# Autotrader API

> Autotrader returns car listings and vehicle details, available as a workflow and API.

Autotrader, also called Autotrader.com, returns car listings near a US ZIP code through Search cars. Search cars needs a car make and model plus a five-digit US ZIP code; optional filters include condition, year, price, and distance.

- Page: https://fous.com/workflows/autotrader
- Handle: `@autotrader`
- Category: [Commerce](https://fous.com/workflows/category/commerce)
- Source website: https://autotrader.com
- Last verified: Sep 29, 2026
- Fous is not affiliated with Autotrader.

## Methods

### Search cars

Operation `search_cars`, version 1. 1 credit per call.

Search Autotrader car listings near a US ZIP code by make and model, with condition, price, year, and distance filters. Returns up to 100 listings in site order; some listing details may be unavailable.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `car` | string | yes | `"Toyota Camry"` | Car make and model, for example Toyota Camry. |
| `max_year` | integer | no | `2023` | Newest model year, for example 2024. |
| `min_year` | integer | no | `2018` | Oldest model year, for example 2018. |
| `zip_code` | string | yes | `"30301"` | Five-digit US ZIP code, for example 30301. |
| `condition` | string | no | `"used"` | Car condition, for example used; any includes all conditions. |
| `max_price` | number | no | `20000` | Highest asking price in USD, for example 25000. |
| `max_results` | integer | no | `30` | Maximum listings to return, for example 25; at most 100. |
| `radius_miles` | integer | no | `25` | Search radius in miles from the ZIP code, for example 50. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "car",
    "zip_code"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "car": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Car make and model, for example Toyota Camry.",
      "examples": [
        "Toyota Camry",
        "Honda Civic"
      ]
    },
    "max_year": {
      "type": "integer",
      "minimum": 1900,
      "description": "Newest model year, for example 2024.",
      "examples": [
        2023
      ]
    },
    "min_year": {
      "type": "integer",
      "minimum": 1900,
      "description": "Oldest model year, for example 2018.",
      "examples": [
        2018
      ]
    },
    "zip_code": {
      "type": "string",
      "pattern": "^[0-9]{5}$",
      "description": "Five-digit US ZIP code, for example 30301.",
      "examples": [
        "30301",
        "10001"
      ]
    },
    "condition": {
      "enum": [
        "any",
        "new",
        "used",
        "certified"
      ],
      "type": "string",
      "default": "any",
      "description": "Car condition, for example used; any includes all conditions.",
      "examples": [
        "used",
        "certified"
      ]
    },
    "max_price": {
      "type": "number",
      "minimum": 0,
      "description": "Highest asking price in USD, for example 25000.",
      "examples": [
        20000
      ]
    },
    "max_results": {
      "type": "integer",
      "default": 25,
      "maximum": 100,
      "minimum": 1,
      "description": "Maximum listings to return, for example 25; at most 100.",
      "x-fous-developer": true,
      "examples": [
        30,
        3
      ]
    },
    "radius_miles": {
      "type": "integer",
      "default": 50,
      "minimum": 0,
      "description": "Search radius in miles from the ZIP code, for example 50.",
      "examples": [
        25
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "car": "Toyota Camry",
      "zip_code": "30301"
    },
    {
      "car": "Honda Civic",
      "max_year": 2023,
      "min_year": 2018,
      "zip_code": "10001",
      "condition": "used",
      "max_price": 20000,
      "max_results": 30,
      "radius_miles": 25
    },
    {
      "car": "Toyota Camry",
