Terms of Service

Location: https://www.autoresourceco.com/terms

Last Updated: December 22, 2025

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using any Automotive Resource Co. service, including but not limited to the Battery Explorer website (www.autoresourceco.com), the VIN Lookup API, or related documentation (collectively, the "Services"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you are entering into these Terms on behalf of a company or other legal entity, you represent that you have the authority to bind that entity to these Terms.

2. Description of Services

Automotive Resource Co. provides the following services:

  • Battery Explorer: A web-based database for browsing electric vehicle battery packs, battery cells, and vehicle specifications. Certain data is publicly accessible; detailed technical specifications require a paid subscription.
  • VIN Lookup API: A programmatic interface for decoding Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) and retrieving vehicle electrification data and battery matching information.
  • Recycling Intelligence: Financial estimates for battery recycling based on commodity values and market pricing.

3. License and Permitted Use

Subject to your compliance with these Terms and payment of applicable fees, Automotive Resource Co. grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use the Services solely for:

  • Your internal business purposes; or
  • Displaying data to end-users of your applications in a manner that does not compete with the Services.

You may:

  • Use the Services to retrieve vehicle and battery data ("Data") to enrich your internal systems.
  • Display the Data to end-users within your software or website, provided you include clear attribution to Automotive Resource Co.
  • Store the Data transiently (temporarily in memory or cache for up to 24 hours) only as necessary to service a specific end-user request.

4. Prohibited Uses

You agree that you will not, whether through the API, Battery Explorer website, or any other means:

4.1 Data Misuse

  • Resale or Redistribution: Sell, rent, lease, sublicense, redistribute, or syndicate the Data in any form (raw, processed, or derived) to any third party.
  • Database Creation: Cache, store, archive, or aggregate the Data for the purpose of creating a database, dataset, reference library, or any data product—regardless of whether such product is commercial or non-commercial.
  • Competitive Use: Use the Data to build, enhance, or operate any product or service that competes with Automotive Resource Co.'s offerings.
  • AI/ML Training: Use the Data to train, fine-tune, improve, or validate any machine learning model, artificial intelligence system, large language model, or similar technology.

4.2 Technical Restrictions

  • Reverse Engineering: Reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, or attempt to derive the source code, underlying algorithms, resolution logic, matching methodologies, or data models of the Services.
  • Automated Access: Use web crawlers, scrapers, bots, spiders, data miners, or other automated means to access, extract, copy, download, or harvest any Data or content from the Services—whether through the API, website, or any other interface—except through API endpoints explicitly designed for batch operations and used within your subscription limits.
  • Circumvention: Circumvent, disable, or interfere with security features, access controls, rate limits, usage tracking, or subscription gating mechanisms of the Services.
  • Traffic Manipulation: Use any technique to artificially inflate usage metrics, manipulate trending algorithms, or game the relevance engine.

4.3 Account and Credential Misuse

  • Credential Sharing: Share your account credentials, API keys, or authentication tokens with any third party. You are responsible for maintaining the security and confidentiality of your credentials.
  • Multiple Accounts: Create multiple accounts to circumvent usage limits, subscription restrictions, or to gain unauthorized access to premium features.
  • Unauthorized Access: Access or attempt to access accounts, systems, or data belonging to other users or Automotive Resource Co.

5. Intellectual Property Rights

All content, data, software, algorithms, databases, APIs, user interfaces, designs, trademarks, and other intellectual property associated with the Services are and shall remain the exclusive property of Automotive Resource Co. or its licensors. Nothing in these Terms transfers any ownership rights to you. The compilation, organization, and presentation of the Data constitutes proprietary trade secrets and copyrightable work of Automotive Resource Co.

You acknowledge that unauthorized use, copying, or distribution of the Data may cause irreparable harm to Automotive Resource Co. for which monetary damages would be inadequate, and you consent to Automotive Resource Co. seeking injunctive or other equitable relief without the requirement of posting bond.

6. AI-Assisted Usage

If you access the Services through AI agents or automated tooling:

  • Full Responsibility: You are fully responsible for all queries initiated by AI agents configured with your credentials. You acknowledge that AI agents may generate high volumes of requests rapidly, and you are liable for all associated costs and usage.
  • Training Prohibition: You are strictly prohibited from using Data retrieved via the Services to train, fine-tune, improve, or evaluate any AI system, including the agent used to retrieve the Data.
  • Rate Limits Apply: AI agent usage counts toward your subscription limits and is subject to the same rate limiting as direct API access.

