vindex-mcp

vindex-mcp

MCP server for Vindex — Canada-aware, pay-per-callvehicle intelligence for AI agents. Decode any 17-char VIN with its originalfactory-warranty terms, read merged US (NHTSA) + Canada (Transport Canada) recalls,get LLM-clustered known-issue reports (every issue cites a verified ODI complaint number,with a bundled reliability-aggregates block), and itemized used-car closing costs for allof Canada + all 50 US states & DC via one unified purchase-costs endpoint(country=CA|US). Pay per call with USDC on Base via x402 — no signup, nobundles, no receipts.

• 3 free tools — no wallet, no API key.
• 4 paid tools — flat per-call USD prices, settled in USDC on Base Mainnet via x402.

Try before you pay: the free get_sample tool returns every paid response shape for onefixed sample vehicle (2013 Ford F-150).

Quick start

Free tier (no wallet)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "vindex": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "vindex-mcp"]
    }
  }
}

You get get_health, get_pricing, get_sample.

Paid tier (with wallet)

Add an EVM wallet private key (0x-prefixed) that holds USDC on Base Mainnet:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "vindex": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "vindex-mcp"],
      "env": { "EVM_PRIVATE_KEY": "0x..." }
    }
  }
}

The paid tools (decode_vin, get_recalls, get_known_issues, get_purchase_costs)then settle each call automatically.

Install snippets

Claude Code:

claude mcp add vindex -- npx -y vindex-mcp
# with a wallet:
claude mcp add vindex --env EVM_PRIVATE_KEY=0x... -- npx -y vindex-mcp

Claude Desktop / Cursor: add the JSON block above to your MCP config(claude_desktop_config.json or .cursor/mcp.json).

Tools

Free tools

Paid tools

Prices are flat per call — no bundles, no entitlements. Confirm live prices any timewith get_pricing. Purchase-costs is ONE endpoint selected by country=CA|US: CA requiresprovince (optional family_gift, buyer_has_plates), US requires state (optionaltrade_in, local_rate).

How payments work (x402)

Vindex speaks the x402 exact scheme. The API's 402 advertises aBase (USDC, EIP-3009) rail; this MCP settles on Base:

1. The MCP requests a paid endpoint. With no payment, the API replies HTTP 402 withthe accepted terms.
2. The MCP settles the call — via the standard @x402/fetch V2 client on a live API, orthe mock header when the API is in mode: mock — and retries.
3. The API returns the data plus a payment block (txHash, network, priceUsd, payer).

Compute-first, settle-after: Vindex computes the full answer before charging, soyou are never billed for an error, a validation failure, or a below-threshold answer(e.g. get_known_issues refuses, uncharged, below 15 complaints).

Mock vs live

get_health reports mode. When the API is in mock mode the paid tools work withouta wallet (a synthetic payer is used and no chain settlement occurs) — useful for tryingthe full flow for free. In live mode the paid tools require EVM_PRIVATE_KEY withUSDC on Base Mainnet; a paid call without a key returns a clear error.

Environment variables

Disclaimer

Vindex provides informational vehicle data aggregated from public sources (NHTSA,Transport Canada). It is not professional, legal, or purchasing advice, and isprovided as-is without warranty. Recall/complaint data reflects the source databases atfetch time. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Seehttps://api.vindexapi.dev/terms.txt.

Docs for agents: https://api.vindexapi.dev/llms.txt ·full: https://api.vindexapi.dev/llms-full.txt

License

MIT © jcislo