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Cars.com Parser FAQ

Frequently asked questions about extracting US automotive data from Cars.com. Get answers to setup, usage, troubleshooting, and technical questions.

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Setup & Configuration​

How do I get started with the Cars.com parser?​

Getting Started
  1. Sign up at dashboard.carapis.com
  2. Activate the Cars.com parser in your dashboard
  3. Get your API key from the parser settings
  4. Make your first request using our Quick Start Guide
  5. Start extracting US automotive data

What API key format should I expect?​

API Key Format

Your Cars.com parser API key will look like this: cars_com_parser_sk_1234567890abcdef1234567890abcdef

The key starts with cars_com_parser_sk_ followed by a 32-character hexadecimal string.

How do I authenticate my API requests?​

// JavaScript
const headers = {
  Authorization: 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY',
  'Content-Type': 'application/json',
};
# Python
headers = {
    'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY',
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
}

What programming languages are supported?​

Supported Languages
  • JavaScript/Node.js - Full support with axios/fetch
  • Python - Full support with requests library
  • cURL - Command-line interface
  • PHP - With curl or Guzzle
  • Java - With OkHttp or Apache HttpClient
  • C# - With HttpClient
  • Go - With net/http package
  • Ruby - With Net::HTTP

Data & Features​

What data can I extract from Cars.com?​

Available Data Fields
CategoryData PointsExamples
Vehicle InformationBrand, model, year, price, mileageFord F-150, 2020, $42,000, 35,000 miles
Technical SpecificationsEngine, transmission, fuel type, power3.5L V6, Automatic, Gasoline, 400 hp
Location DataCity, state, country, coordinatesHouston, Texas, United States, 29.76, -95.37
Seller InformationDealer name, rating, contact detailsHouston Ford Dealership, 4.7/5.0
Features & OptionsEquipment packages, technologyNavigation, Leather Seats, Towing Package
Market IntelligencePrice trends, market statisticsAverage prices, demand patterns

How fresh is the data?​

Data Freshness
  • Real-time extraction - Data is extracted live from Cars.com
  • Sub-5 minute updates - New listings appear within 5 minutes
  • Price updates - Price changes reflected immediately
  • Inventory changes - Vehicle availability updated in real-time
  • Market statistics - Updated daily for trend analysis

Can I search by specific US states or cities?​

Geographic Search

Yes, you can search by any US state, city, or region:

  • US States: Texas, California, New York, Florida, Illinois
  • Major Cities: Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Chicago
  • Postal Codes: Specific area targeting
  • Coordinates: Latitude/longitude-based searches
  • Radius Search: Search within specific distance from location

What US vehicle brands and models are supported?​

Brand Coverage

All major US and international brands are supported:

  • US Brands: Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, Buick, Chrysler
  • International Brands: Toyota, Honda, Nissan, BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen
  • Commercial Vehicles: Ford Transit, Chevrolet Express, Mercedes Sprinter
  • Electric Vehicles: Tesla, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Chevrolet Bolt
  • Luxury Vehicles: BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Lexus, Acura

Can I filter by US emission standards?​

Emission Standards

Yes, you can filter by US EPA emission standards:

  • EPA Tier 3 - Latest emission standard
  • EPA Tier 2 - Current standard for most vehicles
  • EPA Tier 1 - Older vehicles still compliant
  • Electric vehicles - Zero emissions
  • Hybrid vehicles - Low emissions
  • Flex fuel - E85 compatible vehicles

Technical Issues​

What are the rate limits for the Cars.com parser?​

Rate Limits by Plan
PlanRequests per MinuteMonthly QuotaConcurrent Requests
Starter10050,0005
Professional500250,00020
Enterprise20001,000,000100

Implement proper rate limiting to avoid hitting limits.

How do I handle rate limit errors?​

// JavaScript - Rate limit handling
const handleRateLimit = async (requestFunction) => {
  try {
    return await requestFunction();
  } catch (error) {
    if (error.response?.status === 429) {
      const resetTime = error.response.headers['x-ratelimit-reset'];
      const waitTime = new Date(resetTime) - new Date();

      console.log(`Rate limit exceeded. Waiting ${waitTime}ms`);
      await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, waitTime));

      return await requestFunction(); // Retry
    }
    throw error;
  }
};

What should I do if I get a 401 Unauthorized error?​

Authentication Issues
  1. Check your API key - Verify it's correct and active
  2. Verify parser activation - Ensure Cars.com parser is activated in dashboard
  3. Check key format - Should start with cars_com_parser_sk_
  4. Contact support - If issues persist, contact our support team
  5. Check account status - Ensure your account is active and not suspended

How do I handle API errors properly?​

# Python - Error handling
import requests

def handle_api_request(url, data, headers):
    try:
        response = requests.post(url, json=data, headers=headers)
        response.raise_for_status()
        return response.json()
    except requests.exceptions.HTTPError as e:
        if e.response.status_code == 401:
            print("Authentication error - check your API key")
        elif e.response.status_code == 429:
            print("Rate limit exceeded - implement retry logic")
        elif e.response.status_code == 400:
            print("Invalid request parameters")
        else:
            print(f"HTTP Error: {e.response.status_code}")
    except requests.exceptions.RequestException as e:
        print(f"Request Error: {e}")
    return None

