Before You Buy That ‘foreign Used’ In Lagos, Read This Or Cry Later - Autos

Before You Buy That ‘foreign Used’ In Lagos, Read This Or Cry Later - Autos - Nairaland

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Before You Buy That ‘foreign Used’ In Lagos, Read This Or Cry Later by alphonsojaybaz(op): 5:45am On Jul 15, 2025

“Belgium Standard” or Nigeria-Used With 5 Owners?

You’ve seen them. Loud shirts. Sunglasses inside showroom. Voice like they own 5 car lots in Dubai.
They greet you with:

“Oga this one na direct Tokunbo o, just landed yesterday from Germany… e still dey smell abroad!”

But by the time you start engine, the stereo plays Fuji FM and LASTMA stickers are hiding under “new” seat covers.

Welcome to the wild, wild world of Lagos car dealers—where the only thing faster than the cars is the lies. Eyes Of Lagos reports,
💡 Why You MUST Read This Before Buying That ‘Foreign Used’

Because in Lagos:

“Foreign used” could mean it was imported by flood water.

“Accident-free” means “accident didn’t kill the car—just wounded it.”

That “agent” could vanish before your car gets to Apapa.

Let’s break down their top tricks, where these deals go down, and how you can avoid becoming the next sob story on TikTok.
🕵️‍♂️ 1. The Berger Lie-By-Paint Job Formula

📍 Berger Auto Market is a known hotspot—tons of legit dealers, yes—but also professional repainters of accident history.

Dealer Trick:
“See the body now! Factory paint!”
❗Truth: That body has been sprayed more times than a Lagos danfo with perfume.

They’ll also tell you: “Just small repainting for aesthetics.”
Reality? The chassis is holding prayer meetings.

🤦‍♀️ 2. Mile 2: Where ‘Direct Belgium’ Is Really ‘Dusted from Cotonou’

In Mile 2 and along Badagry expressway, some agents sell cars smuggled through Seme border, calling them “American spec.”
Guess what? Those cars have no history—just mystery.

“This car was used by a pastor in Canada.”
— Meanwhile, the underbody has red mud from Ogun state.

How to spot the trick:

No proper VIN check.

Seller can’t explain customs papers.

You pay full money before seeing the car move.

🚨 3. Festac ‘Home Delivery’ Agents

They use Facebook & Instagram to post “clean cars” they never owned. You contact them, they say:

“Car is in our warehouse. Send part payment and we bring it to you.”

But after your money drops?
You’ll be blocked faster than MTN network during thunderstorm.

🎭 Red Flag:
If their “lot” is someone else’s parking space, it’s a wrap. Most real dealers in Festac have registered addresses and NIN-verified delivery options.

😩 4. Ladipo: Engine Swap Capital of Nigeria

Yes, Ladipo is heaven for parts—but hell for unsuspecting car buyers. Some smart-talking agents sell cars with:

Rewired dashboards

Diesel engines switched to petrol

Airbags that only work as decoration

“Sir, this car is sharp.”
It better be—because the brakes may not work.

Pro tip: Go with a trusted mechanic. And if they don’t let you test-drive beyond 100 meters, run.

🙏🏽 5. Ojodu/Ogba Dealers That Pray Before Lying

They start with:

“Let’s thank God for your life before we begin…”

Then end with:

“The car is just ₦4.5M. I swear on my children.”
(Meanwhile, that exact model is ₦3.2M with verified documents online.)

Religion is not warranty, abeg. Ask for CAC, verify VIN, and compare prices on Cheki.ng, Jiji, Autohub.ng before committing.
🚦 Common Dealer Red Flags (Eyes of Lagos Tested & Verified!)
🚩 Red Flag 🤔 What It Means
“Direct Belgium” with local reg plates Fake import
No test-drive allowed Car has big fault
“Agent fee” demanded before inspection Time-waster
VIN code not provided Covering accident/flood damage
Always says “price go up tomorrow” Pressure tactic
🎤 Final Word from Eyes of Lagos:

Buying a car in Lagos is like dating—they show you their best side first, but the wahala is waiting inside.

