VIN & chassis number check for cars bought in Nigeria.
Tokunbo from Europe or America, Nigerian used, or a new Chinese brand: enter the 17-character VIN for a free preview. The full report adds mileage and accident records where available, theft, recalls and market value. ₦9,900, one payment.
900M+ Vehicles in database
₦9,900 Full report
Carlytics is a VIN check and vehicle history platform that cross-references 900+ million vehicle records across 47+ countries. Most used cars in Nigeria arrived from abroad, so most of a car's history sits in the country it came from, not in Nigeria. Each check reads the 17-character VIN (the chassis number) for mileage and accident records where available, theft and recalls. Full reports ₦9,900, one payment, no subscription.
What we check before you pay for a car in Nigeria
One VIN, the records from the countries the car has lived in. These are the checks that matter most for a tokunbo car, a Nigerian-used car or a new Chinese model.
Accident and damage
The report includes accident and damage records where available for the VIN, such as salvage and write-off titles and auction damage classifications. An accidented car repaired abroad and shipped to Lagos can look clean on the lot; the record from its first life is where the repair shows. No record found is not proof the car was never damaged.
Mileage rollbacks
We put the dated mileage records we hold for the VIN in order, where available, so you can compare them with the dashboard. The weak point on a tokunbo car is the gap between the last reading abroad and the day it reached Nigeria.
Specs & equipment
We decode the factory specification from the VIN: make, model, year, engine, fuel, body and plant. Check it against the advert and the customs papers before you agree a price.
Safety recalls
We list safety recall campaigns recorded for the make, model and year. A car bought abroad and shipped to Nigeria rarely comes with its recall letters, so ask a dealer of the brand to confirm the work was done.
Flood damage
Check whether the car carries flood or weather damage records where available. Flood cars from US storms have been repaired and shipped to Nigeria before, and a flood car can fail electrically long after the sale.
Stolen car check
We check the VIN against stolen-vehicle databases from the US, the EU and worldwide. Cars stolen abroad have been shipped to Nigeria and seized from the buyer, so run this check before any transfer.
Photos
Where available, we include earlier photos of the car, for example from auctions. They can show damage, repairs or a different colour that the seller has not mentioned.
Market value
We estimate a fair market value from comparable cars, so you can tell whether the asking price is reasonable for the year, mileage and specification.
Trusted in 47+ countries, including the ones Nigeria imports from
Carlytics brings together vehicle records from 47+ countries, with 900M+ vehicles in its database, across Europe and North America, plus factory decoding for cars built in China, Japan and Korea. For a tokunbo car, that is where its earlier life was recorded.
Access data from national registries,
insurance databases, law enforcement and more.
How It Works
Carlytics checks a 17-character VIN in seconds by cross-referencing 900M+ records from 47+ countries. Enter the VIN from the windscreen, the door pillar or the customs papers, check the free preview, then unlock the full vehicle history report for ₦9,900.
From VIN to report in a few minutes. Check the free preview before you pay.
Enter the VIN
Type the 17-character VIN (chassis number) from the car or its papers. A Nigerian plate number is not enough on its own.
Check the preview
Confirm the make, model and year match what the seller told you before you pay anything.
Get the full report
Mileage and accident records where available, theft, recalls and value, in one report with a PDF you can forward.
Decide with evidence
Take the report to the inspection, ask the seller about every gap, and only then transfer money.
Why check a VIN before buying a car in Nigeria?
Nigeria spent ₦1.58 trillion importing passenger cars in 2025, and most of them arrived used. A car's history abroad does not follow it to Nigeria on paper; it follows it through the VIN.
Mileage on tokunbo cars
An odometer can be wound back between the last reading abroad and the sale in Nigeria. Dated mileage records, where available, show whether the dashboard fits the car's past.
Accidented and flood cars
Salvage and flood cars are bought cheaply abroad, repaired and sold here as clean tokunbo. Accident and damage records, where available, show what happened before the car was shipped.
Stolen abroad
Vehicles stolen in Canada have been traced to Nigeria and handed back to their owners. A theft check before payment protects you from losing the car and your money.
Year and model on the papers
Customs rules and duty depend on the year of manufacture and the exact model. The decoded year and specification help you test what the papers say.
Ready to check your vehicle?
Enter the VIN number below to get a free instant report.
Sample Vehicle Report
Every Carlytics report covers 24 sections including decoded specs, mileage history, safety recalls, theft status, market value, and cross-border import records. The full report costs ₦9,900 and is available instantly as an interactive page and downloadable PDF.
Here's an example of the comprehensive vehicle report you'll receive. Our reports provide detailed information to help you make informed decisions about any vehicle.
Toyota Corolla (2012)
1.8 L • Petrol • Automatic • Sedan
Vehicle Information
Official records
Vehicle Summary
Why a used car in Nigeria is an import question
In Nigeria, a used car's history usually starts somewhere else. That changes what you check and where the risk sits.
Nigeria imported passenger cars worth ₦1.58 trillion in 2025, a quarter more than in 2024. In the first half of 2026 the import bill rose again, with used vehicles from the United States the largest share. Europe and Canada follow.
“Tokunbo” means the car was used abroad and then imported. “Nigerian used” means it has already been registered and driven here. Both started life somewhere else, so both have a history the Nigerian papers do not show.
Direct Belgium, Canada or the US?
