How to spot a refurbished vehicle before purchase

The Nigerian car market is heavily flooded with foreign used cars, many of which are what's popularly called "accidented cars" that are bought cheaply at auctions, refurbished, and sold for profit in Nigeria.

Oftentimes, it's almost impossible to identify a refurbished car from its mere exterior and interior, which has undergone facelifts that make it appear fit and ready for use. If you want to purchase a foreign-used car and you don't want to fall victim to spending millions on a refurbished one, this article is for you.

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An accidented vehicle is any car that has been involved in a crash or major impact that caused damage to its structure, body, or internal systems.

Not all accidented cars are completely unusable. Some are repaired and resold, especially in markets like Nigeria, where “Tokunbo” cars are common. However, the issue is that many of these repairs are poorly done or hide serious underlying problems.

In more severe cases, some vehicles are classified as “write-offs” abroad, meaning they were considered too damaged to be safely driven but are still shipped to countries with less strict regulations.

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If you’re planning to buy a car, especially a used one, here is how to check if it’s accidented or not: 

Every vehicle has a unique 17-character alphanumeric code known as the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). With this VIN, you can trace accident history, see the manufacturer history and previous ownership and confirm if it was written off. 

You will find it on the driver’s side dashboard, door jamb, car title, or insurance documents.

VINs are absolutely vital for registrations, insurance, and tracking recalls, making them a must-have tool for checking a vehicle’s history before you buy. If a seller refuses to provide the VIN, that’s a red flag.

Look out for:

• Uneven paint (sign of repainting after damage)

• Misaligned doors or bonnet

• Welding marks or patched metal

These often indicate past collisions.

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The chassis is the car’s backbone. It is one of the biggest indicators of a serious accident. If it’s bent or repaired, the car may not drive straight and may be unsafe at high speeds.

Check for:

• New parts in odd places

• Loose or mismatched components

• Signs of fire or water damage

These can reveal hidden repairs.

This is an important part of the process. Pay attention to:

• Strange vibrations

• Steering pulling to one side

• Unusual noises

A properly repaired car shouldn’t feel unstable.

No matter how good the car looks, always get a professional inspection and use a diagnostic scanner if possible. A mechanic can spot issues you’ll likely miss.

If the price is “too good to be true”, the seller rushes you to buy, there’s no documentation, or the story about the car keeps changing, that’s your cue to take off your slippers and run.

These are common warning signs that you’re dealing with a fraudulent car seller.

Not necessarily. Some cars involved in minor accidents (like bumper damage) can be properly repaired and still be safe. But if the damage affects the structure or the repairs are poorly done, it’s dangerous. 

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The government’s ban on uncertified and accidented vehicles is a step in the right direction. While it may cause a hike in car prices, it helps save lives.