AutoReg verification the papers, then the car's history before you pay.
Registration papers prove a Nigerian registration, not a car's past. Confirm the papers, then enter the 17-character VIN below for mileage and accident records where available, theft and recalls. Full report ₦9,900.
900M+ Vehicles in database
₦9,900 Full report
AutoReg is the vehicle registration and documentation system licensed processors use to issue and renew vehicle papers in Nigerian states, including Lagos. It is not a public search tool. Buyers confirm papers through the issuing office, verify the plate for free on FRSC NVIS, and check the car's history by its VIN, which Carlytics reads against 900+ million records in US, EU and worldwide databases.
What AutoReg is
When people in Nigeria say AutoReg, they usually mean the system behind their vehicle papers.
AutoReg is a web-based system for motor vehicle registration and documentation, run by Courteville. Licensed processors log in to it to manage registrations and renewals, and state governments have adopted it for their vehicle licensing; Kogi and Adamawa announced it in 2013 and 2014, and the current portal carries notices for Lagos processors.
The portal is not a public search box. It is the tool a processor uses when you renew a vehicle licence or register a car. That is why “AutoReg verification” for a buyer really means one thing: confirming that the papers the seller hands you were issued for this car and are current.
The 2025 change in Lagos
From 1 September 2025, AutoReg requires a Payer ID, a NIN or a NIN-linked phone number for renewals and new registrations in Lagos. If you are buying, ask the seller whether the papers were renewed under that rule, and make sure the change of ownership is processed in your name.
How to verify vehicle papers before you buy
Four steps, starting with the free ones.
1. Collect every paper
Vehicle licence, proof of ownership, road worthiness certificate and insurance certificate, plus the customs papers for an imported car. Each should name the same plate and the same chassis number.
2. Verify the plate for free
Enter the plate on FRSC NVIS. The result must be valid and show the right type of vehicle. Our FRSC plate number verification guide walks through it.
3. Confirm the papers with the issuer
Ask the state motor vehicle office, or a licensed processor you choose yourself, to confirm the vehicle licence and proof of ownership on the system they were issued from. Do not rely on a processor the seller sends you to.
4. Check the VIN
Take the chassis number from the papers, check it is the one on the windscreen and the door pillar, and enter it above.
What registration papers cannot tell you
A perfect set of papers can belong to a car with a bad past.
Nigerian registration papers record the car from the day it was registered here. Most used cars in Nigeria arrived from abroad, so their mileage, accidents and title history sit in the countries they came from. A car wound back before export, or repaired after a flood, can be registered with genuine papers.
The VIN is what links those two lives. The report shows mileage and accident records where available, a theft check against stolen-vehicle databases from the US, the EU and worldwide, and recalls. See the car mileage check and the accidented car check for what to look for.
Red flags in a set of papers
Any one of these is a reason to stop and ask.
- The chassis number on the licence differs from the windscreen or the door pillar.
- The name on the proof of ownership is not the seller's, and there is no explanation.
- The papers were “just renewed” by a processor the seller insists you use.
- The plate is valid on NVIS, but for a different type of vehicle.
- An imported car has no customs papers, or papers for a different year or model.
For customs papers, see the customs papers check; for the full viewing, the used car checklist.
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.
What the VIN report adds to the papers
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.
Papers, plate, VIN: in order
Four checks before any deposit.
- 1
Collect the papers
Every paper must name the same plate and chassis number.
- 2
Verify the plate
Free on FRSC NVIS.
- 3
Confirm with the issuer
The state office or a processor you choose.
- 4
Check the VIN, then inspect
Decode, full report, then a mechanic.
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
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AutoReg?
Can I verify a car on AutoReg myself?
What changed for renewals in Lagos in 2025?
Do AutoReg papers show the car's history?
Can Carlytics check AutoReg or a Nigerian plate?
Where is the chassis number on the papers?
How much is the VIN report?
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