Vehicle Information API

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iAmThePope

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Hey guys,

Wondering if anyone here knows of an API (free or commercial) that can be used to get car information. All I need is to find models based on makes and years and variations of the model for the selected year. I've tried a few of the online ones already there like edmunds, but they don't have many of the makes or models that we have here in SA. Similar to what most of the second hand websites use for search. Is there something available or are their lists mostly built by themselves?
 
Years back I know the dealers always used this little book, later on there was a handheld Palm device with the info on, you had to pay, but it gave make model and other specs, as well as values.

Something to-do with "Mead & McGrouther"

Insurance companies connect to that, so I assume maybe they have a "package with API's" you can get on a yearly fee?!
 
I've had two websites that needed this. One a car dealership group, the other insurance company.
The clients send me a CSV file which I imported. Apparently they pay for the service from Trans Union. It is the "Mead & McGrouther", or better known in the trade as the MM-code file. You can download a file here: http://verifications.transunionauto.co.za/SolutionOverview.aspx?menuid=15. I don't know how up to date that file is or how regularly it is updated. The ones my clients sent my came out monthly.
I do not know if they have an API.
 
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Thanks guys, an API would have been nice but I realized its a long shot. @killerbyte, I was thinking of doing that also, but I thought I would just ask and see if there was anything out there already. I will have a look at the Mead & McGrouther links. Maybe I can get the CSV file as well

@Max Headroom, thanks for the link with the CSV download. Seems like almost exactly what I needed. I will check to see how up to date it is, but its a very nice start thanks
 
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You will not get any such API here in SA. Been there, tried that.

Mead & McGrouther has been bought out by Transunion ITC and they charge you per record - a ridiculous price at that but do not sell the whole database.

The um.co.za link above get their data from diskdrive.co.za. You can buy the disk from them and sign up for commercial use. Will work out a substantial amount of money, but depending on what you need it for, it may be worth your while.
 
Hitchcock said:
You will not get any such API here in SA. Been there, tried that.

Mead & McGrouther has been bought out by Transunion ITC and they charge you per record - a ridiculous price at that but do not sell the whole database.

The um.co.za link above get their data from diskdrive.co.za. You can buy the disk from them and sign up for commercial use. Will work out a substantial amount of money, but depending on what you need it for, it may be worth your while.
Click to expand...

Thanks, found that out today. It's crazy expensive wow.. I think it might be better financially to scrape um or such sites for the info and build on that. Maybe even make it an open db for SA eventually. Will have to weigh the options and benefit vs price. But thanks for all the feedback. At least I have a direction now :D
 
There's not much you can't get here: http://www.duoporta.co.za/

I know the guy behind that, and he can give you anything you need data-related ... he supplies the raw data to several motoring magazines in SA, so that's as good a recommendation as you need.
 
iAmThePope said:
Thanks, found that out today. It's crazy expensive wow.. I think it might be better financially to scrape um or such sites for the info and build on that. Maybe even make it an open db for SA eventually. Will have to weigh the options and benefit vs price. But thanks for all the feedback. At least I have a direction now :D
Click to expand...

If you intend to make the information public, I would not recommend scraping UM. Diskdrive has made some errors, on purpose, in some records. Nothing series, but identifiers to indicate when someone is using their data illegally or are in breach of their terms. They will not hesitate to institute civil actions.

If you do intend to go this route, I would recommend that you investigate each record as good as you can to identify possible indicators.
 
Hitchcock said:
If you intend to make the information public, I would not recommend scraping UM. Diskdrive has made some errors, on purpose, in some records. Nothing series, but identifiers to indicate when someone is using their data illegally or are in breach of their terms. They will not hesitate to institute civil actions.

If you do intend to go this route, I would recommend that you investigate each record as good as you can to identify possible indicators.
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That's a very good point actually, one I've come across more than once while searching for this, definitely something to be wary about, whether I make it public or not. I contacted them to find out about pricing as well.

@PMFoxhound5366 Thanks, I will drop them a mail and find out about pricing options etc..
 
Media Wiki API should do the trick.

EDIT: Sorry - I was in a hurry for a meeting, that was a little unclear... MediaWiki is running on Wikipedia - you can access it to fetch information stored on Wikepedia.

Last I checked WikiPedia had very comprehensive information about car makes and models.
 
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SlinkyMike said:
Media Wiki API should do the trick.

EDIT: Sorry - I was in a hurry for a meeting, that was a little unclear... MediaWiki is running on Wikipedia - you can access it to fetch information stored on Wikepedia.

Last I checked WikiPedia had very comprehensive information about car makes and models.
Click to expand...

Hehe I read through it, definitely seems like a viable solution. Since it is open data already, it shouldn't be an issue if I do make it publicly available also. Will have to see about the restrictions etc. but thanks for the info
 
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iAmThePope said:
Hehe I read through it, definitely seems like a viable solution. Since it is open data already, it shouldn't be an issue if I do make it publicly available also. Will have to see about the restrictions etc. but thanks for the info
Click to expand...

There will be some restrictions based around the WikimMedia Commons agreements so look that up before you start hacking.

Sounds like a cool project - keep me updated :)

EDIT: here: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Reusing_content_outside_Wikimedia
 
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