Chinese car VIN check before you buy in Nigeria.
Changan, Geely, BYD, GAC, Chery, Jetour or MG, new or nearly new: enter the VIN for a free decode of the model and year. The full report adds recalls, and mileage and accident records where available. ₦9,900.
900M+ Vehicles in database
₦9,900 Full report
Chinese brands have moved from rare to everyday on Nigerian roads, sold new by dealers and nearly new by importers. Carlytics decodes the 17-character VIN of a Chinese-built car (it starts with L) and checks it against 900+ million records across 47+ countries. Full reports ₦9,900.
What to check on a Chinese car in Nigeria
The badge says the brand. The VIN says the model, the year and where the car was built.
Model and year
Chinese brands sell several models on one platform and update them often. The decode confirms the exact model and year, so a 2023 car is not sold to you as a 2025 car.
Dealer or grey import?
A car bought from the brand's dealer comes with the dealer's warranty. A car imported privately may have a different specification and no local warranty. Ask which it is, and ask the dealer to check the VIN against its own records.
Recalls
Chinese makers run recall campaigns like everyone else. The report lists campaigns recorded for the make, model and year; ask the brand's dealer to confirm the work was done.
Nearly new, already used
A “brand new” car with kilometres on the clock, or a used car with no papers, needs explaining. Where records exist for the VIN, the report shows them. For a car that came in from abroad, our tokunbo guide covers the customs papers.
Chinese brands sold in Nigeria
Changan
One of the most common Chinese brands on Nigerian roads, from saloons to SUVs.
Geely
Saloons and SUVs sold new through dealers and nearly new through importers.
BYD
Electric and hybrid models. Check the exact model and year before you pay.
GAC
SUVs and saloons; the decode confirms the model behind the badge.
Chery and Jetour
Chery and its Jetour brand sell several models on shared platforms.
MG
A British name, built in China by SAIC.
JAC
Cars and light commercial vehicles.
Other Chinese makers
Any car with a 17-character VIN that starts with L was built in China.
What the report shows for a Chinese car
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.
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
What does a Chinese car's VIN show?
How can I tell if a car was built in China?
Can I check a Changan, Geely or BYD car?
What is the difference between a dealer car and a grey import?
Do Chinese cars have recalls?
Does the report include accident data?
Can I check a Chinese car by its plate number?
How much is a report?
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