CarGuideNG:


Great topic.

We specialise in providing Comprehensive Vehicle History Reports

A significant proportion of vehicles imported to Nigeria are salvaged and have all sorts of dangerous damage, it would be very short sighted and a serious error to purchase any vehicle without a VIN history report. CarGuideNG provides that service.

In conjunction with expert vehicle inspection, the aim is to have a comprehensive idea of the past and present condition of any vehicle.

The reports are inexpensive and well worth it, compared to the value of the vehicle and the potential dangerous history the report would protect a buyer from, such as accidents and collisions, flood or water damage, fire or severe heat damage, vandalism, mileage tampering or odometer rollback, and a lot more.

*Technically some vehicles have VIN less than 17 digits, and it's also possible to run a VIN check for some vehicles manufactured before 1980, for instance the 1966 Ford Mustang featured in the other independence day drive topic has 6R07T130262 as the 11 digit VIN.

Most average or regular history platforms would be unable to process it because it's less than 17 digits and it's beyond the scope of history databases like CarFax, AutoCheck and other European vehicle reports, or Middle Eastern vehicle reports.

With the right tools however it's possible to decode it to determine the location and year of manufacture, body configuration, engine and transmission type, and other specifications.

With the right specialized tools and sources it's also possible to gain history records for it.

For such vehicles it goes beyond the regular generic CarFax or AutoCheck or scanty European vehicle history reports average consumers and other average history platforms are familiar with.

CalciumB3:
My own is to drive car, i no sabi anything for this one jere

computerglobal:
A VIN, or Vehicle Identification Number, is a unique "fingerprint" assigned to a vehicle to allow it to be identified. All vehicles currently made in quantities over 500 are required to have a VIN number assigned to them.


Everyone from parts manufacturers to law enforcement use VIN numbers to trace, track, and positively identify vehicles. Each modern vehicle has the VIN number printed in several places on the vehicle, including on the frame. This allows identification even in the case of severe damage from accident or fire

antagonist:


Another copy and paste master

officialteemi:
how do someone check the report

quentin06:
vin report is useful as a pre purchase check when the vehicle is at the dealer, but its useless when the vehicle has stayed in the country for more than a year or was locally used,we all know that our shady dealers and car owners in naija put for sale stickets on their vehicles yet drive them everyday, how do you rely on vin report for that?

quentin06:
from what i gathet only dealers have the means to update vin records, am talking dealers overseas not the car sellers here who call themselves dealers.

CarGuideNG:


No Sir, it's not just dealers.

U.S. motor vehicle agencies

Canadian provincial motor vehicle agencies

Auto auctions

Collision repair facilities

Service/ maintenance facilities

Insurance companies

Salvage auctions

Automotive recyclers

Rental/fleet vehicle companies

State inspection stations

Extended warranty companies

Fire departments

Manufacturers

Law enforcement agencies

Car dealerships

Import/export companies



The information is sourced from several federal and state institutions, which is why the reports are often very comprehensive and detailed.

CarGuideNG:


Hello Sir.

You have a point, the reports are most useful as a vital tool while planning purchasing imported vehicles

However they are still necessary even for Nigerian used or even registered vehicles.

For instance, in the situation you mentioned, where a salesman tries to sell a used car as Tokunbo, the report would indicate when the vehicle was imported to Nigeria.

From that it may be possible to deduce the chances of being used or Tokunbo.

Further for such damage as flood or water damage where the irreversible process can start even years after import, the VIN report would be necessary even for a Nigerian used vehicle.

We recommend a combination of VIN reports as well as inspection for all vehicle purchases.

quentin06:


i know the authorities overseas use vin reports, i am talking about nigrria, who uses vin report? do our police or frsc know what a vin number is, do licensing offices have a system of keeping track of it? the answer is NO.

nigeria is one of the few countries in the world where a vehicle can have somany license plates with different owners.

SureBETarena:
With the prevailing economic circumstances in the country there is chances of cars staying in a car lot for close to a year without being sold, especially cars worth 2m and above.

SureBETarena:
You are very correct, VIN is useless in Nigeria for cars locally used, but necessary when buying imported cars though many dealers alter their cars' VIN especially car mileage.
Buying clean title cars is the best though they are more expensive but worth the extra cost.

CarGuidNG:


You're right about that Sir, it's merely an approximate.

Expert physical inspection in addition to the report would be preferable.