VREG verification and the history behind the VIN.
Check the VIN on VREG for its status in Nigeria, then enter the same VIN below for its history: mileage and accident records where available, theft and recalls. Full report ₦9,900.
900M+ Vehicles in database
₦9,900 Full report
VREG is Nigeria's National Vehicle Registry: a central database of vehicles keyed on the 17-character VIN, launched as a policy of the Federal Ministry of Finance in 2021. A VREG check tells you whether the VIN is registered and its duty status. It does not show the car's life abroad; Carlytics reads the same VIN against 900+ million records in US, EU and worldwide databases.
What VREG is
One registry, keyed on the one number that never changes: the VIN.
The National Vehicle Registry, VREG, is a central database of vehicles in Nigeria that stores each car against its Vehicle Identification Number. The Federal Ministry of Finance launched the policy in 2021 to close revenue leaks from duty evasion and to make vehicle theft harder. Its pilot phase began at the Nigeria Customs Kirikiri Lighter Terminal command in Lagos.
The government has said VREG will connect to other records over time, including insurance data and the Central Bank's registry of loans secured on movable assets. For a buyer today, the useful part is simple: you can check a VIN and see whether it is registered and what its duty status is.
How to check a car on VREG
It takes a minute once you have the right VIN.
1. Read the VIN from the car
Take it from the windscreen plate and the door pillar, and compare it with the papers. A VIN copied from an advert can belong to another car. Our chassis number check shows where to look.
2. Enter it on VREG
Use vreg.gov.ng or dial *7031# and follow the prompts with the VIN.
3. Compare the result with the story
A car sold as “cleared and registered” should be on VREG with a duty status that fits. If it is missing or the status is different, ask the seller to explain, and see the customs papers before you go further.
VREG, CVMS and a VIN history report: which does what
Three checks on the same 17 characters, each answering a different question.
VREG
Is this VIN on Nigeria's national registry, and what is its duty status?
CVMS
Was the customs duty on this imported vehicle paid? A paid check by VIN with Nigeria Customs. See the customs papers check.
Carlytics report
What happened to this car before Nigeria? The report shows mileage and accident records where available, a theft check against stolen-vehicle databases from the US, the EU and worldwide, recalls and the factory specification. It does not cover customs duty or Nigerian registration.
A tokunbo car can pass VREG and CVMS perfectly and still have a wound-back odometer or a flood history from abroad. That is why the checks go together. See the tokunbo car check and the car mileage check.
When a VREG result should stop the deal
None of these is proof of fraud on its own. Each one needs an answer before money moves.
- The VIN is not found, and the seller says the car is fully cleared and registered.
- The duty status does not match the customs papers you were shown.
- The VIN on VREG matches the papers but not the windscreen or the door pillar.
- The seller asks for a deposit before you can run the check.
The used car checklist puts every check in order.
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 VREG
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.
VREG and the VIN, in order
Four steps before any deposit.
- 1
Get the VIN
From the car and the papers. All must match.
- 2
Check VREG
vreg.gov.ng or *7031#.
- 3
Check the history
The full report here, before you pay.
- 4
Inspect, then pay
Only when the registry, the papers and the car agree.
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 VREG?
How do I check a car on VREG?
What does a VREG check show?
Is VREG the same as CVMS?
What if the VIN is not on VREG?
Can Carlytics check VREG for me?
How much is the VIN report?
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