Vehicle Recall Check API

Bring recall checks into the systems your business uses to buy, manage and sell vehicles. The One Auto API Vehicle Recall Check API helps dealers, auctions, buying platforms, fleet operators and vehicle history providers identify outstanding recalls and take appropriate action.

Recall information supports decisions throughout a vehicle’s lifecycle. Buyers need to understand potential issues before acquisition. Dealers need to check stock before sale. Fleet operators need to protect drivers and plan remedial work. Franchised workshops can use recall data to reconnect with customers and fill available capacity.

We offer three UK checking options using official VIN-level sources, DVSA and SMMT, plus a US recall report covering NHTSA recalls and manufacturer voluntary service campaigns.

Three recall check options for the UK

UK recall checks are supported by two official sources with different coverage.  Selecting the right service helps your application retrieve useful results and recognise when further enquiries are needed.

DVSA recall check

DVSA data identifies where a vehicle has an outstanding recall via a VIN-level database - provided by OEMs - flagging where it is known the vehicle has an outstanding recall,  enabling a user to make further enquiries. 

SMMT recall check

The SMMT option provides VIN-level recall information for participating manufacturers, including brands that may not be covered by the DVSA source.  Where available, it also provides details of outstanding recalls, helping users understand what requires attention.

Combined recall check

Our Combined Recall Check is a dual-source check,  designed to maximise coverage.  Importantly, it also identifies vehicles from manufacturers not covered by either data source.

This distinction prevents unavailable information from being mistaken for confirmation that no recalls are outstanding. Your system can flag those vehicles for a manual manufacturer or franchised dealer enquiry, keeping exceptions visible within an otherwise automated process.

Check vehicles before stock acquisition

Recall checks help auctions, dealers and vehicle buying platforms understand a vehicle before it is purchased or sold.

An auction platform can incorporate recall status into vehicle information supplied to trade buyers. A buying service can check a vehicle during appraisal, while a dealer can assess a part-exchange alongside its history, condition, valuation and recall status.

Early visibility allows teams to consider the financial impact of remedial work, workshop and parts availability,  and extra days in stock.  

Recheck inventory before sale

Acquisition checks are only one stage of the process. A recall can be announced while a vehicle is in stock, so an earlier result may no longer reflect its current status.

Integrating the Vehicle Recall Check API into inventory management and pre-sale processes helps teams identify outstanding work before handover. Selling a vehicle with an unresolved recall can have serious safety, customer trust and commercial consequences, particularly when the issue affects safe use.

A consistent workflow can flag affected vehicles, route them for review and record the action taken. Checking again before sale helps ensure decisions use current information.

Make vehicle history reports more useful

Used car buyers want to understand whether a vehicle needs attention as well as what happened in its past. Recall information adds an actionable element to a vehicle history report.

Providers can show outstanding recall status and available details, helping buyers identify when work needs completing.  Where a manufacturer is out of scope, the report can explain that further enquiries are required - or direct the consumer to an online recall check. 

Clear presentation helps buyers distinguish between an outstanding recall, no outstanding recall identified and a vehicle that cannot be checked through the available sources.

Support fleet duty of care and disposal planning

Fleet operators can integrate recall checks into onboarding and ongoing vehicle management, supporting their duty of care towards drivers.

Identifying affected vehicles helps teams arrange remedial work and plan around operational requirements. This is especially useful across mixed fleets, where vehicles from many manufacturers need to be managed consistently.

Recall checks also support remarketing performance.  Identifying outstanding work ahead of disposal gives operators time to arrange completion, reducing last-minute disruption. Vehicles presented with no outstanding recalls can support smoother sales and better disposal returns by removing delays to onward sale for prospective buyers.

Create targeted workshop campaigns

Franchised dealers can check their existing customer database to identify vehicles with outstanding recalls and contact owners about relevant work.

This creates a practical reason to reconnect with customers, including those who have stopped returning for servicing. Campaigns can help improve retention and maximise workshop utilisation by turning vehicle-specific findings into relevant booking invitations.

US recalls and manufacturer service campaigns

In the US, we offer a single recall report endpoint for all brands, identifying NHTSA safety recalls and manufacturer voluntary service campaigns.

Dealers can screen customer records to uncover workshop opportunities and check trade-ins during valuation. Including voluntary campaigns broadens visibility beyond safety recalls, helping teams identify additional manufacturer-supported work and potential revenue.

We can help you select the right UK or US recall service and integrate it into your acquisition, inventory, reporting, fleet or aftersales processes.

Choose the endpoints your business needs and add more as your requirements grow.  Explore our plans and pricing.