Where does the data come from?

Every result comes live from the official NHTSA vPIC API (vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov). The tool fetches directly from your browser, so the data is always as current as NHTSA's database.

Do I need an API key?

No. The NHTSA vPIC API is a free, public, keyless government service. This tool calls it directly from your browser with no registration, no key, and no cost.

Why are some makes missing for a vehicle type?

NHTSA groups makes by the vehicle types they actually produce. A motorcycle-only brand will not appear under car, and a make appears under a type only if NHTSA has at least one record linking them.

Why does a make return no models for a year?

NHTSA only returns models it has on file for that exact make and model year. If a make did not sell that year, or NHTSA has no record, the list comes back empty. Try an adjacent year.

Can I use this to build other VIN tools?

Yes. The same vPIC endpoints power VIN decoders and validators. You can use this lookup to confirm the exact make and model spelling NHTSA expects before feeding them into other vehicle tools.

NHTSA Vehicle Make & Model Lookup

The NHTSA vPIC (Vehicle Product Information Catalog) is the U.S. government’s authoritative database of vehicle manufacturers, makes, and models. This free lookup lets you browse it without writing code or signing up for an API key. Pick a vehicle type and a model year, choose a manufacturer, and see the complete model list NHTSA has on record — useful for dealers, fleet managers, insurers, and developers building VIN or vehicle tools.

How it works

The tool calls two keyless NHTSA vPIC endpoints directly from your browser:

GetMakesForVehicleType/<type>?format=json
GetModelsForMakeYear/make/<make>/modelyear/<year>?format=json

When you change the vehicle type, the first endpoint returns every manufacturer NHTSA links to that type, which populates the make dropdown. When you choose a make and year and press the button, the second endpoint returns the models for that exact make-and-year combination. Both lists are sorted alphabetically for easy scanning.

Tips and notes

NHTSA only knows about makes and models that appear in its records, so very new, very old, or non-U.S.-market vehicles may be incomplete.
Model availability is keyed to the exact model year. If a list comes back empty, try the year before or after.
Because the call goes straight from your browser to NHTSA, the results are always live — there is no cached middle layer and nothing is stored on our side.