How to Check a Used Car Before You Pay a Kobo

Before you pay for that "clean" Tokunbo, run it through a real checklist. Ten checks, from VIN numbers to independent inspection, that can save you from a costly mistake.

A pre-purchase inspection checklist for buyers of Tokunbo and locally used cars. Every Tokunbo buyer has heard the same line before handing over the money: "Car is clean, nothing dey do am." Sometimes it's true. Sometimes the transmission fails in week three. Sometimes the "accident-free" car turns out to have a repainted quarter panel. Sometimes the mileage on the dashboard has nothing to do with the mileage the car has actually covered. By the time any of that shows up, your money is usually gone and the seller is unreachable. A used car purchase shouldn't be decided by how good the car looks or how convincing the seller sounds. Before you pay a kobo, investigate the car. The used-car market has long faced challenges around transparency and vehicle identification. Demand for professional pre-purchase inspections has grown as buyers become more cautious about making expensive mistakes. So what exactly should you check before buying a used car?

1. Start with the documents, not the steering wheel

Before you become emotionally attached to the car, ask to see its documentation. Check that the information on the documents corresponds with the vehicle in front of you. Pay particular attention to: * Chassis/VIN number * Engine number * Registration number * Make and model * Year of manufacture * Owner's details * Proof of ownership * Insurance * Roadworthiness documentation, where applicable * Customs/import documentation, for imported vehicles The FRSC's vehicle registration system captures the engine number, chassis number, odometer reading, insurance policy number, and ownership details. These numbers matter. If the numbers on the vehicle and the documents don't match, stop the transaction until the discrepancy has been properly explained and independently verified. The FRSC also runs a Proof of Ownership Verification platform (poc.frsc.gov.ng) where vehicle ownership information can be checked directly.

2. Check the VIN and chassis number yourself

The Vehicle Identification Number is effectively the car's identity. Don't simply ask the seller, "What's the VIN?" Compare it yourself against the documentation and any available vehicle-history information. Look for: * Missing or altered characters * Signs of tampering * Numbers that don't match the paperwork * Suspicious plates or labels A mismatch is not something to overlook because "the car is fine." The car's identity is part of the car.

3. Don't trust the odometer blindly

A low mileage can make a used car more attractive, and more expensive. That's exactly why odometer fraud remains a common issue in the used-car market. A vehicle displaying 80,000 km may have travelled considerably more. Ask whether the mileage makes sense for the vehicle's age and condition. Check wear on the: * Steering wheel * Pedals * Driver's seat * Gear selector * Door handles * Tyres * Service records A five-year-old car with unusually low mileage isn't automatically a bargain. If the dashboard says 70,000 km but the driver's seat, pedals, and steering wheel look like they've survived 250,000 km, ask questions.

4. Inspect the body for accident and repair history

A shiny exterior can hide a serious history. Look carefully at panel gaps, paint colour differences, overspray, uneven body lines, welding marks, repaired or replaced sections, rust, and any signs of water damage. Some accident repairs are purely cosmetic. Others affect the structural integrity of the vehicle. In more serious cases, you may be looking at a "cut and shut" vehicle, where sections from two different vehicles have been joined together. This is a genuine and dangerous form of used-car fraud, and it usually takes a trained eye to detect. A professional inspection is part of the purchase, not an added cost on top of it.

5. Check underneath the car

Don't let the inspection stop at the bonnet. Look underneath for: * Oil or transmission-fluid leaks * Damaged components * Excessive corrosion * Previous welding * Suspension damage * Signs of impact * Uneven tyre wear Have the vehicle inspected on a lift if possible. Some problems simply cannot be seen from the driver's seat.

6. Run a diagnostic scan alongside a physical inspection

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Modern vehicles can tell you a lot about themselves. A diagnostic scan can identify electronic faults that may not be obvious during a short test drive. It should support a wider inspection rather than replace one. A scan alone won't catch everything, and a mechanic's physical check alone won't either. Use both.

7. Test-drive the car properly

Skip the three-minute drive around the block. Test the cold start, acceleration, braking, steering, gear changes, reverse, air conditioning, electrical systems, dashboard warning lights, and suspension. Listen for unusual sounds or vibrations. If the seller refuses a reasonable inspection or test drive, treat that as information too.

8. Investigate the car's history

Ask where the vehicle came from. For imported vehicles, find out whether it was clean-title stock, accident-damaged, salvage, rebuilt, flood-damaged, or previously repaired. This matters especially for vehicles sourced from overseas auctions. Some vehicles are auctioned specifically because they've suffered accidents or other damage. Title classifications such as clean, salvage, and junk carry very different implications for the car you end up with.

9. Don't let urgency make the decision for you

One of the oldest tricks in any marketplace is telling a buyer someone else is coming to pay for the car. Maybe that's true. Maybe it isn't. A ₦10 million, ₦20 million, or ₦50 million purchase is too significant to rush because a seller gives you 30 minutes to decide. A genuine seller can accommodate reasonable due diligence.

10. Get an independent inspection

This may be the most important advice in this article. Don't let the seller's mechanic be the only person inspecting the vehicle. Bring in an independent professional. An inspection isn't proof that something is wrong with the car. It's how you find out exactly what you're buying before your money changes hands. Few people would buy a house without checking its foundation. A car deserves the same standard. The Chat2Cars pre-purchase checklist Before paying for a used car, verify, in order: Identity → Documents → History → Body → Engine → Transmission → Electronics → Undercarriage → Test drive → Independent inspection If something doesn't add up, pause. There will always be another car. There may not be another chance to recover your money.