If your car is stolen, the first question the police ask is: can you prove it is yours.
Your purchase receipt helps. A record already sitting in the police system helps more.
That record is the CMR, and registering for it takes an afternoon and protects you for years.
Here is what it is, why it matters, and how to do it.
What CMRIS actually is
CMRIS is the Nigeria Police Central Motor Registry Information System. The newer online version is often called e-CMR.
Registering puts your vehicle and your ownership details into the police database, run through the POSSAP portal.
Once you are in it, the car is formally linked to you in the system the Nigeria Police Force checks.
It is a record, not a device. But that record does real work.
Why it matters
The value shows up in the moments you hope never come.
If the car is stolen, officers can confirm you are the rightful owner and flag the vehicle nationwide. If it is stopped, your ownership is not in doubt.
And if you are buying a used car, a CMR record is one way to check the seller is who they claim to be.
CMR will not chase a thief. It settles the one question that decides whether anyone can: whose car is this.
Register your car and protect ownership
Tell us your vehicle and we will process your police CMR, and fit a tracker if you want the recovery half too.
Register my car on WhatsAppHow to register, step by step
Registration runs through the POSSAP portal and needs your ownership and identity papers ready.
- Create an account on the POSSAP portal and select the CMR / e-CMR service.
- Enter your vehicle details, including chassis and engine numbers.
- Upload your proof of ownership and vehicle particulars.
- Add a valid means of identification.
- Pay the official fee, submit, and collect the CMR certificate once it is issued.
Keep the certificate with your other vehicle papers, and our vehicle registration service can process it for you.
CMR plus a tracker is the real combination
Here is where it gets useful. CMR and a tracker solve two different halves of theft.
CMR proves the car is yours and flags it as stolen in the police system. A tracker shows exactly where it is, right now.
One establishes ownership. The other leads the recovery team to the vehicle.
Together they are how a stolen car actually comes back, which is the story behind our recovery case studies.
Keeping the record useful
A CMR record is only as good as the details in it.
If you change the plate, sell the car, or your contact details change, update the record so it still points to the right owner.
A stale entry helps no one in an emergency.
Register once, keep it current, and the system works the day you need it.
Frequently asked questions
What is CMRIS or e-CMR?
The Nigeria Police Central Motor Registry Information System, run through the POSSAP portal. Registering puts your vehicle and ownership details in the police database, so the car can be verified as yours and flagged if reported stolen.
Why should I register my car on CMRIS?
It links your car to you in the police system. If the vehicle is stolen or stopped, officers can confirm the rightful owner and flag it nationwide, which supports recovery and protects you over a stolen car.
How do I register for police CMR?
Apply through the POSSAP portal with your proof of ownership, vehicle particulars and a valid ID, pay the official fee, and the car is recorded in the Central Motor Registry. The certificate is then issued and tied to your vehicle.
Is police CMR the same as a tracker?
No. CMR is a database record that proves ownership and flags a stolen car. A tracker is a live device showing where the car is in real time. They work best together: CMR establishes ownership, the tracker leads the team to the vehicle.
The editorial team at Car Tracker Nigeria, drawing on two decades of vehicle tracking, recovery and fleet work across Nigeria to publish practical security guides.
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