS should clearly show that no record was returned and allow staff to correct the registration or create the vehicle manually.
Can different dealer users access different checks?
Yes. A custom implementation can use roles and permissions to control who can run routine, valuation, salvage or specialist searches.
How is a dealer API integration priced?
Pricing depends on the standard API plan, specialist data services, monthly volumes, customer-facing rights, licensing and any custom development required.
Connect vehicle data to your dealer management software
Send the complete list of required core and specialist fields, expected monthly volumes, intended customer use and existing dealer platform details for review.