Setup Guide

Every credential you need — and how to get it

LouieAuto connects to external services for SMS, voice, email, AI, payments, and government APIs. Each one takes 5–15 minutes to set up. Work through them in order — required ones first.

Section 1
Required
The platform won't function without these. Set them up first.
Anthropic AI
Already Configured
Powers Louie's brain — every AI response, coaching insight, lender recommendation, and deal analysis runs through Anthropic's Claude models.
Status Your ANTHROPIC_API_KEY is set in .env at install. If Louie is responding, this is working.
If you need to rotate it Go to console.anthropic.com → API Keys → Create Key. Then update .env and restart the server.
Resend (Email)
Required
Automated customer emails, appointment confirmations, daily reports to your inbox, and BDC follow-up sequences.
How to get it resend.com → Sign up free → API Keys → Create Key. Takes 5 minutes.
.env variable RESEND_API_KEY=re_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cost: Free (3,000 emails/mo) · $20/mo for 50k
Setup time: 5 minutes
Section 2
Communications
Unlock BDC automation, live SMS follow-up, outbound campaigns, and AI voice calls. The platform runs in simulation mode without these — go live when ready.
Telnyx (SMS + Voice) Recommended
Optional
Text customers, receive inbound leads via SMS, and record calls. Lower cost than Twilio with equivalent reliability.
How to get it telnyx.com → Sign up → Mission Control Portal → Buy a number → API Keys → Create Key
.env variables TELNYX_API_KEY=KEY_xxxxxxxxxx
TELNYX_FROM_NUMBER=+1XXXXXXXXXX
Cost: ~$0.004/SMS · ~$0.004/min voice
Setup time: 15 minutes
Twilio (SMS + Voice) Alternative
Optional
Industry-standard SMS and voice provider. Higher cost than Telnyx but you may already have an account. Use one or the other — not both.
How to get it twilio.com → Console → Account Info for SID/Token → Phone Numbers → Buy a number
.env variables TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID=ACxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
TWILIO_PHONE_NUMBER=+1XXXXXXXXXX
Cost: ~$0.0079/SMS · ~$0.013/min voice
Setup time: 15 minutes
Vapi.ai (AI Voice Calls)
Optional
Louie makes and receives phone calls with a human-sounding AI voice — appointment reminders, lead follow-up, and BDC overflow. Requires ElevenLabs for Louie's voice (set up next).
How to get it vapi.ai → Sign up → Dashboard → API Keys. A phone number ID is provisioned through the Vapi dashboard as well.
.env variables VAPI_API_KEY=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
VAPI_ASSISTANT_ID=xxxxxxxx (auto-created on first setup call)
VAPI_PHONE_NUMBER_ID=xxxxxxxx
Cost: ~$0.05/min
Setup time: 20 minutes (includes voice creation)
ElevenLabs (Louie's Voice)
Optional
Gives Louie a natural dealer-floor voice for AI phone calls. Choose an existing ElevenLabs voice or clone one. Pair with Vapi.ai above.
How to get it elevenlabs.io → Sign up → Profile → API Keys. Then browse Voice Library to pick or clone a voice — copy the Voice ID.
.env variables ELEVENLABS_API_KEY=sk_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ELEVENLABS_VOICE_ID=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cost: Free (10k characters/mo) · $5/mo starter
Setup time: 10 minutes
Section 3
Payments & Title
Required for full deal flow — online deposits, accessory payments, and electronic title filing.
Stripe (Payments)
Optional
Process customer accessory payments, accept deposits online, and handle subscription billing. Test mode works immediately; live mode requires business verification (1–2 days).
How to get it stripe.com → Dashboard → Developers → API Keys. For webhooks: Developers → Webhooks → Add endpoint → point to your domain /api/stripe/webhook
.env variables STRIPE_SECRET_KEY=sk_live_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
STRIPE_WEBHOOK_SECRET=whsec_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cost: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
Setup time: 10 minutes (live keys: 1–2 days for verification)
CA DMV ELT (California Electronic Lien & Title)
CA Dealers
File titles electronically in California — required for CA dealers. You must partner with a CA DMV-approved ELT provider.
Approved providers DealerTrack (dealertrack.com/products/titling), Reynolds Title, or CDK Title Services
.env variables CA_ELT_PROVIDER=dealertrack
CA_ELT_API_KEY=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cost: $3–8 per title (paid to provider)
Setup time: 2–5 business days (dealer license verification)
FL DHSMV eMV Express (Florida Title)
FL Dealers
Electronic title filing in Florida — required for FL dealers. Register your dealership through the DHSMV dealer portal.
How to get it Visit flhsmv.gov → Dealers → Electronic Motor Vehicle Services → Register your dealership
.env variables FL_DHSMV_PROVIDER=emv_express
FL_DHSMV_DEALER_ID=xxxxxxxx
FL_DHSMV_API_KEY=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cost: County tag fee applies
Setup time: 3–5 business days
Section 4
Market Data
Unlock pricing intelligence, demand signals, and conquest targeting. BLS and Census are free 2-minute signups — do them today.
OpenWeather API
Already Configured
Market demand signals tied to weather patterns — convertible season alerts, storm prep buying spikes, and regional seasonal trends. Already in your .env at install.