So before you go “foreign used” shopping, ask questions, verify documents, and never go alone. Don’t let cruise turn to curse.
If you’ve ever bought a car in Lagos that shocked you more than NEPA, tell us your story in the comments.

https://eyesoflagos.com/before-you-buy-that-foreign-used-in-lagos-read-this-or-cry-later/

40 Likes 5 Shares

Re: Before You Buy That ‘foreign Used’ In Lagos, Read This Or Cry Later by tanigororo: 6:59am On Jul 15, 2025

Very Very Insightful

10 Likes

Re: Before You Buy That ‘foreign Used’ In Lagos, Read This Or Cry Later by Saturnalia(m): 9:09am On Jul 15, 2025

97% of Car Dealers in Nigeria are fraudsters.

Majority of them buy stolen or flooded or accidented vehicles from overseas (America & Canada) for a fraction of the actual value of the vehicle and then ship to Nigeria to resell.

Again, Majority of them, overinflate the price of the vehicles they sell for their greed & selfishness especially our Nairaland Auto Dealers who are mostly middleman without any carlots to their name.

Never Ever use the prices of vehicles you see on Jiji or Cheki and elsewhere to measure the actual prices of vehicles in Nigeria because they have been grossly overinflated.

When you see a Vehicle on Jiji or Cheki going for 40 Million Naira, know for certain that the actual price of that vehicle is not more than 28 Million Naira and make sure you drive the vehicle to a nearest Custom Office for verification of its its papers. Do not settle for online Customs Verification because these dishonorable Car Dealers have agents at the Customs Office they collude with to swindle unsuspecting customers by giving them wrong information.

I contacted a Car Dealer on Nairaland about Four Months ago to send me more pictures (especially the engine bay picture) and the VIN of a Vehicle he was advertising; he sent me the price of the vehicle within 2 minutes on WhatsApp and sent me the VIN the following day. He never sent me the engine bay picture.

He said he would send somebody to go snap the picture of the VIN where the Vehicle was parked. (Meaning that he didn’t even have access to the vehicle because he wasn’t the owner).

Guess what? On Nairaland, he advertised a 2022 AMG 63 G-Wagon but when I searched the VIN, I discovered the vehicle was a 2020 FLOODED G-Wagon and the price he sent to me was 380 Million Naira.

Very greedy and senseless individuals!

91 Likes 9 Shares

Re: Before You Buy That ‘foreign Used’ In Lagos, Read This Or Cry Later by Rexymania(m): 11:59am On Jul 15, 2025

Thanks for this information

5 Likes

Re: Before You Buy That ‘foreign Used’ In Lagos, Read This Or Cry Later by 2cribz: 12:01am On Jul 16, 2025

In one of few persons that sold my last car with a factual error which was draining me and it had to Be the AC job.

Re: Before You Buy That ‘foreign Used’ In Lagos, Read This Or Cry Later by BodyCount: 11:02am On Jul 16, 2025

Foreign used
Alokuuuu

I don't like them

I like new things always

2 Likes 1 Share

Re: Before You Buy That ‘foreign Used’ In Lagos, Read This Or Cry Later by 99thEnemy(m): 11:13am On Jul 16, 2025

Olajide Alphonso everywhere on Nairaland these days.

1 Like

Re: Before You Buy That ‘foreign Used’ In Lagos, Read This Or Cry Later by cyberbro: 11:23am On Jul 16, 2025*

Saturnalia:
97% of Car Dealers in Nigeria are fraudsters.

97% how? how did you come about that statistic? 😂

I believe the good ones are more than the bad ones, at the same time, the onus is on you as the buyer to check everything before you pay.

