EnCarAPI: Python client for Korean and Chinese used car data

Official Python client for EnCarAPI, the REST Encar API and Korean Car API. One package for:

• Korea: Encar.com, KB Chachacha (source="kbc") and K Car (source="kcar"), with photos, specs, options, inspection reports, accident and ownership records, condition reports, price history, a change feed and full catalog export.
• China: Dongchedi and Che168 in English via ChinaCarAPI (separate key or the China add-on for EnCarAPI keys).

Built for car exporters, dealers and marketplaces that need reliable used car data without scraping, proxies or geo-blocks.

An API key is required. The data is a paid service. Get a key (5-day trial) at encarapi.com.

Install

pip install encarapi

Requires Python 3.8+ and requests.

Quick start

from encarapi import EnCarAPI

client = EnCarAPI("YOUR_API_KEY")  # or set ENCARAPI_KEY

# Search Korean listings with flat English filters
cars = client.korea.catalog(
    manufacturer="Hyundai",
    max_mileage=60000,
    frame_clean=True,   # accident-free chassis only
    lang="en",
    count=True,
)
print(cars["Count"], cars["SearchResults"][0])

# Full detail, inspection report and insurance record for one car
detail = client.korea.vehicle("12345678")
inspection = client.korea.inspection("12345678")
record = client.korea.record("12345678")

# KB Chachacha and K Car listings, or all three marketplaces deduplicated
kbc = client.korea.catalog(source="kbc", limit=20)
everything = client.korea.catalog(source="all", count=True)

# Chinese listings (Dongchedi + Che168)
byd = client.china.catalog(make="BYD", export_ready=True, limit=25)

Keep a local copy in sync (Business / Scale)

csv_text = client.korea.export_csv()          # 1) baseline

for change in client.korea.iterate_changes(cursor=saved_cursor or 0):   # 2) deltas
    # change["type"]: "added" | "updated" | "reappeared" | "removed"
    ...
save_cursor(client.korea.last_cursor)

The China API works the same way (client.china); its events are {"id", "source", "vehicleId", "type": "new" | "price" | "removed" | "relisted", "oldPrice", "newPrice", "at"}:

for change in client.china.iterate_changes(cursor=saved_cursor or 0):
    # change["type"]: "new" | "price" | "removed" | "relisted"
    ...
save_cursor(client.china.last_cursor)

Korea API (client.korea)

Method	Endpoint	Notes
catalog(**params)	GET /api/catalog	Search & list. source: encar (default), kbc, kcar, all
iterate_catalog(**params)	GET /api/catalog	Generator over all pages
leasing(**params)	GET /api/catalog/leasing	Lease takeovers and rentals
nav(**params)	GET /api/nav	Filter facets with counts
enums(**params)	GET /api/enums	Valid values for the flat filters
model_search(search, **params)	GET /api/model-search	Model autocomplete
vehicle(id)	GET /api/vehicle/{id}	Ids: Encar id, kbc:<id>, kcar:<id>
inspection(id)	GET /api/inspection/{id}	Official inspection report
record(id)	GET /api/record/{id}	Accident & ownership record
refresh(id)	POST /api/vehicle/{id}/refresh	On-demand refresh (daily quota)
price_check(id)	GET /api/price-check/{id}	Market estimate (beta, Scale)
bulk_vehicles(ids) / bulk_inspections(ids) / bulk_records(ids)	POST /api/.../bulk	Up to 500 ids (Business/Scale)
inspection_versions(id) / record_versions(id)	GET /api/.../versions	Report history (Business/Scale)
changes(**params) / iterate_changes(**params)	GET /api/catalog/changes	Incremental sync (Business/Scale)
export_csv()	GET /api/catalog/export	Full catalog CSV (Business/Scale)
makes_csv() / models_csv() / badges_csv()	GET /api/taxonomy/*.csv	Reference data

China API (client.china)

Method	Endpoint	Notes
catalog(**params)	GET /api/catalog	make, price_min/max (CNY), export_ready, sort, ...
iterate_catalog(**params)	GET /api/catalog	Generator over all pages (up to the 10,000-result depth limit)
vehicle(id)	GET /api/vehicle/{id}	Price history, photos, seller, export status
inspection(id)	GET /api/inspection/{id}	Accident, flood and fire checks, EV battery data
bulk_vehicles(ids)	POST /api/vehicle/bulk	Up to 500 ids
changes(**params) / iterate_changes(**params)	GET /api/catalog/changes	Change feed (Business/Scale)
export_csv()	GET /api/catalog/export	Full catalog CSV
enums() / models(make)	GET /api/enums, /api/models	Filter values, models per make

China only? from encarapi import ChinaCarAPI (also available as the chinacarapi package).

Errors

Every failed request raises EnCarAPIError with status and the raw body. A 403 on a plan-gated endpoint includes an upgrade hint from the API.

from encarapi import EnCarAPIError

try:
    client.korea.changes(cursor=0)
except EnCarAPIError as e:
    if e.status == 403:
        print("Plan does not include this endpoint:", e.body)

Links

• Website and pricing: encarapi.com
• Documentation: encarapi.com/documentation
• OpenAPI reference: https://api.encarapi.com/reference
• China data: chinacarapi.com
• Node.js client: https://github.com/ThatMojo/encarapi-node

EnCarAPI is an independent service and not affiliated with Encar, KB Chachacha, K Car, Dongchedi or Che168.

License

MIT