A car2db alternative, if you need makes and models more than specs
car2db sells a car specifications database as a file or an API. VehiclesDB is an open make and model list from official registers, with motorcycles, vans, trucks and buses in the same file. Here's when each one fits.
car2db is a car database you buy. Its site describes a "109K+ Vehicles" database with "80+ Technical Specs", delivered as a MySQL dump and CSV tables, an Excel sheet or an API, updated monthly, with stable record ids and date_create / date_update fields. Most of the data starts in 1972 (read on November 10, 2026). It's a reasonable product if you need specs per car.
If you're looking for an alternative, it's often because you need something it doesn't do in one place: motorcycles, vans or trucks in the same list as cars, a licence you can read in one line, or just the make and model, free. That's what this page compares. We're VehiclesDB, so read it as our view, with the sources linked.
What car2db costs
From the car2db.com product page on November 10, 2026:
| Product | Price |
|---|---|
| Car database, one-off (MySQL dump + CSV) | $95 |
| Car database, 12-month subscription | $428 ($36 a month) |
| Excel sheet (XLSX) | $190 |
| API | $49 a month |
| Trucks, trailers and buses; motorcycles; logos; tractors | Separate products |
We couldn't find display or redistribution rights on the product page, which points to its terms of service. If you plan to show the data on a public site or ship it inside your product, read those terms first.
What VehiclesDB is instead
A make and model catalog built from the official vehicle registers of these countries, with one id space for cars, motorcycles, mopeds, vans, trucks and buses. A Scania truck, a Yamaha motorcycle and a Mercedes-Benz bus sit in the same file as a Dacia: R Series, MT-07, Citaro, Sandero.
Each model carries its kind, its body type if it's a car, the countries where the registers have it, its popularity there, its aliases and a canonical id that survives renames. The list comes as CSV, JSON, Parquet or SQLite, free with an account, under CC-BY 4.0: use it commercially, store it, display it, with a visible credit.
On top of the file, the car API has search, the make and model dropdown (its requests cost 0 credits), and a resolver that maps messy strings like "MERCEDES-BENZ | 300 TDT" to canonical ids.
Side by side
| car2db | VehiclesDB | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Car specifications database | Make and model identity catalog |
| Technical specs | Yes, "80+" per its site | No |
| Generations, series, trims | Yes: make, model, generation, series, trim, equipment | Not published yet (on the roadmap) |
| Motorcycles, vans, trucks, buses | Separate products | Same file, same ids |
| Source | Not stated on the product page | National registration registers, cited per country |
| Price | $95 one-off, $428 a year, API $49 a month | List free; make and model API calls 0 credits |
| Licence | Its terms of service | CC-BY 4.0, credit required |
| Formats | MySQL, CSV, XLSX, API | CSV, JSON, Parquet, SQLite, API, Ruby gem |
Pick car2db when
- You need technical specifications per car: engine, dimensions, performance.
- You need the generation and trim hierarchy today.
- A one-off file with specs is worth $95 to you and you don't need other vehicle kinds.
Pick VehiclesDB when
- Your form, classifieds site or app needs the make and model, done right for your country.
- You also list motorcycles, vans or trucks and want one list and one id scheme.
- You need to know you may display and keep the data: CC-BY 4.0 says so in one line.
- You want to try everything before paying anything.
If you need both, they combine: many sites use our list for the make and model step and a spec source behind it. See the vehicle data provider comparison for the other spec vendors.
Questions people ask
What does car2db sell?
car2db sells a car database as a MySQL dump and CSV tables ($95 once, or $428 for a 12-month subscription), an Excel file ($190) and an API ($49 a month). It says it has over 109,000 vehicles and more than 80 technical specs, with most data from 1972 on. Trucks, buses, motorcycles and logos are sold as separate products (read on car2db.com on November 10, 2026).
Is there a free alternative to car2db?
For makes and models, yes: the VehiclesDB list is free with an account under CC-BY 4.0, covering cars, motorcycles, mopeds, vans, trucks and buses. It does not include technical specs, so if you need engine, dimensions or performance figures, car2db or a spec vendor is still the right tool.
Can I use the VehiclesDB data on a commercial website?
Yes. CC-BY 4.0 lets you use, store and display the make and model list commercially, as long as you show a visible credit. The dropdown widget renders that credit for you.
Does VehiclesDB have generations, engines or trims?
Not yet. They are the most requested addition and are on the roadmap. Today each model has its kind, body type for cars, the years the registers have it on record, the countries where it is registered and its popularity there.