Also, some Nigerian buyers are misers who would rather buy an accident vehicle for a cheaper price than one with a clean title for a higher price. We must understand that if you want quality, you pay for it.

7 Likes

Re: Before You Buy That ‘foreign Used’ In Lagos, Read This Or Cry Later by qtx(m): 11:25am On Jul 16, 2025*

This matter is long. I can’t just buy a car in Lagos from anyone or dealer I don’t know. It must be a trusted dealer. I warned someone earlier in the year but he thought he was smart, but up until now the car is still parked at the petrol station looking for buyers after spending a fortune to buy it.

8 Likes 1 Share

Re: Before You Buy That ‘foreign Used’ In Lagos, Read This Or Cry Later by jeffizy(m): 11:25am On Jul 16, 2025

I was expecting something raw and hard from the write up.
Unfortunately, it was just over use of grammar and ambiguity.

Nothing out of the usual antics of car dealers in every part of the country.

14 Likes 1 Share

Re: Before You Buy That ‘foreign Used’ In Lagos, Read This Or Cry Later by tempex88(m): 11:25am On Jul 16, 2025

Beautiful post but there is a mentality problem consumers and regulatory problem from government. Dealers are not all to blame....

Re: Before You Buy That ‘foreign Used’ In Lagos, Read This Or Cry Later by SocialJustice: 11:27am On Jul 16, 2025

😂😂😂😂😂😂

God help your children to buy brand new cars. So we don't deal with religious liars.

Re: Before You Buy That ‘foreign Used’ In Lagos, Read This Or Cry Later by Pauladex(m): 11:28am On Jul 16, 2025*

Very insightful but if I may ask, why 99% all people advertising on nairaland are agent to another agent?

2 Likes

Re: Before You Buy That ‘foreign Used’ In Lagos, Read This Or Cry Later by DIVINEEVIDENCE: 11:42am On Jul 16, 2025

Saturnalia:
97% of Car Dealers in Nigeria are fraudsters.

Majority of them buy stolen or flooded or accidented vehicles from overseas (America & Canada) for a fraction of the actual value of the vehicle and then ship to Nigeria to resell.

Again, Majority of them, overinflate the price of the vehicles they sell for their greed & selfishness especially our Nairaland Auto Dealers who are mostly middleman without any carlots to their name.

Never Ever use the prices of vehicles you see on Jiji or Cheki and elsewhere to measure the actual prices of vehicles in Nigeria because they have been grossly overinflated.

When you see a Vehicle on Jiji or Cheki going for 40 Million Naira, know for certain that the actual price of that vehicle is not more than 28 Million Naira and make sure you drive the vehicle to a nearest Custom Office for verification of its its papers. Do not settle for online Customs Verification because these dishonorable Car Dealers have agents at the Customs Office they collude with to swindle unsuspecting customers by giving them wrong information.

I contacted a Car Dealer on Nairaland about Four Months ago to send me more pictures (especially the engine bay picture) and the VIN of a Vehicle he was advertising; he sent me the price of the vehicle within 2 minutes on WhatsApp and sent me the VIN the following day. He never sent me the engine bay picture.

He said he would send somebody to go snap the picture of the VIN where the Vehicle was parked. (Meaning that he didn’t even have access to the vehicle because he wasn’t the owner).

Guess what? On Nairaland, he advertised a 2022 AMG 63 G-Wagon but when I searched the VIN, I discovered the vehicle was a 2020 FLOODED G-Wagon and the price he sent to me was 380 Million Naira.

Very greedy and senseless individuals!

What if, as a customer, I choose to pick an accidented vehicle (manageable impact point) from a trusted overseas auction company, ship to Nigeria, repair and repaint.

Do you think that would be cost-effective?

