Tokunbo car check before you pay.
Direct Belgium, from America or from Canada: the car's history stayed in the country it came from. Enter the VIN to see the records held for it in US, EU and worldwide databases. Free preview, full report ₦9,900.
900M+ Vehicles in database
₦9,900 Full report
"Tokunbo" means foreign-used: the car lived its first life abroad. Carlytics checks the 17-character VIN against 900+ million records across 47+ countries, including Europe and North America, for mileage and accident records where available, theft and recalls. Full reports ₦9,900.
Tokunbo, Nigerian used, or neither?
Where the car came from decides which records exist and which papers you should see.
Tokunbo and Nigerian used
A tokunbo car arrives from abroad and is registered in Nigeria for the first time. A Nigerian-used car has Nigerian papers already, but its first life was still abroad. Check the VIN in both cases.
From Europe (Direct Belgium)
Cars from Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and the rest of Europe often carry dated mileage and inspection records. Put them in date order and compare them with the dashboard.
From the US and Canada
Cars from North America may carry title brands such as salvage, rebuilt or flood, and auction damage records. The report shows title and damage records from US, EU and worldwide databases, where available for the VIN. Cars stolen in Canada have been found in Nigeria and returned, so the theft check matters here too.
Customs papers and VIN valuation
Nigeria Customs values and clears an imported car by its VIN. Confirm the duty status on CVMS (a paid check) or VREG, and check that the VIN, model and year on the papers match the car. Fake or mismatched customs papers can lead to the car being seized.
Age rule
Nigeria Customs publishes an age limit for imported used cars, counted from the year of manufacture. Check the current rule with Customs or your clearing agent before you buy abroad; the report shows the decoded year.
Before you transfer money
Never pay a deposit for a car “on the way” or “at the port” before you have the VIN, the report and the customs papers.
Checking a tokunbo car, in order
Each step is cheaper than the next. Stop the deal at the first one that fails.
- 1
Match the VIN
On the windscreen, the door pillar and the customs papers.
- 2
Run the free preview
The make, model and year must match the advert.
- 3
Read the full report
Mileage, accident, flood, theft and recall records, where available.
- 4
Verify customs duty
Confirm the duty status on CVMS or VREG before you pay.
- 5
Inspect, then pay
An independent mechanic, then the transfer, never the other way round.
What the report shows for a tokunbo 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 is a tokunbo car?
What is the difference between tokunbo and Nigerian used?
Can I check a Direct Belgium car?
Can I check a car that came from America?
Can I check a car from Canada?
Can I check a car before it is shipped to Nigeria?
How do I confirm customs duty was paid?
What is VIN valuation?
How can I spot a flood car?
How much is the report?
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