MCP (Model Context Protocol)
Also known as: MCP, MCP server, Model Context Protocol, AI assistant tools
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard that lets AI assistants such as Claude, ChatGPT and Cursor call external tools and data sources; an MCP server exposes those tools, and the DealerPricing MCP server exposes vehicle valuations, comparables, MOT and service history and vehicle history checks.
Introduced by Anthropic in late 2024 and now supported by every major assistant, MCP defines how a client (the assistant) discovers a server's tools, calls them with structured arguments and receives results. A remote MCP server is reached over HTTP with a token or OAuth sign-in, so a dealer can connect their account from any assistant that supports the protocol.
For the motor trade the practical effect is that a valuation, a set of comparables or a service history check becomes a question typed into an assistant rather than a form on a website. The assistant chooses the tool, the server enforces the account's entitlements and allowances, and the answer arrives in the conversation.
DealerPricing's MCP server is included with Pro subscriptions. Every search through an assistant uses the monthly allowance exactly as a dashboard search does, and the only paid tool, the vehicle history check, quotes its price and waits for confirmation before charging.
How-to guides
Related terms
- Trade valuationA trade valuation is the price a UK motor trader would pay for a vehicle as trade stock — typically the wholesale or auction value rather than the retail (forecourt) asking price.
- Service historyService history is the documented record of every service, repair and maintenance event a vehicle has had — typically held in the service book, on the manufacturer's dealer system, or in a digital service record.
- Vehicle provenanceVehicle provenance is the verified history of a UK vehicle's ownership, status and incidents — covering stolen markers, finance, write-offs, mileage, plate changes, and keeper history.