2 Likes

Re: Before You Buy That ‘foreign Used’ In Lagos, Read This Or Cry Later by TheStranger: 12:05pm On Jul 16, 2025

No wonder when amdman was selling Canadian cars, many car dealers on nairaland were trying everything to rubbish his business

2 Likes

Re: Before You Buy That ‘foreign Used’ In Lagos, Read This Or Cry Later by ifnyioj22(m): 12:12pm On Jul 16, 2025

What you said about festac cardealers is completely false and misleading 💯 festac doesn't have warehouses in the first place, is not possible for customer to send money without physical or history inspection of a vehicle to an unknown person even if it is handset! Festac is a small community ones you misbehave your follow dealers will Black list you, festac amuwo has good and affordable cars....

4 Likes

Re: Before You Buy That ‘foreign Used’ In Lagos, Read This Or Cry Later by 7demons: 12:30pm On Jul 16, 2025

I will never buy a car or any automobile with the intention of selling it later in the future. That's poverty mentality.
I will rather have one use it till I get tired of it and dash it out.
Nothing I've ever used I sell, I give it out as free will.

5 Likes 1 Share

Re: Before You Buy That ‘foreign Used’ In Lagos, Read This Or Cry Later by BarrElChapo(m): 12:32pm On Jul 16, 2025

"Guess what? Those cars have no history—just mystery."

This made me laugh

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

2 Likes

Re: Before You Buy That ‘foreign Used’ In Lagos, Read This Or Cry Later by seunlayi(m): 12:33pm On Jul 16, 2025

jeffizy:
I was expecting something raw and hard from the write up.
Unfortunately, it was just over use of grammar and ambiguity.

Nothing out of the usual antics of car dealers in every part of the country.

Hmmm, we know your type..... What he wrote is very valid, just add your own of you are not one of them

5 Likes 1 Share

Re: Before You Buy That ‘foreign Used’ In Lagos, Read This Or Cry Later by Kaybaba5(m): 12:43pm On Jul 16, 2025

Wahala for the person who is wanting to buy tokunbo cars....

Re: Before You Buy That ‘foreign Used’ In Lagos, Read This Or Cry Later by scholes23(m): 1:08pm On Jul 16, 2025

You didn't even mention Ikotodu, Ikotun ogba et al

Re: Before You Buy That ‘foreign Used’ In Lagos, Read This Or Cry Later by Feldie: 1:34pm On Jul 16, 2025

Learn how to write properly without corny jokes and weird comments. Are you trying to pass an important message or just fooling around? Your article is hard to read as it strikes as unserious.

2 Likes

Re: Before You Buy That ‘foreign Used’ In Lagos, Read This Or Cry Later by stevups(m): 1:51pm On Jul 16, 2025

Saturnalia:
97% of Car Dealers in Nigeria are fraudsters.

Majority of them buy stolen or flooded or accidented vehicles from overseas (America & Canada) for a fraction of the actual value of the vehicle and then ship to Nigeria to resell.

Again, Majority of them, overinflate the price of the vehicles they sell for their greed & selfishness especially our Nairaland Auto Dealers who are mostly middleman without any carlots to their name.

Never Ever use the prices of vehicles you see on Jiji or Cheki and elsewhere to measure the actual prices of vehicles in Nigeria because they have been grossly overinflated.

When you see a Vehicle on Jiji or Cheki going for 40 Million Naira, know for certain that the actual price of that vehicle is not more than 28 Million Naira and make sure you drive the vehicle to a nearest Custom Office for verification of its its papers. Do not settle for online Customs Verification because these dishonorable Car Dealers have agents at the Customs Office they collude with to swindle unsuspecting customers by giving them wrong information.

I contacted a Car Dealer on Nairaland about Four Months ago to send me more pictures (especially the engine bay picture) and the VIN of a Vehicle he was advertising; he sent me the price of the vehicle within 2 minutes on WhatsApp and sent me the VIN the following day. He never sent me the engine bay picture.

He said he would send somebody to go snap the picture of the VIN where the Vehicle was parked. (Meaning that he didn’t even have access to the vehicle because he wasn’t the owner).