7. Subscription Tiers and Usage Limits

Access to certain features of the Services requires a paid subscription. Subscription tiers include:

  • Free: Limited access to public data and restricted feature usage.
  • Starter: 50 detail views per month, increased VIN lookups and recycling estimates.
  • Professional: Full feature access including API access and technical image galleries.
  • Enterprise: Unlimited usage across all features with dedicated support.

Usage limits reset monthly based on your billing cycle. Exceeding usage limits may result in temporary restriction of access until your next billing period or until you upgrade your subscription.

8. Fees and Payment

  • Billing: Fees are calculated based on your subscription tier and, for certain features, usage-based metering. API calls beyond your subscription allowance may incur additional charges.
  • Payment Processing: Payments are processed through Stripe. By subscribing, you agree to Stripe's terms of service.
  • Failed Payments: If your payment method fails, we reserve the right to immediately suspend your access to premium features and the API without notice.
  • No Refunds: All fees are non-refundable except as required by law. You are responsible for all charges incurred under your account.
  • Price Changes: We may modify pricing with 30 days' notice. Continued use after a price change constitutes acceptance of the new pricing.

9. Data Accuracy and Safety Disclaimer

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:

THE DATA PROVIDED THROUGH THE SERVICES (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO BATTERY CAPACITIES, VOLTAGE ARCHITECTURES, CHARGING SPEEDS, CELL SPECIFICATIONS, RECYCLING VALUES, AND VEHICLE INFORMATION) IS SOURCED FROM THIRD PARTIES AND PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE."

AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCE CO. MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, REGARDING THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, RELIABILITY, CURRENTNESS, OR SUITABILITY OF THE DATA FOR ANY PURPOSE.

YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT INCORRECT BATTERY OR VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS CAN LEAD TO SAFETY HAZARDS INCLUDING FIRE, EXPLOSION, OR ELECTRIC SHOCK. YOU AGREE THAT AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCE CO. SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INJURY, DEATH, PROPERTY DAMAGE, OR LOSSES ARISING FROM YOUR RELIANCE ON THE DATA FOR REPAIR, RECYCLING, REMANUFACTURING, VEHICLE PURCHASE, INSURANCE, OR ANY OTHER PURPOSE. ALWAYS VERIFY CRITICAL SPECIFICATIONS DIRECTLY WITH THE MANUFACTURER.

10. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, OR ACCURACY. AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCE CO. DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICES WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, SECURE, OR FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS.

11. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCE CO., ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, AND LICENSORS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, BUSINESS, OR GOODWILL, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THESE TERMS OR YOUR USE OF THE SERVICES.

AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCE CO.'S TOTAL CUMULATIVE LIABILITY ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO THESE TERMS SHALL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE TOTAL AMOUNT PAID BY YOU TO AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCE CO. IN THE THREE (3) MONTHS PRECEDING THE INCIDENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM, OR (B) ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100 USD).

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Automotive Resource Co. and its officers, directors, employees, agents, and licensors from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or in connection with: (a) your use of the Services; (b) your violation of these Terms; (c) your violation of any rights of a third party; or (d) any Data or content you submit, post, or transmit through the Services.

13. Enforcement and Remedies

Automotive Resource Co. reserves the right to investigate and take appropriate action against any suspected violations of these Terms, including:

  • Immediate suspension or termination of your account and access to the Services without notice or refund.
  • Removal of any content or data you have submitted.
  • Reporting suspected illegal activities to law enforcement authorities.
  • Pursuing legal action, including claims for damages, injunctive relief, and recovery of attorneys' fees.

14. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your access to the Services at any time, for any reason, including but not limited to: violation of these Terms, suspected fraudulent or abusive activity, non-payment, excessive usage (rate limit abuse), or at our sole discretion. Upon termination, your license to use the Services immediately terminates, and you must cease all use and destroy any copies of Data in your possession.

15. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, United States, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms shall be resolved exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Delaware, and you consent to the personal jurisdiction of such courts.

16. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. If we make material changes, we will notify you by email or by posting a notice on our website at least 30 days before the changes take effect. Your continued use of the Services after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

17. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

18. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Automotive Resource Co. regarding your use of the Services and supersede all prior agreements and understandings.

19. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms, please contact us at:
Email: legal@autoresourceco.com
Website: https://www.autoresourceco.com