How do I install the carvector mcp server?

Use a recorded configuration for your client, replace example credential values and paths, and verify the documented runtime. Restart or reconnect the client, then inspect the available tools.

What credentials does it need?

It reads `CARVECTOR_API_KEY` from the environment. Store these in your client's env block or a secrets manager — never commit them to a repository — and grant the narrowest scope that still covers your use case.

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Carvector MCP Server

Vehicle specs, federal recalls, and OBD-II DTC reference for AI agents via MCP.

Remote serverstreamable-http

What is the Carvector MCP Server?

Vehicle specs, federal recalls, and OBD-II DTC reference for AI agents via MCP.

What it actually does

Models hallucinate car data. They invent horsepower numbers, miss recalls filed last week, and guess at what a trouble code means. carvector-mcp gives your agent structured, sourced answers it can cite instead of a confident guess.

carvector-mcp is an open-source, thin client. It bundles no data — every call forwards to the CarVector API, authenticated with your key. What you get back:

More MCP options

Compare MCP servers by category, or browse hosted MCP servers if you prefer an endpoint over a local process.

Maintainer setup documentation.

Recorded tools

Check the linked publisher documentation and your connected client's tool list. Names and availability can vary with the server version and account permissions.

Tool	What it does
search_vehicles	Matching vehicles by year / make / model, with ids + specs
get_vehicle	Full specs for one vehicle — engine, drivetrain, body, image, recall count
get_recalls	Federal recall campaigns for a vehicle — component, summary, consequence, remedy
get_complaints	Owner-complaint signal for a vehicle — aggregate by component + the most recent complaints (Pro plan)
get_tsbs	Manufacturer service-bulletin index for a vehicle — the fix the dealer already knows about (Business plan)
get_investigations	Federal defect investigations for a vehicle — a leading indicator of recalls (Business plan)
lookup_dtc	An OBD-II code's title, category, severity, and safety/emissions flags

How to install the Carvector MCP Server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "carvector": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "carvector-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "CARVECTOR_API_KEY": "YOUR_CARVECTOR_API_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}

From the project documentation. Replace placeholders and example paths before connecting.

Configuration

Variable	Description	Required
CARVECTOR_API_KEY	Declared in the maintainer’s client configuration.	Check documentation

Example prompts to try

“Use Carvector to search vehicles.”
“Use Carvector to get vehicle.”
“Use Carvector to get recalls.”

Frequently asked questions

Vehicle specs, federal recalls, and OBD-II DTC reference for AI agents via MCP. Confirm the tools offered by your installed version in the connected client. Tool availability and permissions depend on the server and account configuration.