> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/docs/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Connect Claude to your facility > Let Claude look up cars, customers, and other facility records after a staff sign-in—without giving away an API key. ## What you will accomplish You will turn on **AI agents (MCP)** in Settings, copy the **Connector URL**, add it in Claude (or a similar helper), and sign in as staff so that helper can look up your facility records. When you finish, you will know: * How this is different from the **AI Assistant** in the dashboard sidebar. * How to find the **AI agents (MCP)** card and turn the switch to **Enabled**. * How to copy the **Connector URL** and paste it into Claude. * What to do when Claude asks you to sign in and pick what it can see. ## When to use this guide Use this guide if you already use **Claude** (on the web, on the desktop, or on your phone) and you want it to answer questions about *your* cars and customers—not just general advice. Skip this guide if you only need the helper that lives inside Car Storage Software. That tool is [AI Assistant](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/agent) in the left sidebar. Start with [Use the AI Assistant](/docs/ai-assistant/use-the-ai-assistant.md). > [!NOTE] > > **Three doors, one set of records** > > Your facility can use helpers in three places. They all read the same cars, customers, and schedule. > > | Where you work | Best for | Open this guide | > | - | - | - | > | **[AI Assistant](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/agent)** in the dashboard | Lookups, voice, and draft cards while you are at a computer | [Use the AI Assistant](/docs/ai-assistant/use-the-ai-assistant.md) | > | A **staff iMessage group** on your phone | Fast questions while you walk the lot | [Use the AI Assistant from iMessage](/docs/ai-assistant/use-the-ai-assistant-from-imessage.md) | > | **Claude** (or Cursor) after you connect it | People who already chat in Claude and want facility answers there | This guide | ## Why the name says MCP The card is labeled **AI agents (MCP)**. **MCP** is a technical nickname for the connection. You do not need to remember it. Think of the **Connector URL** as the *address of your facility's front door for helpers*. You paste that address into Claude. Claude then asks you to sign in, just like a staff member signing in to the dashboard. > [!WARNING] > > **This is not a customer tool** > > Only **staff** can finish the sign-in. A customer portal login will not work. Do not send the Connector URL to customers. ## Before you start * Sign in as a **team admin**. Only an admin can turn this card on or off. * Have a **Claude** account ready (claude.ai, Claude Desktop, or Claude on your phone). Cursor and Claude Code work too if your team already uses them. * Know which staff person will sign in when Claude asks—use a real staff account, not a shared login. * Plan to start with **read-only** access (look up records, do not create or change them) until you trust the setup. ## Find the AI agents card **1. Open Settings** From the [Dashboard](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard), click **Settings** in the left menu. **2. Open Integrations** Click **Integrations**. Direct link: [Settings > Integrations](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/integrations). **Expected result:** The page title is **Integrations**. Under **Available integrations** you see a search box and a grid of cards. **3. Search if you do not see the card** Click **Search integrations...** and type **claude** or **mcp**. **Expected result:** Only the **AI agents (MCP)** card stays on the page. ![Integrations settings page showing cards including AI agents (MCP) in the catalog grid](https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/CVykmUsibl778tg6/images/ai-assistant/ai-assistant-integrations-catalog-sep29.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=CVykmUsibl778tg6\&q=85\&s=e1023f7940b7b40631ee601d33166684) *Open [Settings > Integrations](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/integrations). The **AI agents (MCP)** card sits with the other tools. It may say **Off** until you turn it on.* ![Integrations search box with mcp typed, showing only the AI agents (MCP) card with an On label](https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/CVykmUsibl778tg6/images/ai-assistant/ai-assistant-integrations-search-claude-sep29.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=CVykmUsibl778tg6\&q=85\&s=03550c629bf81c97c5174b287d58d965) *Type **mcp** or **claude** in **Search integrations...** to jump straight to the card. After you turn it on, the small label says **On**.* > [!TIP] > > **The blue header may not list Claude** > > The sentence at the top of Integrations talks about QR codes, Shopmonkey, HubSpot, and similar tools. The **AI agents (MCP)** card is still on the same page. Use search if you do not see it at first. ## Turn it on and copy the address **1. Click the AI agents (MCP) card** A window opens. The title is **AI agents (MCP)**. The first line says **Connect Claude, Cursor, or Claude Code to your facility data.** **2. Read the Turn it on box if you see it** If the switch at the bottom still says **Enable this integration**, you will also see a note titled **Turn it on to connect**. That is normal. The helper cannot finish sign-in until you flip the switch. **3. Turn the switch on** At the bottom of the window, turn the switch so the label changes from **Enable this integration** to **Enabled**. **Expected result:** The switch stays on. The card on the page now shows **On**. **4. Copy the Connector URL** Find the box labeled **Connector URL**. Click **Copy** next to it. **Expected result:** Your live facility address looks like `https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/api/mcp/v1`. A practice or test site may show a different address—that is fine for testing, but Claude should get the address from *your* live Settings page. ![AI agents (MCP) window showing Turn it on to connect, Connector URL, Claude setup steps, and Enable this integration switch](https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/CVykmUsibl778tg6/images/ai-assistant/ai-assistant-mcp-dialog-off-sep29.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=CVykmUsibl778tg6\&q=85\&s=ab0155dd3dc52428d6aad03aa15b3b64) *If the switch still says **Enable this integration**, turn it on before you paste the **Connector URL** into Claude. The **Turn it on to connect** box is a reminder, not an error.* ![AI agents (MCP) window with Enabled switch, Connector URL, and Claude tab steps](https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/CVykmUsibl778tg6/images/ai-assistant/ai-assistant-mcp-dialog-enabled-claude-sep29.