₦airaland Forum

Adenex3051:
I am buying a Nigerian used car from a total stranger for the first time and I want to know what checks I need to do to ensure its a genuine and not stolen car.
Previously I had bought foreign use vehicles and a Nigerian used car from a person well known to me but this time I am buying from a total stranger I met online

1. custom documents fully stamped and check whether all things correspond like name and model of car, VIN and all payments were made. Mostly like 6 or more papers could be photocopy if multiple cars were cleared by one dealer but make sure it is a clear crisp document not faded crap and don't take the nobody will ask you for customer paper crap, it could spell doom or stolen vehicle.

2. CMR (computerized motor registration) original copy

3. Current insurance (original copy)

4. Vehicle licence (original copy)

5. Road worthiness certificate (original copy)

6. Plate number allocation (original copy)

7. Original proof of ownership fully stamped

8. You will collect two printed and signed documents
a. Change of ownership document
b. Receipt of purchase from previous owner

There are some other documents you may need like
1. Tinted permit doc
2. police report/doc of change of ownership/plate number/engine number (which we call vin)

make sure you see the change of ownership letter given to the buyer duly signed when he first bought it as Nigerian used except the car was bought as tokunbo then you may not need this.

Once the car doesn't have custom doc except it's a beetle and the documents have expired years ago, I suggest you stay away from such ride.

I will cover nigerian used, and foreign used cars on this.

Lets start with nigerian used cars.

After a full inspection and drive test, if you are comfortable with car, inform seller of your willingness to pay for car at agreed price.

Next insist on sighting all original paper work.

Paper work to expect.

1. License

2. Road worthiness

3. Certificate of ownership

4. Allocation of number plate.

5. Receipts of allocation of number plate.

6. Police CMR (if lagos registered)

7. Receipt for police CMR

8. Receipt of vehicle (if available)

9. Custom duty papers. (might not be original copy)

Now ensure you go with a camera phone, and take pics of all documents.

This is where it gets interesting. On the allocation papers, a GSM phone number is there that belongs to the registered owner of the vehicle , call the number (if possible with your number hidden) explain to the person that you are about to enter into a transaction on said vehicle, and ask if the individual selling has express permission to sell vehicle.
(try and record the call if possible)

Next confirm the custom duty by going to any command in the state for verification.

Finally ensure you get a receipt after payment, do not pay with cash, insist on paying into acc with name of seller on the agreement or better still pay into acc of name on vehicle papers. Also write names in full on agreements ensure witness on sellers side writes info in full. Confirm all info from DL or National ID cards. It is your right.

You can further get a court affidavit and police report for the transaction to further solidify it.

After purchase delete any key on system not in your possession.