Why am I not getting any search results?​

Common Causes
IssueCauseSolution
No resultsSearch too specificBroaden search criteria
Wrong locationInvalid city/state nameUse correct US location names
Price too lowBelow market rangeIncrease minimum price
Year too newNo vehicles in rangeAdjust year range
Fuel type mismatchLimited availabilityTry different fuel types
Transmission filterNarrow selectionRemove transmission filter

How do I implement pagination for large result sets?​

// JavaScript - Pagination example
const getAllVehicles = async (searchParams) => {
  let allVehicles = [];
  let offset = 0;
  const limit = 100;

  while (true) {
    const response = await axios.post('/search', {
      ...searchParams,
      limit,
      offset,
    });

    const vehicles = response.data.data.listings;
    allVehicles.push(...vehicles);

    if (vehicles.length < limit) break;
    offset += limit;

    // Rate limiting
    await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 100));
  }

  return allVehicles;
};

Business & Pricing​

How much does the Cars.com parser cost?​

Pricing Plans
PlanMonthly CostRequests/MonthFeatures
Starter$9950,000Basic search and extraction
Professional$299250,000Advanced filters, market data
Enterprise$9991,000,000Custom solutions, priority support

Contact us for custom enterprise pricing.

Can I get a free trial?​

Free Trial
  • 7-day free trial available for all plans
  • No credit card required for trial
  • Full API access during trial period
  • 10,000 free requests to test the service
  • Easy upgrade to paid plan when ready

What's included in each plan?​

Plan Comparison
FeatureStarterProfessionalEnterprise
Search API✅✅✅
Vehicle Details✅✅✅
Market Statistics❌✅✅
Historical Data❌✅✅
Webhook Support❌✅✅
Priority Support❌❌✅
Custom Solutions❌❌✅

Do you offer volume discounts?​

Volume Discounts
  • Annual billing - 20% discount on all plans
  • High-volume usage - Custom pricing for 1M+ requests/month
  • Enterprise customers - Negotiated rates for large deployments
  • Reseller program - Special pricing for partners and resellers

Can I cancel my subscription anytime?​

Flexible Billing
  • No long-term contracts - Cancel anytime
  • Pro-rated refunds - Unused portion refunded
  • Data retention - Access to historical data for 30 days
  • Easy reactivation - Resume service anytime

Legal & Compliance​

Legal Compliance
  • CCPA compliant - Full compliance with US data protection laws
  • Terms of service - Compliant with Cars.com terms
  • Ethical extraction - Respectful data collection practices
  • Rate limiting - Responsible usage to avoid server overload
  • Legal consultation - We recommend consulting with legal counsel for your specific use case

How do you handle US data protection laws?​

CCPA Compliance
  • Data minimization - Only collect necessary data
  • User consent - Respect user privacy preferences
  • Data retention - Limited retention periods
  • Right to deletion - Honor deletion requests
  • Data security - Encrypted data transmission and storage
  • Audit trails - Complete activity logging for compliance

Can I use the data for commercial purposes?​

Commercial Usage
  • Business applications - Yes, for legitimate business purposes
  • Market research - Yes, for industry analysis and insights
  • Competitive intelligence - Yes, for market positioning
  • Resale restrictions - Data cannot be resold without permission
  • Attribution required - Credit Carapis as data source

What are the usage restrictions?​

Usage Restrictions
  • No resale - Cannot resell data without explicit permission
  • No scraping - Cannot use data to build competing services
  • Rate limiting - Must respect rate limits and fair use policies
  • Attribution - Must credit Carapis as data source
  • Legal compliance - Must comply with all applicable laws

Advanced Features​

Can I get historical price data?​

Historical Data
  • Price history - Track price changes over time
  • Market trends - Historical market analysis
  • Seasonal patterns - Year-over-year comparisons
  • Brand performance - Historical brand analysis
  • Regional trends - Geographic market evolution

Do you support webhooks for real-time updates?​

Webhook Support
  • Real-time notifications - Instant updates when new vehicles are listed
  • Custom endpoints - Send data to your own servers
  • Event filtering - Filter notifications by criteria
  • Retry logic - Automatic retry for failed deliveries
  • Security - Signed webhook payloads for verification

Can I get market statistics and analytics?​

Market Intelligence
  • Price trends - Average prices and market movements
  • Brand performance - Market share and popularity metrics
  • Regional analysis - Geographic market insights
  • Demand patterns - Seasonal and trend analysis
  • Competitive intelligence - Dealer network analysis

Do you offer custom data extraction?​

Custom Solutions
  • Custom fields - Extract specific data points
  • Bulk extraction - Large-scale data collection
  • Scheduled extraction - Automated data collection
  • Data transformation - Custom data formatting
  • Integration support - Direct database integration

Support & Documentation​

How do I get technical support?​

Support Options
  • Documentation - Complete guides and examples
  • API Reference - Detailed endpoint documentation
  • Community Forum - Connect with other users
  • Email Support - Technical assistance via email
  • Priority Support - Dedicated support for enterprise customers

Where can I find code examples?​

Code Examples

Do you provide integration assistance?​

Integration Support
  • Setup assistance - Help with initial configuration
  • Code review - Review your integration code
  • Best practices - Guidance on optimal implementation
  • Performance optimization - Help optimize your usage
  • Custom solutions - Tailored integration support

Still have questions? Contact our support team for personalized assistance.

Contact Support →