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=CVykmUsibl778tg6\&q=85\&s=efe30ebc112daa07ad7371e0424cd1b7) *When the switch says **Enabled**, copy the **Connector URL**. The **Claude** tab lists the clicks you will make inside Claude. Your live address will use carstoragesoftware.com, not a local test address.* ## Add the connection in Claude Stay on the **Claude** tab in the window. Those steps match what you do in Claude. **1. Open Claude's connector settings** In Claude, open **Customize → Connectors**. Team or company owners may see **Organization settings → Connectors** instead. **2. Add a custom connector** Click **Add** or **Add custom connector**. If Claude asks for a type, choose **Web**. **3. Paste the Connector URL** Paste the address you copied. Leave any **OAuth client ID** or **secret** boxes blank. Claude fills those in for you. **4. Save, then click Connect** Click **Add**, then **Connect**. **5. Sign in as staff** A browser window opens. Sign in with your **facility staff** account. Approve access. Start with look-up (read) access if Claude lets you choose. **Expected result:** Claude finishes connecting. You can ask it to list cars or customers for your facility. **6. Try one safe question** Ask Claude: **List the cars stored for Alex Morgan** (use a real name from [Contacts](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/contacts)). **Why this matters:** You confirm the helper is looking at *your* records before anyone uses it with a customer on the phone. > [!NOTE] > > **What you allow Claude to see** > > The sign-in screen asks what the helper may access. That list matches the same kinds of access as a team API key (cars, customers, schedule, and so on). **Read** means look up. **Write** means create or change records. Start with read. You can connect again later if you need write access. ## If your team uses Cursor instead Some shops use **Cursor** for computer work. The same **Connector URL** works there. **1. Keep the card Enabled** Confirm the switch still says **Enabled** on [Settings > Integrations → AI agents (MCP)](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/integrations?integration=mcp). **2. Open the Cursor tab** In the same window, click the **Cursor** tab. Follow the numbered steps. You can copy the example block with **Copy**. **3. Connect and sign in** If Cursor shows **Needs authentication**, click **Connect**. Sign in as staff and approve access, the same way you would in Claude. ![AI agents (MCP) window on the Cursor tab showing setup steps and a copyable configuration block](https://mintcdn.com/carstoragesoftware/CVykmUsibl778tg6/images/ai-assistant/ai-assistant-mcp-dialog-cursor-sep29.webp?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=CVykmUsibl778tg6\&q=85\&s=c694c727e02b27b348618f67e91297ca) *The **Cursor** tab is for teams that already use Cursor. Staff still sign in with a facility account. You do not paste an API key.* > [!TIP] > > **Claude Code is optional** > > The **Claude Code** tab is for people who work in a terminal. Most facility owners can ignore it. If you have an IT partner, they can follow that tab. Everyday staff should use the dashboard [AI Assistant](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/agent) or Claude on the web. ## How this stays safe > [!NOTE] > > **You stay in control.** Turning the card **Off** later stops new connections. > > **Each staff member signs in as themselves.** Do not share one login so several people can connect Claude. > > **Look-up first.** Let Claude read records before you allow it to create customers, cars, or events. > > **Money and contracts still need the dashboard.** Do not ask Claude to void an invoice, change a card on file, or delete a signed agreement. Use [Payments](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/payments) and your contracts pages for that work. > > **This does not text customers.** Customer messages still go out from [Inbox](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/inbox). ## Common mistakes * Pasting the Connector URL before the switch says **Enabled**—Claude cannot finish sign-in. * Signing in with a **customer** email instead of a staff account. * Sending the Connector URL to a customer or posting it in a public place. * Assuming Claude already sent a text or created a car—check [Inbox](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/inbox) or [Cars](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/cars) if you are not sure. * Using a test address from a practice site in your live Claude app. Always copy the URL from *your* live [Integrations](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/integrations?integration=mcp) page. ## Troubleshooting > [!WARNING] > > **The switch will not turn on** > > You need **admin (full access)** to turn **AI agents (MCP)** on or off. Ask an owner to open [Settings > Integrations](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/integrations) with you, or to grant admin access in [Settings > Team](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/team). > [!WARNING] > > **Claude says authorization failed after I signed in** > > Confirm the switch says **Enabled**. Sign in again as **staff**, not as a customer. Close extra browser tabs that might still be signed in to the customer portal. > [!NOTE] > > **Claude connects but cannot list cars** > > You may have approved no access, or only areas that do not include cars. Connect again and allow **read** access for cars and customers. Also confirm your staff role can open [Cars](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/cars) in the dashboard—see [Who can use the AI Assistant](/docs/ai-assistant/who-can-use-the-ai-assistant.md). > [!WARNING] > > **Claude asked me to sign in again when I tried to add a record** > > Look-up access cannot create records. Reconnect and approve write access only if you truly want Claude to add or change data. Many teams never turn write on and use [Prepare work with the AI Assistant](/docs/ai-assistant/prepare-work-with-the-ai-assistant.md) in the dashboard instead, because those changes show **proposal cards** you can review first. > [!TIP] > > **I want to stop Claude from seeing our data** > > Disconnect the connector inside Claude. You can also turn **AI agents (MCP)** **Off** on [Settings > Integrations](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/dashboard/settings/integrations?integration=mcp). New sign-ins will fail until an admin turns it back on. ## What to do next * Practice a lookup in the dashboard helper: [Use the AI Assistant](/docs/ai-assistant/use-the-ai-assistant.md). * If you prefer step-by-step notes that stay next to the Integrations window, open [Connect Claude or another AI helper](/docs/settings/connect-ai-agents-mcp.md). * For staff who should not use Claude at all, keep using [AI Assistant](https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/agent) and leave this card **Off**. This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.