Changan VIN check before you buy in Nigeria.
CS35, CS55, UNI-K, Alsvin or Eado: enter the 17-character VIN to confirm the model, year and engine. The full report adds recalls, a theft check, and mileage and accident records where available. ₦9,900.
900M+ Vehicles in database
₦9,900 Full report
A Changan VIN check confirms which Changan you are buying: the decode reads the model, model year, engine and plant from the 17-character VIN, which starts with L because the car was built in China. Carlytics then checks the VIN against 900+ million records in US, EU and worldwide databases for recalls, theft, and mileage and accident records where available. Full reports ₦9,900.
Where to find the VIN on a Changan
Read it in three places before you trust any of them.
Every Changan sold with a 17-character VIN carries it in the same places as most modern cars. Look at the bottom of the windscreen on the driver's side, where a small plate is visible from outside. Open the driver's door and read the label on the door pillar. Then compare both with the papers: the dealer invoice for a new car, or the customs papers, vehicle licence and proof of ownership for a used one.
The three must match character for character. A VIN that differs by one letter is a different car on paper. Photograph each one at the viewing, in daylight, so you can compare them calmly at home. If the seller sends a VIN by message before the viewing, run it through the preview first; it costs nothing and tells you whether the trip is worth making.
What the first characters of a Changan VIN tell you
The first three characters are the world manufacturer identifier. On a Changan they also tell you the car was built in China.
| VIN starts with | What it means |
|---|---|
| LS4, LS5, LS6 | Changan, built in China. LS6 is also used by Changan's Deepal and Avatr brands; the decode reads the badge from the rest of the VIN. |
| LVT | Changan, built in China. |
| Any other code starting with L | Built in China by another maker. If the badge says Changan and the VIN does not, ask why before you go further. |
Characters 4 to 9 describe the model, body and engine, and character 10 usually carries the model year. You do not need to read them yourself: the decode turns them into a model name, a year and an engine size. What you need to do is compare that answer with the advert and with the papers.
Changan models sold in Nigeria
Changan has been sold in Nigeria for years, first through the Stallion Group and, since 2023, through Mikano Motors.
The Alsvin saloon and the CS55 and CS95 SUVs were launched in Nigeria in 2019. Changan's range today leans towards SUVs such as the CS35, CS55, UNI-K and UNI-T, and the UNI-K is one of the Changan names Nigerians search for most. Several of these models were updated during their lives, so two cars with the same badge can have different engines, equipment and years.
That is where the VIN helps. A seller may describe a 2021 car as a 2023 facelift, or a base version as the top trim. The decode reads what the factory recorded, not what the advert says. If the year or the model differs, the price should differ too.
Dealer car, grey import or nearly new
The same Changan can reach a Nigerian buyer by three routes, and each one changes what you should ask for.
Bought new from the official network
A car first sold by the authorised distributor comes with a warranty and a service history at its workshops. Ask for the original invoice and the service booklet, and ask a dealer to look up the VIN in its own records.
Imported privately
A grey import may have a specification built for another market and no local warranty. It still has a VIN, and the decode confirms the model and year. Check the customs papers: the VIN, model and year on them must match the car. Our customs papers check explains how.
Sold as nearly new
A “brand new” Changan with kilometres on the clock, or a used one without papers, needs an explanation. Where records exist for the VIN, the report shows them. What the decode cannot tell you is how the car was treated, so book an inspection as well.
Changan recalls
Recalls are published by make, model and year, so the VIN is how you find the ones that apply.
The report lists recall campaigns recorded for the decoded make, model and year, where published. A recall means the maker found a fault worth fixing for free; it is not a reason to walk away, but it is a reason to ask whether the work was done. An authorised Changan workshop can confirm that from the VIN.
Comparing Changan with other Chinese brands? See the Chinese car VIN check, or go straight to the Geely, BYD and GAC checks.
What the report shows for a Changan
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 Changan, in order
Quick checks first. Stop at the first one that fails.
- 1
Get the VIN
From the windscreen, the door pillar and the papers. All three must match.
- 2
Decode the VIN
The model, year and engine must match the advert.
- 3
Read the full report
Recalls, theft, and mileage and accident records where available.
- 4
Check the papers
Invoice or customs papers, vehicle licence and proof of ownership.
- 5
Inspect, then pay
An authorised workshop or independent mechanic before any transfer.
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
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I check a Changan by its VIN?
Where is the VIN on a Changan?
Why does the decode show a different model name from the advert?
Is my Changan a dealer car or a grey import?
Do Changan cars have recalls?
Can I check a Changan by its plate number?
How much does a Changan report cost?
Last updated