> ## 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.

# Car intake workflow

> Log a vehicle drop-off with photos through the API: look up event types, create the event, then attach photos.

A drop-off in Car Storage Software is a **car event** — the same photo session your staff create in the app — not a calendar appointment. Use these three calls to log one from another system.

**Scopes needed:** `read:cars`, `write:cars`, and `write:parking` if you assign a spot or zone.

**1. Find the event type**

```bash theme={null}
curl https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/api/v1/event-types \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $CSS_API_KEY"
```

Pick the type you need (for example, `value: "vehicle_drop_off"`). If its `config.requiresParkingSpot` is `true`, look up a spot or zone with the parking spots or parking zones endpoints first.

**2. Create the car event**

```bash theme={null}
curl -X POST https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/api/v1/cars/$CAR_ID/events \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $CSS_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "activityType": "vehicle_drop_off",
    "parkingSpotId": "'"$SPOT_ID"'",
    "notes": "Dropped off by owner, full tank"
  }'
```

For a drop-off, send exactly one of `parkingSpotId` or `parkingZoneId`. Use `occurredAt` to backdate an event. The response includes a `sessionId` — keep it for the next step.

**3. Attach photos**

Send one photo per request, either as base64 or as a public URL we fetch for you.

```bash theme={null}
curl -X POST https://www.carstoragesoftware.com/api/v1/cars/$CAR_ID/photos \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $CSS_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "sessionId": "'"$SESSION_ID"'",
    "filename": "front.jpg",
    "contentType": "image/jpeg",
    "sourceUrl": "https://example.com/photos/front.jpg"
  }'
```

Each photo can be up to about 3 MB. Repeat the call for each photo.

> [!NOTE]
>
> Do not upload car photos through the marketing assets endpoints. Those are for marketing content and do not appear in the car's gallery.


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