# Car Image API

> The AI-native car image API by Meter. Studio-quality, transparent-background renders of any vehicle in the open @meterapp/vehicle-db catalog (1,145 makes, 14,841 models, 1990–2026) in 6 views, 15 colors, PNG/WebP/JPG up to 1024px. 1 credit per image, $1 = 1,000 credits, 100 free credits, no subscription. Built for agents: REST, remote MCP, CLI, SDK.

Base URL: https://car-imgs.vercel.app
Authenticate with `Authorization: Bearer cimg_...`. Get a key with `npx @meterapp/car-image login` or at https://car-imgs.vercel.app/dashboard.

## Docs

- [Complete guide for LLMs (self-contained)](https://car-imgs.vercel.app/llms-full.txt): every endpoint, parameter, header, billing rule and safety rule in one file.
- [Agent guide](https://car-imgs.vercel.app/agents.md): setup, endpoint table, examples, billing semantics, safety rules.
- [OpenAPI 3.1 (v2.0.0)](https://car-imgs.vercel.app/openapi.json): machine-readable schema with x-agent-notes and x-pricing.
- [Error reference](https://car-imgs.vercel.app/errors.md): every status code with cause and fix.
- [Human docs](https://car-imgs.vercel.app/docs) · [Pricing](https://car-imgs.vercel.app/pricing) · [Dashboard](https://car-imgs.vercel.app/dashboard)

## Integrations

- Remote MCP (Streamable HTTP, bearer auth): https://car-imgs.vercel.app/api/mcp
- CLI: `npx @meterapp/car-image` (login, get, urls, resolve, mcp)
- TypeScript SDK: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@meterapp/car-image-sdk
- Claude Code: `claude mcp add --transport http car-image https://car-imgs.vercel.app/api/mcp --header "Authorization: Bearer $CAR_IMAGE_API_KEY"`
- Catalog (open source): https://github.com/MeterApp/vehicle-db · Support: hello@meterapp.co

## Free, unauthenticated endpoints

- https://car-imgs.vercel.app/api/v1/images/options — views, colors, sizes, formats, pricing, limits
- https://car-imgs.vercel.app/api/v1/vehicles?q=camry — catalog search and browse (slugs)

## Rules

- Only a delivered image costs a credit (1, cached or generated); 304 is free; signed URLs cost 1 credit at creation and are free to load until they expire; failed renders are refunded.
- Never put an API key in a URL, prompt or log; give browsers signed URLs from POST /api/v1/image-urls.
- On 402 ask the human before buying credits; on 429/503 honor Retry-After.