Guess what? On Nairaland, he advertised a 2022 AMG 63 G-Wagon but when I searched the VIN, I discovered the vehicle was a 2020 FLOODED G-Wagon and the price he sent to me was 380 Million Naira.

Very greedy and senseless individuals!

My friend bought a car from dealer since May, the dealer is still painting the car till today. He has bamboozed us as Texas car

Re: Before You Buy That ‘foreign Used’ In Lagos, Read This Or Cry Later by 2special(m): 2:06pm On Jul 16, 2025

scholes23:
You didn't even mention Ikotodu, Ikotun ogba et al

Awusubulahi, why you dey mention ogba, you know na ogba I dey stay....you supposed mention Gbagada or imeko Afon

Re: Before You Buy That ‘foreign Used’ In Lagos, Read This Or Cry Later by lebete3000: 2:29pm On Jul 16, 2025

Saturnalia:
97% of Car Dealers in Nigeria are fraudsters.

Majority of them buy stolen or flooded or accidented vehicles from overseas (America & Canada) for a fraction of the actual value of the vehicle and then ship to Nigeria to resell.

Again, Majority of them, overinflate the price of the vehicles they sell for their greed & selfishness especially our Nairaland Auto Dealers who are mostly middleman without any carlots to their name.

Never Ever use the prices of vehicles you see on Jiji or Cheki and elsewhere to measure the actual prices of vehicles in Nigeria because they have been grossly overinflated.

When you see a Vehicle on Jiji or Cheki going for 40 Million Naira, know for certain that the actual price of that vehicle is not more than 28 Million Naira and make sure you drive the vehicle to a nearest Custom Office for verification of its its papers. Do not settle for online Customs Verification because these dishonorable Car Dealers have agents at the Customs Office they collude with to swindle unsuspecting customers by giving them wrong information.

I contacted a Car Dealer on Nairaland about Four Months ago to send me more pictures (especially the engine bay picture) and the VIN of a Vehicle he was advertising; he sent me the price of the vehicle within 2 minutes on WhatsApp and sent me the VIN the following day. He never sent me the engine bay picture.

He said he would send somebody to go snap the picture of the VIN where the Vehicle was parked. (Meaning that he didn’t even have access to the vehicle because he wasn’t the owner).

Guess what? On Nairaland, he advertised a 2022 AMG 63 G-Wagon but when I searched the VIN, I discovered the vehicle was a 2020 FLOODED G-Wagon and the price he sent to me was 380 Million Naira.

Very greedy and senseless individuals!

Correct gee, oil dey your head. I'll like to run minds with you so that you'll guide me properly when I want to buy my own small Naija used Camry 2002 ending of this year.

Please can kindly let me shoot you a mail, so we continue from there?

Gracias.

Re: Before You Buy That ‘foreign Used’ In Lagos, Read This Or Cry Later by Tonnyray: 2:33pm On Jul 16, 2025

Saturnalia:
97% of Car Dealers in Nigeria are fraudsters.

Never Ever use the prices of vehicles you see on Jiji or Cheki and elsewhere to measure the actual prices of vehicles in Nigeria because they have been grossly overinflated.

When you see a Vehicle on Jiji or Cheki going for 40 Million Naira, know for certain that the actual price of that vehicle is not more than 28 Million Naira

Very greedy and senseless individuals!

Like seriously?
Dayum!

Characters opoor opoor opoor!

Re: Before You Buy That ‘foreign Used’ In Lagos, Read This Or Cry Later by Joeyjones(m): 3:19pm On Jul 16, 2025

DIVINEEVIDENCE:
What if, as a customer, I choose to pick an accidented vehicle (manageable impact point) from a trusted overseas auction company, ship to Nigeria, repair and repaint.

Do you think that would be cost-effective?

That is actually the best cost-effective option.