Where the car came from decides which records exist. Cars from Belgium, Germany and the rest of Europe often carry dated mileage and inspection records; cars from the US and Canada may carry title brands such as salvage or flood. The report shows the records held for that VIN in US, EU and worldwide databases.
Our tokunbo guide goes through each route step by step.
Customs papers and the VIN
Nigeria Customs values and clears an imported car by its VIN. Check that the VIN on the customs papers is the VIN on the car, and confirm the duty status with Nigeria Customs (CVMS) or VREG before you pay. Fake or mismatched customs papers can lead to the car being seized.
New Chinese brands
Changan, Geely, BYD, GAC, Chery, Jetour and other Chinese brands are now sold new and nearly new in Nigeria. A VIN that starts with L was built in China. The decode confirms the model and year, so you know the car is the one you are paying for. See the Chinese car VIN check.
What the report shows for a car sold in Nigeria
Here is what to expect from a ₦9,900 report on a car with a 17-character VIN.
In the report
- A factory decode: make, model, model year, engine, fuel, body style and plant.
- Dated mileage records where available for the VIN, from the countries the car lived in.
- Accident and damage records where available for the VIN, for example salvage and write-off titles and auction damage classifications.
- A check against stolen-vehicle databases from the US, the EU and worldwide.
- Safety recall campaigns recorded for the make, model and year.
- Market value, known model issues and running-cost context.
Before you check
- Have the 17-character VIN ready. It is on the windscreen, the door pillar and the customs papers; a plate number alone is not enough.
- Confirm the customs duty status on Nigeria Customs CVMS or on VREG. The report does not cover customs duty.
- Book an independent mechanic to inspect the car before you transfer any money.
No record found is not proof that a car is undamaged or that its mileage is correct.
Checking a used car in Nigeria, in order
Five steps, free ones first. Any one of them can end the deal before you spend money on the next.
- 1
Get the VIN and the papers
Ask the seller for a photo of the VIN on the windscreen and on the customs papers, and for the plate number.
- 2
Run the free preview
Enter the VIN above. If the make, model or year do not match the advert, ask why before you travel.
- 3
Read the full report
Put the mileage records in order and note any accident, flood, theft or recall entries.
- 4
Verify the papers
Confirm the duty status on CVMS or VREG and the plate on FRSC NVIS.
- 5
Inspect, then pay
Book an independent inspection and pay only after the papers and the car match.
Official checks worth doing in Nigeria, and what they show
Each official check covers one part of the car's story. Do them alongside the report.
| Check | What you enter | Where | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customs duty status | The VIN | Nigeria Customs CVMS (cvms.nigeriatradehub.gov.ng) | Whether the vehicle was cleared through customs, with an official receipt. A paid service. |
| National vehicle registry | The VIN | VREG, Federal Ministry of Finance (vreg.gov.ng, USSD *7031#) | Whether the VIN is registered on VREG, and its duty status. |
| Number plate | The plate number | FRSC NVIS (nvis.frsc.gov.ng) | Whether the plate matches the FRSC record. |
| Police vehicle certificate | Owner and vehicle details | Nigeria Police e-CMR (cmris.npf.gov.ng) | The police Central Motor Registry certificate the owner should hold. |
What the official checks leave out
Each check covers one record. None of them puts a car's dated history from Europe, the US or China next to its Nigerian papers. That is the part the report adds.
Official checks and a Carlytics report side by side
| Topic | Official checks | Carlytics report |
|---|---|---|
| Mileage | Not shown | Dated mileage records for the VIN, where available, from several countries |
| Accidents and damage | Not shown before purchase | Accident and damage records where available for the VIN |
| Customs duty | CVMS or VREG | Not included: confirm it there |
| Theft | Police certificate held by the owner | Stolen-vehicle databases from the US, the EU and worldwide |
| Specification | Not shown | Factory decode from the VIN |
One Carlytics report costs ₦9,900, with a free preview first.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check a VIN in Nigeria?
Is the VIN the same as the chassis number?
Where do I find the VIN on a car in Nigeria?
Can I check a tokunbo car?
Can I check a new Chinese car such as Changan, Geely or BYD?
Does the report include accident and damage data?
Can I check a car by its Nigerian plate number?
Does Carlytics check customs duty?
How do I spot a car with rolled-back mileage?
How much does a report cost?
How can I pay?
Which countries' records does Carlytics cover?
Guides for buying a car in Nigeria
Tokunbo, Chinese brands, chassis numbers and plate checks.
Worked example: a tokunbo car with a mileage gap
For a car shipped to Nigeria, read the papers next to the records from the country it came from. Compare the mileage on each document in date order.
Illustrative case with invented paperwork, not an actual vehicle or a Carlytics data result:
| Evidence supplied | What the buyer sees |
|---|---|
| Advert in Lagos | 2015 SUV, “Direct Belgium, 68,000 km, no accident”. |
| Last inspection record in Europe | Passed with 142,000 km recorded, five months before export. |
| Dashboard at the viewing | 68,000 km. |
Which reading needs an explanation?
The odometer shows 74,000 km less than the last reading in Europe. A replaced instrument cluster explains a difference only with an invoice and a recorded reading. Without them, treat the mileage as unverified and price the car on the higher figure.
Before you transfer any money
- Match the VIN on the car and on the customs papers.
- Write each mileage reading down with its date.
- Take the report and the seller's explanation to an independent inspection.
Last updated