      "zip_code": "30301",
      "condition": "certified",
      "max_results": 3
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `listings` | array |  | Car listings in Autotrader order. |
| `listings[].vin` | string or null | `"4T1K61AK3LU397273"` | Vehicle identification number. |
| `listings[].make` | string or null | `"Toyota"` | Vehicle make. |
| `listings[].trim` | string or null | `"XSE"` | Trim name. |
| `listings[].year` | integer or null | `2020` | Model year. |
| `listings[].model` | string or null | `"Camry"` | Vehicle model. |
| `listings[].price` | number or null | `25800` | Asking price in USD. |
| `listings[].mileage` | integer or null | `44762` | Odometer mileage in miles. |
| `listings[].currency` | string | `"USD"` | Price currency, USD. |
| `listings[].photo_link` | string or null | `"https://images.autotrader.com/hn/c/ed36b91c650f4d9eb1f2c1b6c8099080.jpg"` | Primary car photo link. |
| `listings[].deal_rating` | string or null | `"Great Price"` | Shown price rating, such as Good Price. |
| `listings[].seller_name` | string or null | `"Jim Ellis Toyota of McDonough"` | Dealer or seller name. |
| `listings[].listing_link` | string | `"https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicle/789837710?listingType=CERTIFIED&makeCode=TOYOTA&modelCode=CAMRY&newSea` | Autotrader vehicle listing page link. |
| `listings[].distance_miles` | number or null | `19.21` | Distance from ZIP code in miles. |
| `listings[].exterior_color` | string or null | `"Wind Chill Pearl"` | Exterior color. |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "car": "Toyota Camry",
  "zip_code": "30301",
  "condition": "certified",
  "max_results": 3
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "listings": [
    {
      "vin": "4T1K61AK3LU397273",
      "make": "Toyota",
      "trim": "XSE",
      "year": 2020,
      "model": "Camry",
      "price": 25800,
      "mileage": 44762,
      "currency": "USD",
      "photo_link": "https://images.autotrader.com/hn/c/ed36b91c650f4d9eb1f2c1b6c8099080.jpg",
      "deal_rating": "Great Price",
      "seller_name": "Jim Ellis Toyota of McDonough",
      "listing_link": "https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicle/789837710?listingType=CERTIFIED&makeCode=TOYOTA&modelCode=CAMRY&newSearch=false&zip=30301",
      "distance_miles": 19.21,
      "exterior_color": "Wind Chill Pearl"
    },
    {
      "vin": "4T1DAACK3TU291085",
      "make": "Toyota",
      "trim": "XLE",
      "year": 2026,
      "model": "Camry",
      "price": 32900,
      "mileage": 7274,
      "currency": "USD",
      "photo_link": "https://images.autotrader.com/hn/c/6ccb4aa2a2de47afa7762f640f095f6b.jpg",
      "deal_rating": "Great Price",
      "seller_name": "Jim Ellis Toyota of McDonough",
      "listing_link": "https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicle/784626266?listingType=CERTIFIED&makeCode=TOYOTA&modelCode=CAMRY&newSearch=false&zip=30301",
      "distance_miles": 19.21,
      "exterior_color": "Supersonic Red"
    },
    {
      "vin": "4T1C11AK0PU107838",
      "make": "Toyota",
      "trim": "LE",
      "year": 2023,
      "model": "Camry",
      "price": 25786,
      "mileage": 26503,
      "currency": "USD",
      "photo_link": "https://images.autotrader.com/hn/c/7c98d092bd5245748c84dc263d3164a8.jpg",
      "deal_rating": "Good Price",
      "seller_name": "Marietta Toyota",
      "listing_link": "https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicle/791106801?listingType=CERTIFIED&makeCode=TOYOTA&modelCode=CAMRY&newSearch=false&zip=30301",
      "distance_miles": 20.9,
      "exterior_color": "Ice Cap"
    }
  ]
}
```

## Quick start

Call the API with a Fous API key (`FOUS_API_KEY`). To create one, turn on Developer mode in Fous Studio, then open Keys & connections → API keys (https://app.fous.com/keys).

