You go to a car lot with your mechanic. You’ve done your budgeting. You’re ready to buy. The dealer lifts the bonnet, taps the body, and starts talking.
“It’s 2017 on belt. First body. Painted on pan. Accident free. Toks standard. Just landed.”
You’re hearing English, but somehow you’re not fully understanding it. You glance at your mechanic. He nods slowly. The dealer keeps talking. You realise this is car dealer lingo—everyday words with very specific meanings in the Nigerian car market. If you don’t understand the terms, you can’t translate what you’re actually paying for. Here’s your self help breakdown of common car dealer terms so you can shop smart and avoid surprises.
On Belt
Now, this refers to the real manufacturing year. A car built in 2015 can be upgraded to look like 2017. If a dealer says “2017 on belt”, they mean it was genuinely produced in 2017.
Painted on Pan
A lingo that basically means the car has been repainted. The seller is saying the repaint wasn’t due to major damage and that the original body panels remain intact. Still, inspect it properly.
First Body
It is when the car still has its factory paint. No repaint history. If you spot new paint on a car advertised as first body, take that seriously.
Registered / Pre-owned
It simply means Nigerian used. The car has already been registered locally. You’ll need to process a change of ownership after purchase.
Mistakenly Registered
This usually means the car was registered but supposedly barely used. Dealers may add a story to make it sound harmless. Verify condition instead of trusting the narrative.
Accident Free
According to dealer terms, this often means no major crash history before import. It doesn’t always mean zero damage at all.
Just Landed / New Entry
In this case, the car recently arrived in Nigeria. Ask to confirm the customs clearance date.
Late Entry
For this term, it means the car entered Nigeria a while ago but hasn’t sold. It may be priced lower because it’s older stock.
Distress Sale
Here the seller claims urgency and offers a lower price. Sometimes it’s genuine. Sometimes the car has hidden issues. Let inspection guide you.
Bought Brand New
The first owner bought it new from a Nigerian dealership, not as foreign-used. It doesn’t automatically mean it hasn’t had wear or repairs.
Toks Standard
“Toks” comes from Tokunbo, meaning foreign-used. It means the car is in standard condition, clean and well maintained. Always confirm physically.