Bureau of Labor Statistics API
Free
Real economic data for market intelligence — local employment rates, income trends, and CPI. Louie uses this to calibrate subprime risk and conquest timing.
How to get it bls.gov/developers/api_signature_v2.htm → Register free → API key emailed instantly
.env variable BLS_API_KEY=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cost: Free
Setup time: 2 minutes
US Census Bureau API
Free
ZIP-level demographic data for conquest targeting and market sizing — household income, population density, vehicle ownership rates by area.
How to get it api.census.gov/data/key_signup.html → Register free → Key emailed instantly
.env variable CENSUS_API_KEY=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cost: Free
Setup time: 2 minutes
PACER (Federal Court — Bankruptcy Leads)
Optional
Access fresh federal bankruptcy filings — your best subprime leads. Chapter 7 filers often need a car immediately and can qualify for buy-here-pay-here or subprime financing.
How to get it pacer.uscourts.gov → Register → Federal court login credentials. Takes 3–5 business days for federal approval.
.env variables PACER_USERNAME=xxxxxxxxxx
PACER_PASSWORD=xxxxxxxxxx
Cost: $0.10/page (very low in practice)
Setup time: 3–5 business days (federal registration)
Section 4.5
Book Value Data Feeds
Trade-in values, retail pricing, and wholesale valuations. Optional but recommended. Without these, Louie uses public market data and your historical sale prices — directionally correct but not lender-grade.
NADA Guides
Recommended
The industry standard for trade-in and wholesale values. Most lenders use NADA as their floor. Essential if you do volume trades.
How to get it nada.com/business/solutions/dealers → Request dealer access → 1–2 business days setup
.env variable NADA_API_KEY=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cost: ~$200–$400/mo
Setup time: 1–2 business days
Kelley Blue Book (KBB / Cox)
Recommended
Consumer-facing retail values. Customers walk in quoting KBB — now you're working from the same number. Operated by Cox Automotive.
How to get it dealers.kbb.com → Apply for dealer access → 3–5 business days (Cox partner network verification)
.env variable KBB_API_KEY=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cost: ~$300–$500/mo
Setup time: 3–5 business days
Black Book
Optional
Auction-focused wholesale values. Essential for BHPH and heavy used-car stores. More granular than NADA on recent-model wholesale comps.
How to get it blackbook.com → Request dealer account → 2–3 business days setup
.env variable BLACK_BOOK_API_KEY=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cost: ~$150–$300/mo
Setup time: 2–3 business days
Section 5
DMS Integration
The single biggest unlock. Live two-way sync with your DMS flips 47 seeded modules to real data overnight. All three require a partner agreement — start the conversation with your DMS provider today.
CDK Global
Partner Agreement Required
Live two-way sync with CDK DMS — vehicles, deals, customers, and repair orders sync automatically. This is the most common DMS for franchise and large independent dealers.
How to get it Contact CDK partner team at cdkglobal.com/partners — requires a dealer partner agreement with CDK.
.env variables CDK_CLIENT_ID=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
CDK_CLIENT_SECRET=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
CDK_DEALER_ID=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cost: ~$200–500/mo (CDK charges dealers for API access)
Timeline: 2–4 weeks (contract + technical setup)
Note: This is the single biggest unlock in the platform — connecting CDK flips 47 seeded demo modules to live data overnight.
Reynolds & Reynolds (ERA-IGNITE)
Partner Agreement Required
Live sync with ERA-IGNITE DMS. Common in franchise dealer groups. Requires enrollment in the Reynolds Digital Retailer Program.
How to get it Reynolds partner program at reyrey.com/solutions/digital-retailer-program
.env variables REYNOLDS_API_KEY=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
REYNOLDS_DEALER_CODE=xxxxxxxx
Timeline: 3–6 weeks
Tekion ARC
Partner Agreement Required
Live sync with Tekion ARC DMS — cloud-native and the fastest of the three to integrate. Tekion has a more open API than CDK or Reynolds.
How to get it partner.tekion.com → Partner portal enrollment
.env variables TEKION_API_KEY=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
TEKION_DEALER_ID=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Timeline: 1–2 weeks (open API, fastest to connect)
Section 6
Push Notifications
Web push for the daily 7am morning brief and real-time deal alerts. Already configured.
VAPID Keys (Web Push)
Already Configured
Web push notifications for the 7am morning brief, deal alerts, and BDC queue overflow. VAPID keys were generated at install — no action needed.
Status Configured. The 7am morning brief is active. GMs will see the opt-in banner on next login to the platform — they must click Allow in their browser to receive push notifications.

Need help with any of these?

Email brian@louieauto.com or text the number on your license card.
Most credentials take less than 15 minutes — we can walk you through them on a call.