Choosing input mode
A lookup accepts four mutually exclusive input modes. The right one depends on what data you have and how precise you need to be.
| Mode | Precision | When to use |
|---|---|---|
address= | Highest (SPD-aware) | You have the full street address |
lat=/lng= | Point-precise where boundary data exists (e.g. CA, WA, NM, FL) | You already have coordinates |
zip= | ZIP-level (lower confidence) | You only have the ZIP |
location= | A DoR-published place name | You have a normalised city name |
For most US states, address mode is the right default — it resolves to the actual jurisdiction at the address (including Special Purpose Districts that don’t surface from ZIP alone).
If you only have the ZIP, the default response still gives you a
single best-rate answer, but with a lower confidence on ZIPs that
straddle jurisdiction boundaries — re-query in address mode (or with
a ZIP+4) to firm it up. To see every candidate for a straddling ZIP,
request mode=full.
Full content coming soon — for now, see State-specific notes for per-state precision details.