# Choose how you connect to CarsXE
Compare MCP, REST API and SDKs for developers and AI agents. Choose by who controls requests, your client, and the vehicle data your workflow needs.
## MCP, REST or SDKs
| Dimension | MCP | REST API | SDKs |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Best use case | Compatible assistants and AI agents | Production backends and custom agent tools | Applications in a supported programming language |
| Connection | Streamable HTTP MCP | HTTPS API requests | Language client calling the REST API |
| Setup | Register the hosted server in your client | Choose endpoint, inputs and request handling | Install your language package and initialize a client |
| Authentication | X-API-Key; account authorization in supported OAuth clients | CarsXE API key using the endpoint's documented authentication | CarsXE API key in client configuration |
| Inputs | Tool-specific input schemas | Endpoint-specific query parameters or request bodies | Language-specific method arguments |
| Outputs | MCP text content; selected tools also return structuredContent | Documented API response payloads, typically JSON | Language-specific objects wrapping API responses |
| Capability availability | Tools registered by the hosted server | Published API endpoints | Methods vary by language and package version |
| Coverage | Underlying endpoint and region limitations apply | Endpoint and region limitations apply | Underlying endpoint and region limitations apply |
| Orchestration | Your assistant chooses tools and passes results between calls | Your application controls requests, validation and retries | Your application controls method calls, validation and retries |
| Billing | Vehicle lookups consume your CarsXE plan's usage | API requests follow the current plan and endpoint pricing | Underlying API requests follow the current plan and endpoint pricing |
[MCP setup](https://carsxe.com/mcp) · [REST quickstart](https://docs.carsxe.com/docs/get-started) · [SDK and integration guides](https://docs.carsxe.com/docs/integrations)
## Capabilities and limitations
| Capability | MCP tool | REST API | SDK availability | Limitations |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| VIN specifications | `get_vehicle_specs` | [Endpoint reference](https://docs.carsxe.com/api-reference/specifications/vehicle-specifications-vin-decoder) | Node.js: decodeVin | Returned fields vary by VIN and market. |
| International VIN | `decode_international_vin` | [Endpoint reference](https://docs.carsxe.com/api-reference/specifications/international-vin-decoder) | Check the selected language's reference | Coverage and available attributes vary by country. |
| Plate lookup | `decode_license_plate` | [Endpoint reference](https://docs.carsxe.com/api-reference/plate-decoder/license-plate-decoder-v2) | Node.js: decodePlate | Country/state support varies; this tool requires a state. |
| Market value | `get_market_value` | [Endpoint reference](https://docs.carsxe.com/api-reference/market-value/vehicle-market-value-v2) | Node.js: getMarketValue | Estimates depend on available records, mileage and condition. |
| Vehicle history | `get_vehicle_history` | [Endpoint reference](https://docs.carsxe.com/api-reference/history/vehicle-history) | Node.js: getVehicleHistory | An empty result is not proof that a vehicle has no past events. |
| Vehicle images | `get_vehicle_images` | [Endpoint reference](https://docs.carsxe.com/api-reference/images/vehicle-images) | Check the selected language's reference | Availability varies. License filters do not grant usage rights. |
| Safety recalls | `get_vehicle_recalls` | [Endpoint reference](https://docs.carsxe.com/api-reference/recalls/vehicle-recalls) | Node.js: getRecalls | Coverage and repair status depend on the source record. |
| VIN OCR | `extract_vin_from_image` | [Endpoint reference](https://docs.carsxe.com/api-reference/recognition/vin-ocr) | Check the selected language's reference | Image quality affects recognition; validate the VIN before lookup. |
| Plate OCR | `read_license_plate_from_image` | [Endpoint reference](https://docs.carsxe.com/api-reference/recognition/plate-image-recognition) | Check the selected language's reference | Recognition and plate-to-VIN lookup are separate operations. |
| Year / make / model | `get_year_make_model` | [Endpoint reference](https://docs.carsxe.com/api-reference/year-make-model/year-make-model) | Check the selected language's reference | Available trims and attributes vary by vehicle. |
| OBD codes | `decode_obd_code` | [Endpoint reference](https://docs.carsxe.com/api-reference/year-make-model/obd-codes-decoder) | Check the selected language's reference | A code description alone does not diagnose a vehicle. |
| Lien and theft | `check_lien_and_theft` | [Endpoint reference](https://docs.carsxe.com/api-reference/lien-and-theft/lien-theft-records) | Check the selected language's reference | Results reflect available records and are not a title guarantee. |
Node.js methods refer to the checked-in JavaScript SDK. Python, PHP, Java, Go, Ruby, Swift and .NET packages have their own method and version references. A method available in one package is not a promise of support in every language. Use REST when your selected SDK lacks the endpoint you need.
## Pick a starting point
- Choose MCP for a compatible assistant that should discover and call vehicle tools.
- Choose REST for a production backend, custom tool wrappers, or direct control of request and response handling.
- Choose an SDK when its language and endpoint methods fit your application.
AI agents can also use REST and SDKs through application-defined tools. All three paths access CarsXE data; they differ in the integration surface and orchestration responsibility.
[Connect via MCP](https://carsxe.com/mcp) · [For AI agents](https://carsxe.com/agents) · [Compare integrations](https://carsxe.com/compare)
[Documentation](https://docs.carsxe.com/docs) · [API key](https://carsxe.com/dashboard/developer) · [Pricing](https://carsxe.com/pricing) · [Agent onboarding skill](https://carsxe.com/agent-onboarding/SKILL.md) · [LLM documentation index](https://docs.carsxe.com/llms.txt)