Checking a vehicle history is very important when buying a used car. When I say used, I mean both tokunbo and locally used. In situations when you are buying a brand new car, you still go through the history, this will clear your doubt. In this article, we will be reviewing how to check any vehicle’s history for free in Nigeria.
Benefits of checking a vehicle history before buying
There are numerous benefits you get when you check a vehicle’s history, they include:
- You know the car’s salvage history: When we say salvage history, we are talking about its accident history. Most cars imported into the country are accident cars, some go as far as importing a car that has been deemed as scrap, fix it, and sell it to an unsuspecting buyer. When you check a car’s accident history, it will help you to make the right choice as well as save your life, cash, and stress.
- You will know the mileage of the car you are buying: I marveled when I saw a 2003 Toyota Camry with a mileage of about 110,000mile on the clock. You start to ask yourself how possible it is for a car that has been around for over 20 years to still have such low mileage.
- It is no longer a rumor that some bad car dealers always reset the mileage so they can sell it out to unsuspecting buyers but with a full car report, you will have all the information right there on your mobile device.
- Knowing your vehicle history will also help you not to buy a stolen car: Most of the cars stolen in some foreign countries end up in Africa and I know you won’t like to use your hard-earned money to buy a stolen car. Checking a car history will keep you safe from buying stolen vehicles.
- It will also help you to know if the car still comes with the first body paint: almost all the tokunbo cars in Nigeria are tagged first body, even cars that are manufactured in 1999 are still tagged first body. A comprehensive vehicle history will give you the full history of the car including how many times it has been repainted.
- Other things include auction sales history of the car, open safety recalls, etc.
How to check a vehicle’s history for free in Nigeria
- To check a vehicle’s history, you must first of all copy the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of the car. It is located on the driver’s side door or the dashboard.
- Go to EpicVIN.com
- Fill in the VIN in the space provided and click on Check VIN.
- The data about the vehicle will be revealed to you.
For a very comprehensive report, you might have to get a premium plan. The basic free plan is good if you need a few details of the car you are purchasing.
