Auto.dev API Integration Setup

🎯 Quick Setup

Your CarFinder application is now ready for Auto.dev integration! Follow these simple steps:

1. Get Your API Key

1. Visit auto.dev and sign up/sign in
2. Go to your dashboard to get your API key
3. The Starter plan includes 1,000 free API calls per month

2. Add Your API Key

Open the .env file in your CarFinder directory and replace:

AUTO_DEV_API_KEY=your_api_key_here

With your actual API key:

AUTO_DEV_API_KEY=sk-your-actual-api-key-here

3. Restart the Application

After adding your API key:

1. Stop the current Streamlit app (Ctrl+C in terminal)
2. Restart it: python -m streamlit run app/main_live.py

🚀 How It Works

With Live Data Toggle ON:

• Auto.dev API Available: Uses real vehicle listings from Auto.dev
• Auto.dev API Unavailable: Falls back to mock data sources (Cars.com, AutoTrader, CarGurus)

With Live Data Toggle OFF:

• Uses local database with sample vehicles
• Perfect for testing and offline use

📊 API Features

The Auto.dev integration provides:

• Real-time vehicle listings from US dealers
• Advanced filtering by make, model, year, price, mileage
• Detailed vehicle information including specifications, features, images
• Dealer contact information and listing URLs
• Geographic filtering by ZIP code and radius

🔍 Supported Parameters

The integration supports Auto.dev's full API parameters:

• vehicle.make - Vehicle manufacturer
• vehicle.model - Vehicle model
• vehicle.year - Model year (single year or range)
• retailListing.price - Price range (e.g., "10000-30000")
• vehicle.mileage - Mileage range (e.g., "0-50000")
• zip - ZIP code for location filtering
• distance - Radius in miles from ZIP code
• limit - Number of results (max 100 per request)

🎛️ UI Indicators

The application shows clear indicators:

• "🟢 Auto.dev API Active" when using real Auto.dev data
• "🔴 Using Mock Data Sources" when falling back to mock sources
• "📊 Local Database Only" when live data is disabled

🐛 Troubleshooting

API Key Issues

• Ensure no extra spaces in the API key
• Verify the key starts with appropriate prefix (usually sk-)
• Check your Auto.dev dashboard for API usage and limits

Connection Issues

• Check internet connection
• Verify Auto.dev service status
• API may have rate limits - check your plan limits

Data Issues

• Auto.dev returns real market data, so results vary by location and availability
• Use the ZIP code filter for location-specific results
• Mock data sources provide consistent test data when Auto.dev is unavailable

📈 Performance Notes

• Auto.dev API calls count against your monthly limit
• Mock data sources are always available as fallback
• Local database provides instant responses for testing
• The application caches results to minimize API calls

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✅ Current Status

• ✅ Auto.dev API integration code complete
• ✅ Proper error handling and fallbacks implemented
• ✅ Mock data sources working as backup
• ✅ Local database integration functional
• 🔄 Waiting for your API key to activate Auto.dev

Once you add your API key, you'll have access to millions of real vehicle listings!