Glossary

A Japanese auction rating system (S, 6, 5, 4.5, 4, 3.5, 3, R, RA) indicating overall vehicle condition. S is near-new, RA is repaired accident with poor condition.

A Japanese-format vehicle identifier using the pattern MODEL-SERIAL (e.g., BNR32-123456). Used instead of standard 17-character VINs for older Japanese vehicles.

Safaricom's API platform for M-Pesa integration. Enables businesses to accept M-Pesa payments, send money, and check transaction status programmatically.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency — UK government body that maintains vehicle registration records including make, colour, tax status, and MOT status.

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency — UK government body that conducts MOT tests and maintains the MOT history database.

electronic National Traffic Information System — South Africa's vehicle and driver registration database managed by the RTMC.

Hire Purchase Information — UK commercial database that checks for outstanding finance, stolen status, insurance write-offs, and plate changes.

Kenya Bureau of Standards — conducts pre-shipment vehicle inspections in the source country to verify compliance with Kenyan standards.

Kenya Revenue Authority — handles customs clearance and import duty collection for imported vehicles at Mombasa port.

Land Transport Authority — Singapore's government agency responsible for vehicle registration, COE (Certificate of Entitlement), and road transport.

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism — Japan's government ministry that maintains official vehicle records.

Ministry of Transport test — the UK's annual vehicle safety and emissions inspection required for all vehicles over 3 years old. Records include mileage, advisories, and defects.

National Exchange of Vehicle and Driver Information System — Australia's national vehicle database covering registration, stolen status, and write-off records.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — US agency that maintains vehicle safety data including VIN decoding and recall information.

National Motor Vehicle Title Information System — US database of vehicle title history, brands (salvage, flood, junk), and odometer readings.

National Transport and Safety Authority — Kenya's government body responsible for vehicle registration, road safety, and transport regulation.

Fraudulent reduction of a vehicle's recorded mileage to increase its resale value. Detected by comparing mileage across inspection records over time.

Personal Property Securities Register — Australia's register of security interests (loans) on vehicles. Shows outstanding finance and write-off status.

An Australian classification for vehicles damaged beyond safe repair. These vehicles can never be re-registered and should not be imported.

SIM Toolkit Push — M-Pesa's payment prompt technology where the merchant triggers a payment request directly to the customer's phone. The customer enters their PIN to confirm.

Transport Integrated Management System — NTSA's online portal for vehicle registration, driving licence, and transport services.

Vehicle Identification Number — a unique 17-character code assigned to every motor vehicle. Used worldwide to identify individual vehicles.

Warrant of Fitness — New Zealand's equivalent of the UK MOT test. A periodic vehicle safety inspection that records mileage and mechanical condition.

Written-Off Vehicle Register — Australia's register of vehicles that have been declared a total loss by insurers. Categories: statutory (unrepairable) and repairable.