API is Here!

The Auto Care Association’s ACES^®, PIES^® and IPO^TM reference databases (VCdb, Qdb, PCdb, PAdb, and Brand Table) currently and historically have been available to users for download through a manual download process via autocarevip.com in various formats, including Microsoft Access2007, ASCII, MySQL, Microsoft SQLServer2008R2, and JSON. Additionally, these databases were historically published with new content monthly but were increased to a weekly cadence (except for the VCdb) in January 2023, with the goal of delivering updated reference database content to users faster.

With a continued goal to increase speed and efficiencies for users around the acquisition of the ACES^®, PIES^®, and IPO™ reference databases, the Auto Care Association announced in May 2024 that an application programming interface (API) would become available to users in November 2024. The Auto Care Association and the Auto Care Technology team are pleased to announce that an API was dev-launched in November 2024 to select users and is now available to the entire industry!

The API, which is in JSON format, allows users to:

• Download updated reference database content as often as daily;
• Download complete database tables and/or updates (changes) to the database tables; and
• Automate IT processes for smoother, hands-off data exchange, creating workflow efficiencies.

The Auto Care Association will continue to make the reference databases available for manual download through autocarevip.com in the formats Microsoft Access2007, ASCII, MySQL, Microsoft SQLServer2008R2 and JSON. However, the frequency of receiving manual database updates will be reduced from weekly to monthly (except the Brand Table, which will remain daily), beginning January 2025. The dates of these publications are posted on the events page on autocarevip.com.

What is an API?

An API is a set of machine-to-machine communication protocols that allow different software applications to exchange data with each other. It acts as an intermediary, enabling one application to request data or functionality from another application or service, typically through the internet or over a network in an automated fashion.

Benefits of API from an Auto Care Association data perspective:

With our new API, the ACES^®, PIES^® and IPO™ supporting reference databases can be distributed to all of it's licensees on a daily basis. Instead of full database downloads monthly or weekly gathered via manual download, now data can automatically flow in via an API daily.

Want to start using the API? Documentation can be found here on Auto Care Digital Hub!

Want to set up a time to talk about the API? Book time with us here (Select option "API Support")

Have questions or technical issues to report? Contact us here