Japanese import check for cars sold in Cyprus.
Check a full 17-character VIN for mileage, accident and damage records where available, theft and recalls. Then read the export certificate and auction sheet; this guide shows how. EUR 8.90 for the full report.
900M+ Vehicles in database
EUR 8.90 Full report
Cyprus drives on the left, and right-hand-drive cars from Japan are a large part of its used imports. Carlytics checks a full 17-character VIN against 900+ million records across 47+ countries. The rest of a Japanese car's story is on paper: the export certificate and the auction sheet held by the importer. This guide covers both. Full reports EUR 8.90.
Japanese imports: start with the identification number
What the number looks like decides which documents you read and what you can check online.
A 17-character VIN
Japanese brands build many cars for export markets with a 17-character VIN, starting with J when the car was built in Japan, or with another country code when it was built elsewhere (S for a UK-built Toyota, for example). Enter it above: the report shows the factory specification, dated mileage records where available, accident and damage records where available, theft and recalls.
A shorter Japanese frame number
Cars built for the Japanese home market usually carry a shorter frame number made of a model code, a dash and a serial. Our reports need the full 17-character VIN. For these cars the evidence is on paper: the export certificate and the auction sheet.
The export certificate
Issued when the car is de-registered in Japan for export. It shows the frame number and the car's first registration in Japan. Compare its dates with the import papers and the Cypriot registration certificate.
The auction sheet and grade
Most Japanese used exports pass through an auction where an inspector grades the car, usually from 5 (excellent) down to 3 and below, with a letter for the interior. R or RA marks a repaired accident car. The sheet also records the mileage at auction and a body diagram of scratches, dents and repairs. Ask the importer for the original sheet, not a summary.
Recalls
Cyprus's association of authorised car importers (SEMIO) said in December 2025 that buyers of used cars imported from third countries receive no official recall information from grey importers. With a VIN, the report lists recall campaigns recorded for the make, model and year, and a dealer of the brand can confirm whether the work was done.
Checking a Japanese import in Cyprus
Cheapest first.
- 1
Read the number
A full 17-character VIN: check it above. A shorter frame number: go to step 2.
- 2
Get the export certificate
Note the frame number and the first registration in Japan.
- 3
Get the auction sheet
Read the grade, the mileage and the repair marks on the diagram.
- 4
Line up the mileage
Auction sheet, Cypriot MOT and dashboard: the numbers must only go up.
- 5
Inspect
An independent garage, with the sheet in hand, before any deposit.
What we check before you buy in Cyprus
One VIN, the records from the countries the car has lived in. These are the checks that matter most for a car that came to Cyprus from the UK, Japan or mainland Europe.
Damage
The report includes accident and damage records where available for the VIN, such as salvage and write-off titles and auction damage classifications. A car repaired abroad and shipped to Cyprus can look clean on the forecourt; the record from its first life is where the repair shows. No record found is not proof the car was never damaged.
Mileage rollbacks
We put the dated mileage records we hold for the VIN in order, where available, so you can compare them with the dashboard. The weak point on an import is the gap between the last reading abroad and the first reading in Cyprus.
Specs & equipment
We decode the factory specification from the VIN: model, engine, fuel, gearbox, body and plant. Check it against the advert and the Cypriot registration certificate before you agree a price.
Safety recalls
We list safety recall campaigns recorded for the make, model and year. A used car imported into Cyprus can reach its new owner without any recall letter, so ask a dealer of the brand to confirm the work was done.
Flood and weather damage
Check whether the car carries flood or weather damage records where available. Flood cars are written off in one country and resold in another, which is exactly the route an import takes.
Stolen car check
We check the VIN against European police and theft lists. A car stolen in another country and re-registered in Cyprus can be taken back from the buyer.
Photos
Where available, we include earlier photos of the car, for example from auctions. They can show damage, repairs or a different colour that the seller has not mentioned.
Market value
We estimate a fair market value from comparable cars, so you can tell whether the asking price in euros is reasonable for the year, mileage and specification.
Trusted in 47+ countries, including the ones Cyprus imports from
Carlytics brings together vehicle records from 47+ countries, with 900M+ vehicles in its database, including the UK, mainland Europe and the US. For a car registered in Cyprus, that is where its earlier life was recorded.
Access data from national registries,
insurance databases, law enforcement and more.
How It Works
Carlytics checks a 17-character VIN in seconds by cross-referencing 900M+ records from 47+ countries. Enter the VIN from the windscreen or the Cypriot registration certificate, check the free preview, then unlock the full vehicle history report for EUR 8.90.
From VIN to report in a few minutes. Check the free preview before you pay.
Enter the VIN
Type the 17-character VIN from the car or its registration certificate. A Cypriot number plate is not enough on its own.
Check the preview
Confirm the make, model and year match the advert before you pay anything.
Get the full report
Mileage, accident and damage records where available, theft, recalls and value, in one report with a PDF.
Decide with evidence
Take the report to the viewing, ask the seller about any gaps and book an independent inspection.
Why check a VIN before buying a used car in Cyprus?
Two in three cars registered in Cyprus this year were first registered somewhere else. A 2018 European Parliament resolution puts tampered mileage at an estimated 30-50% of cross-border used-car sales. The VIN is the one identifier that follows the car across borders, so it is where a check starts.
Mileage on imports
The odometer can be wound back in the gap between the last reading abroad and registration in Cyprus. Dated mileage records, where available, show whether the dashboard fits the car's past.
Hidden accident damage
A repaired write-off can be shipped to Cyprus and sold as accident-free. Accident and damage records, where available, show what happened before it arrived.
Stolen vehicles
Cars stolen elsewhere in Europe are moved across borders and re-registered. A theft check against European police lists protects you from losing the car and the money.
Import paperwork
Since Brexit, a used car from the UK must be no more than five years old on arrival to be registered in Cyprus. The decoded year and specification help you test what the import papers say.
Ready to check your vehicle?
Enter the VIN number below to get a free instant report.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I check a Japanese import car by VIN?
What if the papers show only a Japanese frame number?
What is an auction grade?
How do I check the mileage of a Japanese import?
Where is the identification number on a Japanese car?
Are recalls fixed on Japanese imports?
Does the report include accident data for a Japanese car with a VIN?
Is a Japanese import better than a European used car?
How much is the report?
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