```bash
# First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
: "${FOUS_API_KEY:?Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example}"

curl 'https://api.fous.com/v1/query' \
  --fail-with-body --silent --show-error --max-time 120 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $FOUS_API_KEY" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data-raw '{
  "api": "@autotrader",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "search_cars",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "car": "Toyota Camry",
    "zip_code": "30301"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}'
```

```python
# Save as fous.py and run with python3 fous.py. No packages needed.
# First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
import json
import os
import urllib.error
import urllib.request

api_key = os.environ.get("FOUS_API_KEY")
if not api_key:
    raise RuntimeError("Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example")

body = json.loads("{\n  \"api\": \"@autotrader\",\n  \"visibility\": \"public\",\n  \"operation\": \"search_cars\",\n  \"version\": 1,\n  \"input\": {\n    \"car\": \"Toyota Camry\",\n    \"zip_code\": \"30301\"\n  },\n  \"response\": {\n    \"format\": \"json\"\n  }\n}")
request = urllib.request.Request(
    "https://api.fous.com/v1/query",
    data=json.dumps(body).encode("utf-8"),
    headers={
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json",
    },
    method="POST",
)
try:
    with urllib.request.urlopen(request, timeout=120) as response:
        result = json.load(response)
except urllib.error.HTTPError as error:
    raise RuntimeError(f"HTTP {error.code}: {error.read().decode('utf-8', errors='replace')}") from error
if result.get("success") is False:
    raise RuntimeError(result.get("error", {}).get("message", "Request failed"))
print(json.dumps(result["data"]["output"], indent=2))
```

```typescript
// Save as fous.mts and run with npx tsx fous.mts.
// First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
const apiKey = process.env.FOUS_API_KEY;
if (!apiKey) throw new Error("Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example");

const response = await fetch("https://api.fous.com/v1/query", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Authorization": `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  signal: AbortSignal.timeout(120_000),
  body: JSON.stringify({
  "api": "@autotrader",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "search_cars",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "car": "Toyota Camry",
    "zip_code": "30301"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}),
});
type ApiResult = { success: boolean; data?: { output: unknown }; error?: { message: string } };
const result: ApiResult = await response.json();
if (!response.ok || result.success === false) {
  throw new Error(result.error?.message ?? `HTTP ${response.status}`);
}
if (!result.data) throw new Error("Missing API response data");
console.log(result.data.output);
```

Or describe the data in plain language: send `{"api":"@autotrader","prompt":"Describe the data you need, with every detail"}` to the same URL. Fous fills in the input, runs the method that fits and returns only the fields you asked for; `data.route.calls[].request` is the exact call it made. Routing is free; the run costs the same.

## Use cases

- Compare asking prices for cars near a ZIP code
- Find used cars by make, model, and year
- Review listing mileage, trim, and exterior color
- Identify sellers and open vehicle listing pages
- Assess shown price ratings across listings

## FAQ

### Is Fous affiliated with Autotrader?

No. Fous is not affiliated with Autotrader. This workflow reads the public autotrader.com website and returns its data.

### How much does it cost?

Each run costs 1 credit. With pay-as-you-go, a credit costs 1¢; monthly plans cost less per credit.

### Do I need a Autotrader account?

No. You only need a Fous account.

### How current is the data?

Fous gets the data from autotrader.com when you run it; repeating the same request within a day may return the saved result. Fous checks this workflow automatically; it last passed a check on Sep 29, 2026.

### What cars are listed near a ZIP code?

Search cars returns listings near a five-digit US ZIP code for the specified make and model.

### What is the asking price and mileage for each car?

Search cars returns each listing’s asking price in USD and odometer mileage in miles.

### How far away are matching cars?

Search cars can filter by search radius and returns each listing’s distance from the ZIP code in miles.

## Related

- [Cars.com API](https://fous.com/workflows/cars-com.md): Cars.com finds car listings by make, model, and U.S. ZIP code, and provides dealerships’ latest customer reviews when available.
- [CarGurus API](https://fous.com/workflows/cargurus.md): CarGurus helps shoppers browse dealer-listed new and used cars with deal ratings, and view average used prices, price ranges and 12-month price history by model year.
- [Carfax API](https://fous.com/workflows/carfax.md): Carfax provides used-car listings near a US ZIP code with free history highlights, plus open safety recalls reported by CARFAX for a VIN or US plate.
- [CarMax API](https://fous.com/workflows/carmax.md): Search public CarMax used-car listings.
- [Carvana API](https://fous.com/workflows/carvana.md): Search used vehicles for sale on Carvana.
- [mobile.de API](https://fous.com/workflows/mobile-de.md): Search cars for sale on mobile.de.
- [Tesla API](https://fous.com/workflows/tesla.md): Tesla offers new and certified pre-owned vehicles across the United States and nearby open Supercharger sites, with delivery estimates and opening hours only when available.
- [OfferUp API](https://fous.com/workflows/offerup.md): Local marketplace for buying and selling items.
- [All Commerce workflows](https://fous.com/workflows/category/commerce)