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8 Documents you should ask for when buying a Nigerian used car
Never assume all is well when buying a Nigerian used car.
OYO may be your case if you don’t sight and verify all the vehicle documents before you part with your money..
Some have fallen victim.. and the car they bought ended up being stolen or smuggled vehicles. To prevent future occurrence, I have come up with this list that will prevent you from buying an undocumented vehicle..
These are the 8 Documents you should ask for when buying a Nigerian used car:
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 
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
a. Tinted permit doc
b. police report/doc of change of ownership/plate number/engine number/ chassis 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. 
If you have any further questions, don’t forget to drop it in the comment section.
Written by: Adetoro Nurey
FIDELIS
December 30, 2016 at 12:59
I need a sequire jeep,send me the photo and the price,and also a toyota camry all black colours
AutoJosh
December 30, 2016 at 16:45
Do you want us to ship from USA. or you want Tokunbo?
Bamidele
December 30, 2016 at 19:24
Pls I bought a Honda crv bought brand new from Honda. It does not have custom paper but there is a original Letter of attestation from Honda place that duty was paid. Should I be concerned since the car is over 10 years?
AutoJosh
December 30, 2016 at 20:33
Hello Sir, you do not need to be bothered. The Letter of Attestation is all you need. The process Honda dealership would use to clear their cars is different from single car buyers because Honda can bring in 100 or 200 cars at once… and all these cars will be clear together. So no wahala with Nigeria Customs.
Bon-Amakiri marvel
December 31, 2016 at 02:29
What about tokunbo vehicles…what re d papers required to carry around and avoid police wahala?
AutoJosh
December 31, 2016 at 08:37
Practically the same papers.. the difference is the buyer has to process virtually all the documents themselves.
Kayode
February 5, 2017 at 19:38
Is it true that any vehicle that have spent 7 to 8 years in NIGERIA is free from costom checking
AutoJosh
February 6, 2017 at 10:07
They are not meant to disturb any car that old but they still do. Especially if the car is still clean. They usually seize old cars at that Ijebu Ode – Ore axis. At least, I know they have seized several cars that are over 5 years old.
CarMan
July 9, 2017 at 13:34
I’m considering buying a Nigerian used car (Possibly Opel Zafira model). I look for models and prices from online sources like: http://jiji.ng/cars/opel-zafira . But before buying used car i want to check it, and need some advices. I found a lot of important things in this article. I’m new to car buying this is first car i want to buy. Thank you for useful recommendations.
AutoJosh
July 9, 2017 at 19:04
Thanks for reading
Tade
December 14, 2017 at 21:37
Hi
I want to sell my used Sienna car to a friend and he demanded that I give him a letter of transfer apart from the car documets that I have already given him. Please, do you have a copy of the transfer letter or how I should write it? Your urgent response is highly needed.
Thanks
AutoJosh
December 14, 2017 at 23:42
Hi, I will draft one and send to you tomorrow morning.
Regards.
Tade
December 15, 2017 at 08:28
Hello,
Oh, my God!!! Thank you so very much. I am so very grateful. He is actually coming this morning to pick the car. That is the reason how I stumbled on the site yesterday while searching for a copy of Notice of change of ownership/Sale of vehicle or transfer documents to copy or download or print the format. Please, I would really appreciate if you can send it to me now.
God be with you.
TADE.
Tade
December 15, 2017 at 09:26
Thank you so much. I received the document format. I really do appreciate this kind gesture so much.
I will keep following your post.
God bless you.
Tade.
AutoJosh
December 15, 2017 at 11:35
We thank God and thanks for visiting AutoJosh.
Charles
February 25, 2018 at 21:37
Pls I want a neatly Nigerian used Toyota Camry big daddy,first body.2004 or 2005
AutoJosh
February 25, 2018 at 22:46
Sure, we can work with you on this. May we know your specific questions please. You can also reach us through our contact page.
Charles A
May 24, 2020 at 21:20
Hello auto Josh. Thank you for this post because I have been researching the do’s and don’ts of buying used Nigerian cars and I find this article very enlightening.
My only issue is some of these private sellers don’t know where to find Change of ownership document or purchase receipt.
If you can please send me these two documents and/or any other documents you think I may need but the seller may not have, I will be eternally grateful. By they way, I just bookmarked your site because you have a lot of useful info. Cheers!
AutoJosh
May 28, 2020 at 17:37
Kindly see template of the change of ownership document and purchase receipt via this link https://autojosh.com/change-ownership-purchase-receipt-template/
Thanks for being a part of our esteemed audience.
Regards
Kayode Richard
November 3, 2020 at 21:27
Hello @autojosh.
I thank God there’s a platform like this. You are doing a very wonderful and helpful job. I pray the lord will reward your labour of the good help you render.
Please,I want to buy a Nigerian used highlander . Please,inform me on the documents I need to request from the owner. Secondly,how would the transaction go, should I make him give me the documents before I pay him?.
Regards
Akobor Joseph
December 6, 2020 at 21:24
I bought a car, the seller didn’t give me a purchase receipt. I swoon affidavit and process the proof of ownership. But police still ask for cmr and information required for clearance of vehicle imported into Nigeria. Advice me how to go abt it.