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Overview

The Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) API offers a detailed breakdown of the costs associated with vehicle ownership. By providing the VIN and ZIP Code, you can receive a comprehensive breakdown of the costs involved in owning the vehicle, enabling informed purchasing decisions. In this guide, we’ll follow an example scenario:
Chris from Minnesota is considering buying a Toyota Tacoma and wants to estimate the total cost of ownership. He does not know what the all-in cost of taxes, fees, maintenance, repairs, insurance, etc.
To complete this scenario, you will need to:
  1. Find a vehicle
  2. Send a request
  3. Review the data

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Walkthrough

1

Find a vehicle

Chris searched online and found a Toyota Tacoma he wants to buy and gets the VIN.
3TYSZ5AN8PT104981
2

Send a request

Chris sends a request to the TCO API with the vehicle’s VIN and his ZIP code.
fetch("https://tco.vin/3TYSZ5AN8PT104981?zip=55414")
  .then((response) => response.json())
  .then((data) => console.log(data));
3

Review the data

Chris receives a response with detailed information about the total cost of ownership for the Toyota Tacoma. He reviews the data carefully before making any financial decisions, as it may impact sales, taxes, and other financial outcomes.
{
  "vehicle": {
    "vin": "3TYSZ5AN8PT104981",
    "year": "2023",
    "make": "Toyota",
    "model": "Tacoma"
  },
  "zip": "55414",
  "tco": {
    "total": {
      "taxesAndFees": 4435,
      ...
    },
    "years": {
      "1": {
        "insurance": 1300, // Estimated 1st year insurance costs
        "maintenance": 67, // Estimated maintenance costs
        "repairs": 0,
        "taxesAndFees": 3479, // Sales tax, and other fees
        "financeInterest": 2663, // Interest on a loan
        "depreciation": 8500, // Estimated loss in value
        "fuel": 3735, // Estimated fuel costs
        "tcoPrice": 19744, // Total cost of ownership for the 1st year
        "averageCostPerMile": 0.79 // Average cost per mile
      },
      ...
    }
  }
}
TCO data should always be reviewed to ensure its correctness.

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Summary

You have successfully used the Total Cost of Ownership API to estimate the costs associated with owning a vehicle based on the VIN and ZIP code. Chris now has a detailed breakdown of the costs associated with owning the Toyota Tacoma. This information will help him make an informed decision about his purchase.

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Next Steps

Review the API reference for the Total Cost of Ownership API

Reference – Total Cost of Ownership

Explore the Total Cost of Ownership API endpoint and parameters.