Cars.com Scraper

Extract comprehensive vehicle listings from Cars.com with powerful search filters and structured data output.

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Overview

Cars.com Scraper extracts vehicle listings from Cars.com, one of the largest online automotive marketplaces. Get structured data for new, used, and certified pre-owned vehicles including prices, mileage, dealer information, images, and direct listing links.

Key Features

• Flexible Search - Filter by make, model, year, price, mileage, and location
• Location-Based - Search by ZIP code with customizable radius
• Complete Data - Vehicle details, pricing, dealer info, ratings, and images
• Multiple Export Formats - JSON, CSV, Excel, and more
• Automatic Pagination - Scrape all matching listings across pages
• Anti-Bot Bypass - Reliable data extraction with advanced evasion

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Quick Start

1. Click Start in Apify Console
2. Enter your search parameters (ZIP code, make, model, etc.)
3. Set maximum listings to scrape
4. Click Run and download your data

Example Input

{
  "zipCode": "90210",
  "stockType": "new",
  "make": "Toyota",
  "model": "Camry",
  "maxDistance": 50,
  "maxListings": 100
}

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Input Parameters

Parameter	Type	Description
searchUrl	String	Direct Cars.com search URL (overrides other filters)
zipCode	String	US ZIP code for location search (default: 60606)
stockType	Enum	Vehicle condition: all, new, used, cpo
make	String	Vehicle manufacturer (Toyota, Honda, Ford, etc.)
model	String	Vehicle model (Camry, Civic, F-150, etc.)
maxDistance	Integer	Search radius in miles (10-9999)
priceMin	Integer	Minimum price filter
priceMax	Integer	Maximum price filter
yearMin	Integer	Minimum model year
yearMax	Integer	Maximum model year
mileageMax	Integer	Maximum mileage filter
maxListings	Integer	Maximum vehicles to scrape (default: 20)
sortBy	Enum	Sort order (best match, price, mileage, year)
proxyConfiguration	Object	Proxy settings for reliable scraping

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Output Data

Each vehicle listing includes:

{
  "title": "2024 Toyota Camry SE",
  "price": "$28,500",
  "msrp": "MSRP $29,995",
  "stockType": "New",
  "mileage": "15 mi",
  "dealer": "AutoNation Toyota",
  "dealerRating": "4.8 (245 reviews)",
  "location": "Chicago, IL (5 mi away)",
  "imageUrl": "https://...",
  "url": "https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/...",
  "scrapedAt": "2024-01-15T10:30:00.000Z"
}

Output Fields

Field	Description
title	Year, make, model, and trim
price	Listed price
msrp	Manufacturer suggested retail price
stockType	New, Used, or Certified Pre-Owned
mileage	Odometer reading
dealer	Dealership name
dealerRating	Dealer rating and review count
location	City, state, and distance
imageUrl	Primary vehicle image URL
url	Direct link to vehicle detail page
scrapedAt	ISO timestamp of extraction

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Use Cases

Automotive Market Research

Track vehicle pricing trends, compare dealer inventory, and analyze market conditions across regions.

Price Comparison Tools

Build vehicle price comparison applications with real-time market data.

Inventory Monitoring

Monitor competitor dealer inventory and receive alerts when specific vehicles become available.

Car Buying Assistance

Help buyers find the best deals by aggregating listings across dealers and locations.

Data Analysis

Export vehicle data for statistical analysis of pricing, mileage, and market trends.

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Usage Examples

Search New Toyota Vehicles

{
  "zipCode": "10001",
  "stockType": "new",
  "make": "Toyota",
  "maxDistance": 100,
  "maxListings": 50
}

Find Used Cars Under $20,000

{
  "zipCode": "60606",
  "stockType": "used",
  "priceMax": 20000,
  "yearMin": 2020,
  "maxListings": 100
}

Certified Pre-Owned Honda Civic

{
  "zipCode": "90210",
  "stockType": "cpo",
  "make": "Honda",
  "model": "Civic",
  "maxDistance": 50,
  "maxListings": 30
}

Direct URL Scraping

{
  "searchUrl": "https://www.cars.com/shopping/results/?stock_type=new&makes[]=bmw&zip=33101",
  "maxListings": 100
}

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Integration

API Access

$curl "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/YOUR_ACTOR_ID/runs/last/dataset/items?token=YOUR_TOKEN"

JavaScript

import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

const client = new ApifyClient({ token: 'YOUR_TOKEN' });
const run = await client.actor('YOUR_ACTOR_ID').call({
    zipCode: '90210',
    stockType: 'new',
    make: 'Tesla',
    maxListings: 50
});

const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
console.log(items);

Python

from apify_client import ApifyClient

client = ApifyClient('YOUR_TOKEN')
run = client.actor('YOUR_ACTOR_ID').call(run_input={
    'zipCode': '90210',
    'stockType': 'new',
    'make': 'Tesla',
    'maxListings': 50
})

items = client.dataset(run['defaultDatasetId']).list_items().items
print(items)

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Scheduling

Automate data collection by scheduling regular runs:

1. Navigate to Schedules in Apify Console
2. Create a schedule (hourly, daily, weekly)
3. Configure your search parameters
4. Enable notifications for run completion

Integration Options

• Webhooks - Trigger actions on completion
• Zapier/Make - Connect to thousands of apps
• Google Sheets - Auto-export to spreadsheets
• Slack/Discord - Get notifications with results

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Performance

Run Size	Approximate Time
20 vehicles	1-2 minutes
100 vehicles	3-5 minutes
500 vehicles	10-15 minutes

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FAQ

How many vehicles can I scrape?

Set maxListings to 0 for unlimited scraping. Large runs may take longer to complete.

Do I need proxies?

Proxies are recommended for reliable scraping. The actor includes built-in proxy support via Apify.

Can I scrape multiple locations?

Each run targets one ZIP code. Schedule multiple runs for different locations.

How often is the data updated?

Data is extracted in real-time from Cars.com. Schedule regular runs to keep data fresh.

What if a vehicle has no price listed?

The scraper returns "Contact for price" when pricing information is not displayed.

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Support

• Documentation: Apify Docs
• Community: Discord
• Issues: Report via Apify Console feedback

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License

Apache License 2.0