CarsXE MCP Server

🚗 CarsXE MCP Server

A modular, extensible Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for querying and analyzing vehicle data from the CarsXE API, with beautiful, chat-friendly Markdown output for LLMs and chatbots.

ℹ️ What is CarsXE MCP Server?

The CarsXE MCP server is a Node.js/TypeScript application that exposes a suite of tools for querying comprehensive vehicle data from the CarsXE API. It is designed for seamless integration with LLMs (like Anthropic Claude, OpenAI GPT, etc.), chatbots, and developer tools, providing:

• 🧩 Clean, modular code for each CarsXE endpoint
• 📝 Consistent, Markdown-rich output for chat/LLM environments
• 🛡️ Robust error handling and user-friendly messages
• 🔌 Easy extensibility for new endpoints and features

💡 Why Use CarsXE with MCP?

Connecting CarsXE to your AI editor or chat client via MCP gives you a supercharged vehicle data experience — directly inside the tools you already use:

✨ Features

• 🤖 Uses Anthropic Claude to generate comprehensive, professional answers based on the API data and user query
• 🚙 Query vehicle specs, history, images, recalls, market value, and more
• 🏷️ Decode license plates and VINs (including OCR from images)
• 🛠️ Decode OBD (On-Board Diagnostics) codes
• 🎨 All endpoints return elegant, grouped, emoji-rich Markdown
• 🧑‍💻 Modular code: types, API logic, and formatters are separated for maintainability
• 🧪 Simple to run, test, and extend

⚙️ Prerequisites

CarsXE API key (get one here)

🖥️ Installation by Editor

All editors use the same remote MCP endpoint. Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your actual CarsXE API key in every config below.

Claude Desktop

1️⃣ Download and Install Claude Desktop

• Go to the official Claude Desktop download page
• Download the installer for your operating system (macOS, Windows, or Linux)
• Install Claude Desktop by following the on-screen instructions

2️⃣ Configure Claude Desktop to Use the CarsXE MCP Server

a. Open Claude Desktop Settings

• Launch the Claude Desktop app
• Click on Claude in the menu bar
• Select Settings
• In the Settings window, go to the Developer tab (you may need to scroll or expand advanced options)
• Click Edit Config (or Open Config File)

b. Edit the Configuration File

• This will open the claude_desktop_config.json file in your default text editor.

• Locate the "mcpServers" section. If it does not exist, add it as shown below.

• Add or update the following entry for CarsXE:

  {
    "mcpServers": {
      "carsxe": {
        "command": "npx",
        "args": [
          "mcp-remote@latest",
          "https://mcp.carsxe.com/mcp",
          "--header",
          "X-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY"
        ]
      }
    }
  }
  

• Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your actual CarsXE API Key

• Tip: You can add multiple MCP servers under "mcpServers" if you use more than one.

• Save the configuration file and close your editor.

c. Restart Claude Desktop

• Close and reopen the Claude Desktop app to apply the new configuration.

  It may take a short delay for the changes to take effect.

3️⃣ Verify the CarsXE MCP Server is Available

• After restarting, open Claude Desktop.
• Go to the tools or plugins section (usually in the search bar or under a tools menu).
• You should see CarsXE listed as an available MCP server/tool.
• Try running a CarsXE tool (e.g., get-vehicle-specs) to verify everything is working.

  This will only work if your API key is associated with an active subscription.

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[Install CarsXE MCP for Cursor](cursor://anysphere.cursor-deeplink/mcp/install?name=CarsXE&config=eyJuYW1lIjoiQ2Fyc1hFIiwidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9tY3AuY2Fyc3hlLmNvbS9tY3AiLCJoZWFkZXJzIjp7IlgtQVBJLUtleSI6