Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

What is the AutoElite API?

The AutoElite API is a RESTful API that provides programmatic access to vehicle inventory, dealer information, and other resources. It allows developers to build applications that interact with the AutoElite platform.

Who can use the AutoElite API?

The API is available to:

  • Authorized dealers
  • Third-party developers with permission
  • Internal AutoElite applications

Is the API free to use?

Basic API access is included with all dealer accounts. Advanced features and higher rate limits may require additional subscription tiers.

Authentication

How do I get an API key?

API keys can be obtained from the AutoElite Admin Portal. Navigate to "API Keys" in the sidebar and click "Create API Key".

Can I use the same API key for multiple applications?

While technically possible, it's recommended to create separate API keys for each application for better security and monitoring.

What happens if an API key is compromised?

Immediately revoke the compromised key and create a new one. Review your API logs for any unauthorized access.

Do API keys expire?

API keys only expire if you set an expiration date when creating or editing them.

Technical Questions

What is the rate limit for API requests?

Rate limits depend on the application type:

  • Web applications: 100 requests per minute
  • Desktop applications: 300 requests per minute
  • Mobile applications: 200 requests per minute

How do I handle pagination for large result sets?

Use the limit and offset parameters to paginate through results:

GET /api/vehicles?limit=10&offset=0

Can I filter vehicles by specific criteria?

Yes, the vehicles endpoint supports filtering by various parameters:

  • status: Filter by status (available, sold, pending)
  • featured: Filter by featured status (true, false)
  • dealer_id: Filter by dealer ID

How do I upload vehicle images?

Vehicle images should be uploaded to your own storage solution first, then you can add the image URL to a vehicle using the vehicle images endpoint.

Dealer-Specific Access

How does dealer-specific access control work?

When an API key is associated with a specific dealer, the API automatically:

  1. Filters results to only show data belonging to that dealer
  2. Rejects attempts to access data from other dealers
  3. Automatically assigns new data to the correct dealer
  4. Restricts updates to data owned by the dealer

Can a dealer access another dealer's data?

No, dealer-specific API keys can only access data belonging to the associated dealer. This is enforced at the API level.

Do I need to manually filter data by dealer ID?

No, if you're using a dealer-specific API key, the API automatically handles filtering. You don't need to include the dealer_id parameter in your requests.

Troubleshooting

Why am I getting 401 Unauthorized errors?

This typically means your API key is invalid, revoked, or expired. Verify that you're using the correct API key and that it's still active.

Why am I getting 403 Forbidden errors?

This means your API key doesn't have permission to access the requested resource. For dealer-specific API keys, this could also mean you're trying to access data from another dealer.

Why am I getting 429 Too Many Requests errors?

You've exceeded the rate limit for your API key. Implement caching and optimize your code to reduce the number of API calls, or contact us for a higher rate limit.