How to Check Original Plate Number in Nigeria (2024)

It is against the law to drive in Nigeria without license plates. The Vehicle Inspection Service distribute car number plates to owners after they are designed and created by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) of Nigeria. Some drivers in Nigeria nowadays are breaking the law by using fake license plates without even being aware that they are doing it. To stay on the safe side, it’s best to get a plate number and also check whether the correct one is genuine. The methods to check the original plate number in Nigeria are covered in this article.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT VEHICLE PLATE NUMBER

A vehicle plate number is often located at the rear of an automobile and serves as the vehicle’s official legal identification. Every vehicle needs a number plate. You cannot operate a vehicle on the nation’s roads without it. The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) of Nigeria consistently issues and distributes this legal document to all of its local government divisions.

This number serves as a way of identification in such circumstances for a variety of purposes. There can be incidents of robbery, theft, or even accidents. Sometimes, identifying the owner of the license plate by the number on the plate is the closest you can go to learning who owns the car involved in these occurrences. This is situated at the front and rear of the vehicle in a prominent location.

Why is it important to double-check and verify your license plate number?

1. To confirm that your license plate is authentic and displays your information.
2. To confirm that you are operating a stolen vehicle. Keep in mind that ignorance is not a defense in court.
3. This can tell you whether you are dealing with the legitimate owner or if the vehicle is a stolen one before you purchase a vehicle with a Nigerian registration.

Now that we have gotten that out of the bag, let’s examine how one can check and confirm their car’s license plate number in the country.

HOW TO CHECK ORIGINAL PLATE NUMBER IN NIGERIA

Here are various methods on how to look up and verify the Nigerian license plate number on your car.

METHOD 1: VIA THE FRSC’S OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO CHECK THE ORIGINAL PLATE NUMBER

The authenticity of Nigerian license plates can be verified online. You must go to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) official website in order to complete the online confirmation process. The National Vehicle Identification System is the focus of this online resource.

Use the FRSC website to check your license plate number by following the steps below:

• Step 1: Click on this link to access the FRSC’s Verify Number Plate webpage: https://nvis.frsc.gov.ng/VehicleManagement/VerifyPlateNo
• Step 2: You can find a straightforward form on the Verify Number Plate website.
• In the box provided on the website, enter the license plate number of the vehicle whose legitimacy you wish to confirm. MKP141AK is a typical illustration of a license plate number. Make sure not to add any spaces or symbols to this number; otherwise, it will be refused.
• Step 3: Tap the “submit” button. Afterward, if the car has been registered with the FRSC, its information will be presented; otherwise, a blank result will be returned.

METHOD 2: CHECK ORIGINAL VEHICLE PLATE NUMBER VIA SMS

This method is for anyone seeking an alternative to the internet who have problems accessing computers, smartphones, or reliable internet. You can use the FRSC’s SMS feature to verify that your license plate number is authentic. Any mobile phone can be used to complete it, and it is quite convenient. There is also no need for an internet connection. Here is how the process goes:

• Step 1: Enter “Verify plate no [your plate number]” into the text message field on your mobile device. Make careful to input this number without a space or additional symbols.
• Step 2: The following action will be to send it as a message to 33324.
• Step 3: You will shortly receive a reply message from FRSC with information about the car whose license plate number you supplied. A null result will be returned if the car has not yet been registered with the FRSC.

METHOD 3: USING THE FRSC MOBILE APP TO CHECK A VEHICLE PLATE NUMBER

The Federal Road Safety Corps makes sure to offer every technological solution available for checking and verifying your license plate number. Utilizing the official FRSC mobile app from the Google Play store is currently the only remaining option. Unfortunately, the FRSC app is not accessible through the app store. You can Google search to see the options that are available.

• Step 1: Search for “FRSC app” in the Google Play store on your smartphone. You will see options created by other developers because the official app is temporarily not available. Click any to download it if it suits your needs.
• Step 2: Open the application, then type your license plate number into the box given. Make sure not to add any spaces or symbols to this number; otherwise, it will be refused.
• Step 3: If the car has been registered with the FRSC, select verify, and the information about your vehicle will be provided as a consequence. But if the car isn’t registered, the test will come up empty.

METHOD 4: CHECK ORIGINAL PLATE NUMBER BY VISITING THE FEDERAL ROAD SAFETY CORPS OFFICE

Yet another option to verify the authenticity of a Nigerian license plate is to go to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) office in your area. This is recommended since the Federal Road Safety Corps has all the data and information pertaining to each license plate number and its owner. If you have a valid reason, you are welcome to visit their office to obtain any information you require regarding any license plate number.

Note that, you must first report a theft or armed robbery to the police before requesting a police report. You might use this police report to assist with the procedures that the FRSC office would need. You could persuade the organization to assist you in checking the plate number owner if you have a police record. The personnel in charge of road safety can then assist you in checking the license plate number so you can identify the owner of the vehicle.