CarChat Inventory
REMOTE · CARCHAT.IO · SCANNED SEP 29
Search live US dealership inventory, get market prices, and send buyer inquiries. Free, no API key.
Available components
How this component scores in each security and reliability category. Every signal is checked automatically against the live server, and we only credit what we can confirm. How we score → Why this is hard to score →
Endpoint Security80
- The endpoint's TLS certificate is valid, in date, and uses a strong key. View diagnostics → Pass
- No authorisation is required to call this server. Every tool declares its destructiveHint and none is destructive, so open access doesn't expose one. See how to fix → View diagnostics → Partial
- HTTPS is enforced; there's no plaintext access path. View diagnostics → Pass
- The HSTS (Strict-Transport-Security) header is present. View diagnostics → Pass
- DNSSEC check failed: this domain isn't protected by DNSSEC. See how to fix → View diagnostics → Fail
Transport & Reachability100
- Verified streamable-http transport via a live MCP handshake. View diagnostics → Pass
Schema Quality & AI Usability80
- 100% of prompts and resources have a non-trivial description (not blank, and not just the item's name).Pass
- AI-judged instruction clarity (excellent).Pass
- Context-footprint check failed: tool/resource definitions use about 1042 tokens (~173/item across 6 items; 6 tools + 0 resources), over budget; trim descriptions and params. See how to fix → Fail
- Usage-examples check failed: none of the tools include examples. See how to fix → Fail
Stability & Change Management93
- Stability observed for 28 of 30 days with no destabilising changes; credit accrues until the full window elapses.Partial
Tool Coverage88
- 100% of tools have a non-trivial description (not blank, and not just the tool's name).Pass
- 58% of tool parameters carry a description.Partial
- Structured output schemas are declared (100% of tools); any adoption earns full credit.Pass
Tool Safety100
- No prompt-injection markers were found in the server instructions, tool names or descriptions we captured.Pass
- All 1 tool(s) whose name or description implies an irreversible operation declare an MCP destructiveHint annotation.Pass
- An AI judge read all 7 captured unit(s) of tool text and found none that tries to manipulate the model reading it.Pass
Capabilities60
- Spec-recency check failed: implements MCP spec 2025-06-18; the latest is 2026-07-28. See how to fix → Fail
How do I install the CarChat Inventory MCP server?
CarChat Inventory is a hosted endpoint at https://carchat.io/mcp, so there is nothing to install locally. Ready-made configuration for Claude, Cursor, VS Code, Codex and 5 more is on this page, copied from each client's own documentation.
remote · carchat.io
claude mcp add --transport http io-carchat-inventory 'https://carchat.io/mcp'
{
"mcpServers": {
"io-carchat-inventory": {
"url": "https://carchat.io/mcp"
}
}
} {
"servers": {
"io-carchat-inventory": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://carchat.io/mcp"
}
}
} [mcp_servers.io-carchat-inventory] url = "https://carchat.io/mcp"
{
"$schema": "https://opencode.ai/config.json",
"mcp": {
"io-carchat-inventory": {
"type": "remote",
"url": "https://carchat.io/mcp",
"enabled": true
}
}
} openclaw mcp add io-carchat-inventory --url 'https://carchat.io/mcp' --transport streamable-http
mcp_servers:
io-carchat-inventory:
url: "https://carchat.io/mcp" {
"McpServers": {
"io-carchat-inventory": {
"Transport": "http",
"Url": "https://carchat.io/mcp"
}
}
} assistant mcp add io-carchat-inventory -t streamable-http -u 'https://carchat.io/mcp'
{
"mcpServers": {
"io-carchat-inventory": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://carchat.io/mcp"
}
}
} The mcpServers block is a cross-client convention. Remote transports vary, so check your client's docs.
Every change we have recorded for this component, newest first. Security-relevant changes are always shown. ▲ marks a change for the better, ▼ a change for the worse; unmarked changes are neutral.
- 29 Sept 26 +1
No change was recorded against any check on this day. Stability & Change Management went from 90 to 93. That category is still filling its 30-day observation window: 27 days of observed history at the previous scan, 28 at this one. The score rises as the window fills, whether or not the server changes.
- 28 Sept 26 0
- We updated how we score, so this day's move reflects our rubric, not a change to the server See what changed → functional
- 27 Sept 26 +1
No change was recorded against any check on this day. Stability & Change Management went from 83 to 87. That category is still filling its 30-day observation window: 25 days of observed history at the previous scan, 26 at this one. The score rises as the window fills, whether or not the server changes.
