Free VIN decoder for cars in Nigeria.
Decode the make, model, year, engine and plant from any 17-character VIN in seconds. Want the history too? The full report adds mileage and accident records where available, theft and recalls for ₦9,900.
900M+ Vehicles in database
₦9,900 Full report
The Carlytics VIN decoder reads the 17-character VIN, called the chassis number in Nigeria, on cars built for Europe, the US, China, Japan and Korea. Decoding the VIN is the quickest way to confirm that the car in the advert is the car on the customs papers. Decoding is free; full history reports cost ₦9,900.
What the 17 characters mean
A VIN has three parts. Each one answers a different question about the car.
Characters 1 to 3: who built it
The world manufacturer identifier. 1, 4 and 5 mean the United States, 2 Canada, J Japan, K Korea, L China, S the United Kingdom, W Germany, V France or Spain, Z Italy. A Toyota built in the US starts with 4 or 5; one built in Japan starts with J.
Characters 4 to 9: what it is
The vehicle descriptor: model, body, engine and safety equipment, written by the manufacturer. On cars built for North America the ninth character is a check digit.
Characters 10 to 17: which one
The vehicle identifier: the model year (character 10 on many makes), the plant and the serial number. European makers do not always use character 10 for the year, so the report shows the model year, the production year and the first registration as separate fields where we have them.
Popular makes in Nigeria
Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai and Kia lead the tokunbo market, and Chinese brands such as Changan, Geely and BYD are growing fast. The decoder reads all of them from the same 17 characters.
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.
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
Is the VIN decoder free?
Why does my VIN not decode?
Does the VIN show the model year?
Where is the VIN on Nigerian papers?
Is it safe to give a seller's VIN to a decoder?
Does a decode tell me if the car is stolen or the mileage was changed?
Can I decode a Toyota, Lexus or Mercedes-Benz VIN?
How much is the full report?
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