European car import check UAE
Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Range Rover, Bentley: check the chassis number before you buy. Confirm the exact model and engine, see the factory equipment where available and look back at the car's European history — for AED 39.
Full report AED 39 — one-time payment, no subscription.
Carlytics checks European-built cars for buyers in the UAE by chassis number. The free decode confirms make, model, engine and plant. The full report — AED 39, one-time payment — adds factory equipment for BMW, Audi, Bentley and Land Rover where available, dated European registration, inspection and mileage records where available, open recalls, a stolen-vehicle check and accident and damage records where available.
Why European cars deserve a closer look in the UAE
A European luxury car is priced on its exact version and specification — and those are the two things easiest to misdescribe in an advert.
Many European cars on sale in the Emirates were sold new in the region; many others were first registered in Europe and exported after a few years. Both can be excellent buys. The difference is that an exported car has a past in another country, with its own registrations, inspections and odometer readings, and nothing on the UAE paperwork shows it.
The chassis number connects the two. It confirms the exact version the factory built, it unlocks the factory equipment for many brands, and it is the key to the car's European records where they exist.
What the chassis number tells you, brand by brand
The first three characters identify the manufacturer and the country of the plant. The rest is the factory's own code, which the decode reads for you.
Porsche
Typical prefixes: WP0 (sports cars), WP1 (Cayenne, Macan)
Cayenne, Macan, Panamera and 911 versions differ hugely in price while sharing a body. The decode confirms the model line and engine, so a base car wearing a Turbo or GTS badge is caught before you negotiate.
Mercedes-Benz
Typical prefixes: W1K, WDD (cars), W1N, WDC (SUVs)
AMG styling packs make a C 200 look like a C 63 from the kerb. The decode confirms the model and engine the car was built with, which is what the price should follow.
BMW
Typical prefixes: WBA (cars), WBS (BMW M), 5UX (US-built X models)
The report lists the factory equipment a BMW was built with, where available — packages, wheels, seats and driver assistance — so you can compare it with the advert line by line. A US-built X5 or X7 starts with 5UX, not W.
Range Rover and Land Rover
Typical prefixes: SAL
Range Rover, Sport, Velar, Evoque, Defender and Discovery all start with SAL. The decode separates them and their engines, and the report adds factory build details where available.
Bentley
Typical prefixes: SCB, SJA
Bentley sits inside the Volkswagen group, and the report adds factory equipment and build data for it where available — useful on a car whose value depends on its specification.
Ferrari and Lamborghini
Typical prefixes: ZFF (Ferrari), ZHW (Lamborghini)
For supercars the chassis number is the car's identity in the most literal sense. Decode it, match it on the car and the documents, and run the stolen check before any money changes hands.
What the European car report covers
One chassis number, one flat price of AED 39. No subscription, no upsell tiers — the full report is ready in about a minute.
Full chassis-number decode
Make, model, body style, engine, transmission, drive, model year information and the plant and country where the car was built.
Factory equipment and build data
For many European cars — BMW, Audi and the wider Volkswagen group including Bentley, and Land Rover — the factory options and build details the car left the line with, where available.
Open safety recalls
Recall campaigns recorded for the model, so you can ask the seller or dealer to confirm the work was done.
Stolen-vehicle check
The chassis number checked against public stolen-vehicle databases.
Accident and damage records
Accident and damage records linked to the chassis number, where available.
Salvage, flood and auction history
For cars imported from the United States: salvage, flood and auction records for the chassis number, where available.
Mileage records and rollback check
Dated odometer readings checked for signs of rollback, where available.
European history for European imports
If the car spent part of its life in Europe: dated registration and inspection records, where available.
Before you pay for a European car in the UAE
Five checks, from the advert to the handshake.
- 1
Decode the chassis number
Confirm the model line, engine and plant. If the badge and the decode disagree, the decode is right.
- 2
Compare the specification
Where the report lists factory equipment, compare it with the advert. Packages and options make up much of a luxury car's price.
