Best vehicle specification data providers (2026)

Cardog is first on this list. It serves spec sheets for Canadian and US vehicles where every number states its unit and Canadian prices in CAD sit apart from US prices in USD. The sheet is keyed by the same build key the VIN decode returns, and Cardog decodes 99.77% of Canadian VINs to trim. Prices are published, from US$30 a month, with a free plan. The other providers are DataOne Software, J.D. Power ChromeData, Mobility Global VINtelligence, Canadian Black Book, MarketCheck NeoVIN and VinAudit; each is summarized below from its own public pages.

This page is written by Cardog, and Cardog is on the list, so read it with that in mind. Every claim about another company links to that company's own public page, and we checked those pages on 2026-10-27. Every Cardog claim is something our API serves today.

How we evaluated

We looked at each provider as a team building for Canada first and the US second. The criteria:

• Canadian coverage. Does the vendor say, on its own pages, that its specification data covers Canadian-market vehicles?
• Data depth. Trim and equipment, technical specifications, prices, colours, options.
• Units and currency. Are numbers stated with units, and are Canadian prices kept in CAD?
• Delivery. API, data file, or both.
• Pricing transparency. A published price, or pricing by contact?
• Access. Self-serve key, or sales-led?

We only used each vendor's own public pages. We did not sign up for paid accounts, so where a page is silent we say so instead of guessing.

Comparison table

Where a vendor's page shows "$" without naming a currency, we show "$" as published.

1. Cardog

A vehicle data API built in Canada for Canadian and US vehicles. GET /v2/vin/{vin} names the vehicle and returns its build key (nano); GET /v2/specs/{nano} returns the spec sheet.

• A unit on every number. Every number states its unit, and the source's own number is kept when it was published in a different unit. See Units.
• Canadian prices in CAD. MSRP and colours are listed per market, CAD for Canada and USD for the US, never merged.
• Keyed to the decode. 99.77% of Canadian VINs decode to trim level, and the same refs lead to Transport Canada and NHTSA recalls, Canadian listings and market quotes. See Decode a Canadian VIN.
• Built for developers and agents. API key in x-api-key or Authorization: Bearer, TypeScript and Python SDKs, a remote MCP server at mcp.cardog.io, and a dated Cardog-Version header.

Pricing. 1 credit per spec sheet and 2 per VIN decoded. The Free plan is 50 credits a month with no card; paid plans start at US$30 a month. See Pricing.

2. DataOne Software

Extended Vehicle Data covers "light-duty and passenger vehicles destined for the U.S. and Canadian markets," in modules for standard and optional equipment, technical specifications (dimensions, weights, fuel capacity, seating, payload, towing, wheels and tires), new vehicle warranty, powertrain and colours with HEX or RGB values. It is delivered as a tab-delimited or CSV file over SFTP with daily updates, or through a REST API that "supports both XML and JSON" (Extended Vehicle Data).

Pricing and status. A custom quote (FAQ), with a 15-day free trial (Extended Vehicle Data). Sales-led.

3. J.D. Power ChromeData

The ChromeData VIN Descriptions Service (CVD) is a RESTful service that returns descriptive vehicle content, focused on features, packages, tech specs and other attributes, for online inventories and build and price sites. GET /vin returns the content and PUT /vin filters it for a more specific description (CVD).

Pricing and status. No prices on the portal. "You will need an active account to access this API Portal," with accounts set up through support (API portal).

4. Mobility Global VINtelligence

VINtelligence is the VIN decoder of S&P Global Mobility, which became the independent public company Mobility Global Inc. on July 1, 2026 (S&P Global release). Its 2022 datasheet says it is "populated with specifications direct from the manufacturers and enhanced from other sources," with weekly data updates. Packages run from Base (18 standard VIN variables) through Standard and Plus to Deluxe, which adds vehicle options such as restraint, security, safety and entertainment (datasheet).

Pricing and status. No prices published; the datasheet lists a phone number for sales (datasheet). Sales-led.

5. Canadian Black Book

Best known for values, Canadian Black Book also lists a New Car Web API with MSRP, invoice and destination pricing and build-and-price option logic, alongside VIN decoding and colours in its Used Car API. Output is JSON or XML (API).