1 Like

Re: Before You Buy That ‘foreign Used’ In Lagos, Read This Or Cry Later by Olatunde10(m): 3:36pm On Jul 16, 2025

Saturnalia:
97% of Car Dealers in Nigeria are fraudsters.

Majority of them buy stolen or flooded or accidented vehicles from overseas (America & Canada) for a fraction of the actual value of the vehicle and then ship to Nigeria to resell.

Again, Majority of them, overinflate the price of the vehicles they sell for their greed & selfishness especially our Nairaland Auto Dealers who are mostly middleman without any carlots to their name.

Never Ever use the prices of vehicles you see on Jiji or Cheki and elsewhere to measure the actual prices of vehicles in Nigeria because they have been grossly overinflated.

When you see a Vehicle on Jiji or Cheki going for 40 Million Naira, know for certain that the actual price of that vehicle is not more than 28 Million Naira and make sure you drive the vehicle to a nearest Custom Office for verification of its its papers. Do not settle for online Customs Verification because these dishonorable Car Dealers have agents at the Customs Office they collude with to swindle unsuspecting customers by giving them wrong information.

I contacted a Car Dealer on Nairaland about Four Months ago to send me more pictures (especially the engine bay picture) and the VIN of a Vehicle he was advertising; he sent me the price of the vehicle within 2 minutes on WhatsApp and sent me the VIN the following day. He never sent me the engine bay picture.

He said he would send somebody to go snap the picture of the VIN where the Vehicle was parked. (Meaning that he didn’t even have access to the vehicle because he wasn’t the owner).

Guess what? On Nairaland, he advertised a 2022 AMG 63 G-Wagon but when I searched the VIN, I discovered the vehicle was a 2020 FLOODED G-Wagon and the price he sent to me was 380 Million Naira.

Very greedy and senseless individuals!

40 million to 28 million you most be joking. Different is mostly 1-2million Naira. Online is cheaper sometimes cz they use it as marketing strategy. By the time you get there they told you sold and they show another car of same model at slightly higher price

Re: Before You Buy That ‘foreign Used’ In Lagos, Read This Or Cry Later by Glotrade: 5:14pm On Jul 16, 2025

Saturnalia:
97% of Car Dealers in Nigeria are fraudsters.

Majority of them buy stolen or flooded or accidented vehicles from overseas (America & Canada) for a fraction of the actual value of the vehicle and then ship to Nigeria to resell.

Again, Majority of them, overinflate the price of the vehicles they sell for their greed & selfishness especially our Nairaland Auto Dealers who are mostly middleman without any carlots to their name.

Never Ever use the prices of vehicles you see on Jiji or Cheki and elsewhere to measure the actual prices of vehicles in Nigeria because they have been grossly overinflated.

When you see a Vehicle on Jiji or Cheki going for 40 Million Naira, know for certain that the actual price of that vehicle is not more than 28 Million Naira and make sure you drive the vehicle to a nearest Custom Office for verification of its its papers. Do not settle for online Customs Verification because these dishonorable Car Dealers have agents at the Customs Office they collude with to swindle unsuspecting customers by giving them wrong information.

I contacted a Car Dealer on Nairaland about Four Months ago to send me more pictures (especially the engine bay picture) and the VIN of a Vehicle he was advertising; he sent me the price of the vehicle within 2 minutes on WhatsApp and sent me the VIN the following day. He never sent me the engine bay picture.

He said he would send somebody to go snap the picture of the VIN where the Vehicle was parked. (Meaning that he didn’t even have access to the vehicle because he wasn’t the owner).

Guess what? On Nairaland, he advertised a 2022 AMG 63 G-Wagon but when I searched the VIN, I discovered the vehicle was a 2020 FLOODED G-Wagon and the price he sent to me was 380 Million Naira.

Very greedy and senseless individuals!

I'm a car dealer a middle man. I joined this hustle to sell good tokumbo cars. Make man no dey idle

I'm not greedy but I wish to learn more from you what are things we middleman must consider when selling cars

2 Likes

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