- 3
Read the European history
Where European registration, inspection and mileage records exist, check the dates and readings against the odometer and the seller's story.
- 4
Ask for the export paperwork
For a car first registered in Europe, ask for the export and import documents and check that the chassis number on them matches the car.
- 5
Inspect for Gulf conditions
Check the air-conditioning and cooling on a hot day, and look at rubber seals, trim and tyres for heat ageing. Then book an independent inspection.
What we check for when preparing a report
Carlytics is the largest online database of used vehicle records. It contains more than a billion data points from all over the world.
Damage
The report includes accident and damage records where available for the VIN. No record found is not proof the car was never damaged. Damage can lower the car's value and cause safety problems. Our report helps you avoid cars with hidden damage that sellers might not tell you about.
Mileage rollbacks
We look for signs that the mileage might have been changed. Some sellers lower the mileage to make the car look newer. We check mileage records from different databases to make sure the numbers are honest.
Specs & equipment
We list the car's original features and equipment. This helps you see if anything is missing or changed. You'll know exactly what the car should have when it left the factory.
Safety
Manufacturers typically issue safety recalls to fix harmful defects. Make sure your car doesn't have any before taking it on the road and also learn its general safety rating.
Natural disaster
Check if the vehicle has been damaged in floods, hurricanes, or other natural disasters.
Stolen car database
We check police and insurance records to see if the car has been reported stolen. Buying a stolen car can lead to big legal and financial problems. Our report gives you peace of mind.
Photos
If available, we include old photos or auction pictures of the car. These photos can show past damage, repairs, or changes that you might not notice in person.
Market value
We compare prices from many sources to show the car's fair market value. This helps you know if the price is good or too high, so you can make a smart deal.
Trusted in 47+ countries worldwide
Carlytics aggregates vehicle data from 47+ European countries, pulling from national registries like Finnish Traficom (5M vehicles), Dutch RDW, Czech ISTP, and Danish DMR. Combined with NHTSA and EU Safety Gate recalls, the database covers 900M+ vehicles.
Access data from national registries,
insurance databases, law enforcement and more.
How It Works
Carlytics checks any VIN in under 10 seconds by cross-referencing 900M+ records from 47+ European countries. Enter a 17-character VIN, and the system searches NHTSA, EU Safety Gate and national registries to build a complete vehicle history report for AED 39.
Get comprehensive vehicle information in just a few simple steps. Our process is designed to be quick, easy, and informative.
Enter Vehicle Details
Enter your license plate or VIN number to start the check process.
Instant Processing
Our system quickly searches through billions of records to find your vehicle.
Comprehensive Report
Receive a detailed report with complete vehicle history and important alerts.
Make Informed Decisions
Use the insights to make confident decisions about your vehicle purchase or sale.
Ready to check your vehicle?
Enter the VIN number below to get a free instant report.
Sample Vehicle Report
Every Carlytics report covers 24 sections including decoded specs, mileage history, safety recalls, theft status, market value, and cross-border import records. The full report costs AED 39 and is available instantly as an interactive page and downloadable PDF.
Here's an example of the comprehensive vehicle report you'll receive. Our reports provide detailed information to help you make informed decisions about any vehicle.
Toyota Corolla (2019)
Silver • 1.8L • Petrol • Automatic
Vehicle Information
Technical Inspection Status
Vehicle Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check a European car before buying it in the UAE?
Can I see a car's history from when it was registered in Europe?
Does the report show the factory options of a BMW or Range Rover?
How can I tell if a European brand car was built in the USA?
How much does the European car import check cost?
More chassis number checks for UAE buyers
Every check runs on the same chassis number and the same AED 39 report.
Chassis number check UAE
Decode any 17-character chassis number and see exactly what the car is.
Accident history check
How to check a used car for past accidents before you pay in the UAE.
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Buying an import? See the imported car check, the Chinese car VIN check, a full sample report or start from the UAE VIN check home.