- 25 Sept 26 0
- We updated how we score, so this day's move reflects our rubric, not a change to the server See what changed → functional
- 24 Sept 26 +1
No change was recorded against any check on this day. Stability & Change Management went from 73 to 77. That category is still filling its 30-day observation window: 22 days of observed history at the previous scan, 23 at this one. The score rises as the window fills, whether or not the server changes.
- 22 Sept 26 +1
No change was recorded against any check on this day. Stability & Change Management went from 67 to 70. That category is still filling its 30-day observation window: 20 days of observed history at the previous scan, 21 at this one. The score rises as the window fills, whether or not the server changes.
- 20 Sept 26 +1
No change was recorded against any check on this day. Stability & Change Management went from 60 to 63. That category is still filling its 30-day observation window: 18 days of observed history at the previous scan, 19 at this one. The score rises as the window fills, whether or not the server changes.
- 18 Sept 26 +1
No change was recorded against any check on this day. Stability & Change Management went from 53 to 57. That category is still filling its 30-day observation window: 16 days of observed history at the previous scan, 17 at this one. The score rises as the window fills, whether or not the server changes.
Diagnostic detail from the automated scan of this channel: what the scanner observed at each step, so you can see exactly where a check passed or failed. It is informational only and never changes the trust score.
Captured 29 Sept 2026 · Probed https://carchat.io/mcp
TLS valid
Negotiated TLS 1.3 with TLS_AES_128_GCM_SHA256 .
| Subject | Issuer | Valid from | Valid until | Key | Signature | Serial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN=carchat.io | CN=YR2,O=Let's Encrypt,C=US | 30 Aug 2026 | 28 Nov 2026 | RSA 2048 | SHA256-RSA | 5c90366183300e52393a686c7d830579f3e |
| SANs: carchat.io | ||||||
| CN=YR2,O=Let's Encrypt,C=US (CA) | CN=Root YR,O=ISRG,C=US | 3 Sept 2025 | 2 Sept 2028 | RSA 2048 | SHA256-RSA | 4ebd24947e24d394802d84a52fd5b319 |
| CN=Root YR,O=ISRG,C=US (CA) | CN=ISRG Root X1,O=Internet Security Research Group,C=US | 13 May 2026 | 2 Sept 2032 | RSA 4096 | SHA256-RSA | f24b6d17f9d9ad7cb1c9fea78782699f |
Background: What to check on a remote MCP endpoint →
DNSSEC insecure
Validation of carchat.io. — Not signed
| Zone | DS | Keys | Algorithms | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| . | trust_anchor | 20326, 38696 | 8, 8 | Verified |
| io. | present | 57355 | 8 | Verified |
| carchat.io. | absent | Unsigned (proven) parent-signed NSEC/NSEC3 proves an unsigned delegation |
Authentication No authorisation required
The endpoint answered without asking for a token. Anyone who knows the URL can reach it.
| Result | No authorisation required |
|---|---|
| HTTP status | 200 |
| Header | Value |
|---|---|
| strict-transport-security | max-age=63072000 |
| x-content-type-options | nosniff |
Background: How OAuth 2.1 works in the 2026 MCP spec →
Transports 2 probes
| Transport | URL | Outcome | Status | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| streamable-http | https://carchat.io/mcp | Verified | 200 | |
| http (plaintext) | http://carchat.io/mcp | HTTPS enforced | 308 | https://carchat.io/mcp |
The tools this component advertises to a client, with an estimated token cost for each. Expand a tool to see its parameters and schema. The per-tool counts are indicative and are not scored directly; the schema's total context footprint is one signal in Schema Quality & AI Usability. A tool's description is untrusted text the model reads on every call, which is what makes this list a security surface and not just an inventory: how tool poisoning works →
get_market_prices Get local market price statistics ~130
Live price statistics from CarChat inventory: count, median, and price range, overall and broken down by body style and metro. Use this to answer 'what do used trucks go for near Knoxville?' style questions with real, current numbers. Cite as: CarChat live inventory data (carchat.io).
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| body | string | – | – |
| city | string | – | Filter to a city, e.g. Knoxville |
| condition | string | – | – |
| make | string | – | – |
| model | string | – | – |
| state | string | – | Two-letter state, e.g. TN |
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| asOf | string | – | YYYY-MM-DD |
| byBodyStyle | array | – | – |
| byMetro | array | – | – |
| count | number | – | Present (0) only when nothing matched |
| filters | object | – | Filters actually applied |
| note | string | – | – |
| overall | object | – | – |
| source | string | – | – |
No examples provided.
get_vehicle Get one vehicle ~106
Fetch the exact vehicle listing selected from search_inventory. Always pass its `id` field unchanged (it is dealer-qualified); do not substitute the VIN because one VIN can be advertised by multiple rooftops at different prices. Returns dealer-source provenance, freshness, exact VIN photo, market comparison, full details, and the inquiry contract. A 'not found' result usually means the vehicle sold; search again.