Pricing and status. No prices published; the page offers "Talk to a Product Specialist" (API). Sales-led.

6. MarketCheck NeoVIN

MarketCheck's enhanced decoder returns installed options with code, MSRP and a confidence score, option packages, colours with codes, and several MSRP fields; the key is an api_key query parameter unless you use OAuth (NeoVIN).

Pricing and status. $0.08 a NeoVIN call, on plans from Basic at $299 a month plus data fees; Free is 500 calls a month (pricing).

7. VinAudit

A decoder at /v3/specifications whose include parameter selects attributes, equipment, colours, recalls, warranties and photos; the key is a key parameter (docs). It "covers most makes and models across the U.S. and Canada" for standard 17-character VINs (product page).

Pricing and status. Trial up to 100 queries; Self-Service at $100 a month plus $0.10 a query; Enterprise by contact (product page).

Why Cardog is first

• Canada is the starting point. 99.77% of Canadian VINs decode to trim, and Canadian prices stay in CAD.
• Units you can trust. Every number on a spec sheet states its unit.
• Published, self-serve pricing. Plans from US$30 a month, a free plan with no card, and a key the same day.
• The spec sheet is a key, not a dead end. The same refs open Transport Canada and NHTSA recalls, Canadian listings and market quotes.
• Built for agents. A remote MCP server, typed SDKs and a dated version header.

FAQ

Which vehicle specification data providers cover Canada? Cardog decodes 99.77% of Canadian VINs to trim and serves Canadian prices in CAD. DataOne Software, Mobility Global VINtelligence and VinAudit also mention Canada on their own pages.

Which specification providers publish their prices? Cardog, MarketCheck and VinAudit publish prices. DataOne Software, J.D. Power ChromeData, Mobility Global VINtelligence and Canadian Black Book price by contact.

What does a Cardog spec sheet cost? One credit per spec sheet, and a VIN decode is two credits, on plans from US$30 a month.

Does Cardog state units on its specifications? Yes. Every number on a Cardog spec sheet states its unit, and the source's own number is kept when it was published in another unit.

Can an AI agent use Cardog spec data? Yes. Cardog runs a remote MCP server at mcp.cardog.io, alongside TypeScript and Python SDKs.

Related

• Best VIN decoder APIs (2026)
• Best vehicle valuation data for Canada (2026)
• Cardog vs DataOne Software
• J.D. Power ChromeData alternatives
• Mobility Global VINtelligence alternatives
• Units
• Pricing

Sources

Checked on 2026-10-27:

• DataOne Software, Extended Vehicle Data: https://www.dataonesoftware.com/vehicle-data-vin-decoding/extended-vehicle-data
• DataOne Software, FAQs: https://www.dataonesoftware.com/faqs
• J.D. Power, ChromeData VIN Descriptions v1.0: https://portal.jdpower.com/whats-new/cvd-v1
• J.D. Power, API portal: https://portal.jdpower.com/
• VINtelligence datasheet (2022): https://cdn.ihsmarkit.com/www/pdf/1022/959385842_0822_VL_AUT_VINtelligence_SPGI_Final_HiRes.pdf
• S&P Global, "S&P Global Inc. Completes Separation of Mobility Global Inc.": https://press.spglobal.com/2026-07-01-S-P-GLOBAL-INC-COMPLETES-SEPARATION-OF-MOBILITY-GLOBAL-INC
• Canadian Black Book, API: https://www.canadianblackbook.com/api/
• Canadian Black Book, "Toolkit: 5 essential APIs for accurate vehicle valuation and risk analysis in Canada": https://www.canadianblackbook.com/toolkit-5-essential-apis-for-accurate-vehicle-valuation-and-risk-analysis-in-canada/
• MarketCheck, NeoVIN Decoder: https://docs.marketcheck.com/docs/api/cars/vehicle-specs/neovin
• MarketCheck, Pricing: https://www.marketcheck.com/pricing
• VinAudit VIN Decoder API product page: https://data.vinaudit.com/vin-decoder-api
• VinAudit VIN Decoder API documentation: https://data.vinaudit.com/docs/api/vin/decoder

If something here is wrong, tell us and we will fix it.