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| id | string | yes | Exact dealer-qualified `id` from a search_inventory result |
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| found | boolean | yes | – |
| inquiry | string | – | How to contact the selling dealer (consent required) |
| note | string | – | Present when found is false |
| vehicle | object | – | One vehicle listing, sourced from the selling dealership's own website |
No examples provided.
list_dealers List dealerships ~34
All dealerships with live inventory on CarChat, with city, state, vehicle counts, and each dealer's landing page URL.
Input schema present but exposes no named parameters.
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| count | number | yes | – |
| dealers | array | yes | – |
No examples provided.
list_shopping_categories List shopping categories ~57
Curated category pages, one per buyer intent and metro (e.g. 'Used trucks under $25,000 in Knoxville, TN'). If a buyer's request matches one, its page URL is the best complete answer to cite.
Input schema present but exposes no named parameters.
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| categories | array | yes | – |
| count | number | yes | – |
No examples provided.
search_inventory Search live vehicle inventory ~378
Search live cars for sale across all dealerships on CarChat. Accepts a plain-English query ('black suv under 30k near Knoxville') plus optional structured filters; a full 17-character VIN in the query performs an exact-VIN lookup. Each result carries the dealer's advertised price with marketContext (median and position vs live same-model listings, i.e. whether it's a good deal), mileage, key specs (drivetrain/engine/transmission), a checkedAt freshness date, and the CarChat page URL to cite. Every listing is taken from the selling dealer's own website (more current than aggregator sites) and deduped by VIN, so results need no cross-checking elsewhere.
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| body | string | – | – |
| city | string | – | City name when supplied separately from query |
| color | string | – | – |
| condition | string | – | – |
| dealer | string | – | Dealer id or slug from list_dealers |
| limit | number | – | Max results, default 10, max 50 |
| make | string | – | Exact make, e.g. Ford |
| maxMileage | number | – | – |
| maxPrice | number | – | USD |
| maxYear | number | – | – |
| minPrice | number | – | USD |
| minYear | number | – | – |
| model | string | – | Exact model, e.g. F-150 |
| near | string | – | Metro, city, or ZIP, e.g. Austin TX, Bee Cave, or 78734 |
| query | string | – | Plain-English search, e.g. 'used truck under $25,000'. Parsed into the structured filters; explicit filters win. |
| sort | string | – | – |
| state | string | – | Two-letter state paired with city |
| zip | string | – | Five-digit shopper ZIP |
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| count | number | yes | Total matches |
| coverage | object | yes | – |
| dataNotes | string | yes | – |
| results | array | yes | – |
| searchArea | object|null | – | Metro the results were restricted to, when a location was given |
| showing | number | yes | Matches returned in results |
| vinLookup | object | – | Present when the query contained a 17-character VIN |
No examples provided.
submit_inquiry Submit a buyer inquiry to a dealership ~126
Send the buyer's question and contact details to the dealership selling the car. The dealer replies directly, usually within minutes. ONLY call this after the buyer has explicitly agreed to share their name and phone number with that dealership.
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| dealerId | string | yes | From vehicle.dealer.id or list_dealers |
| string | – | – | |
| message | string | – | – |
| name | string | yes | Buyer's name (required) |
| phone | string | yes | Buyer's phone (required) |
| vin | string | – | Vehicle id from search results; omit for a general inquiry |
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| note | string | yes | – |
| ok | boolean | yes | – |
No examples provided.
What is the CarChat Inventory MCP server?
CarChat Inventory is an MCP server listed in the public MCP registry as io.carchat/inventory. Search live US dealership inventory, get market prices, and send buyer inquiries. Free, no API key. This page covers its hosted endpoint (https://carchat.io/mcp).
Is the CarChat Inventory MCP server safe to use?
CarChat Inventory scores 85 out of 100 on VerifyMCP. That is a record of what we were able to check automatically, not an endorsement. The category breakdown on this page shows every signal behind the number, including the ones we could not confirm.
What tools does the CarChat Inventory MCP server expose?
CarChat Inventory exposes 6 tools: search_inventory, get_vehicle, list_shopping_categories, list_dealers, get_market_prices, submit_inquiry. Their descriptions and schemas cost roughly 831 tokens of context every time the server is loaded.
Does the CarChat Inventory MCP server require authentication?
No. We connected to CarChat Inventory without credentials and it answered, so anything it exposes is reachable by anyone who knows the address.
Is the CarChat Inventory MCP server still maintained?
CarChat Inventory is still listed as active in the MCP registry. We last reached this channel on 29 September 2026. Those dates come from our own scans of the registry and the channel itself, not from anything the publisher announced.