Car shipping is an essential part of transporting vehicles from one city/country to another. Nigeria is one of the countries that heavily depends on car shipping to satisfy the automobile demands of its citizens. Most vehicle brands used in Nigeria are manufactured in other countries and therefore need to be shipped into the country. The process of shipping cars into Nigeria is no small feat.
It requires time, money, different legalities and documentation. Both brand new and used cars can be shipped into Nigeria; and in most cases, it takes a number of days for your desired car to get to the ports in Nigeria.
Types Of Shipping Method
There are two major means you can make use of to ship your car to Nigeria from any part of the world. It’s important you are aware of these methods so that you can know the best one that is suitable for the vehicle you are bringing in. More importantly, the shipping method can also determine how long it takes for your car to arrive in Nigeria from overseas.
- RoRo Shipping
Of the two shipping methods, RoRo shipping is the most affordable means to ship cars to Nigeria. It simply means Roll-on Roll-off (RoRo). Your car has to be in working condition to effectively be shipped by this method. Your car will be driven onto and off of the ship and tied to the deck for security and minimal exposure to the ocean. Arrival and departure time for RoRo shipping is more predictable compared to container shipping.
- Container shipping
Container shipping is of two types:
- Shared container shipping
- Exclusive container shipping
Shared container shipping implies your car is shipped alongside other vehicles in an enclosed container. The disadvantage to this method is that you have to wait until the container is full before you can have your car shipped. This means even if your car is ready for shipping, it won’t leave the departure port until that container is full. Shared container shipping might lengthen the time it takes for your car to arrive in Nigeria. In this method, your car does not have to be in working condition, you will still get it.
Exclusive container shipping is just as the name implies. When you want special treatment for your ‘dear car’, exclusive container shipping is what you should go for as your car will be the only one in the container. Exotic cars like Bentleys, Ferraris, Aston Martins, etc are often shipped this way. However, it’s the most expensive of all the shipping methods.
How Long Does It Take To Ship Car To Nigeria From Overseas
How long it takes for your car to get shipped to Nigeria depends on quite a number of factors. Some of these are;
- The shipping method used.
- Country/Port of departure: This implies the country your car is being shipped from.
The USA and China are two popular countries Nigerians ship cars from. Other countries are Coutonou, Thailand, UK, Canada, Japan etc.
The average shipping time for cars from the USA to Lagos, Nigeria is 20 days. Depending on the route of transit, the shortest shipping time from the USA to Nigeria is approximately 18 days; while the longest time is between 25-28 days.
Depending on the seaport used, the average time to ship cars from China to Nigeria is between 30-50 days.
For the UK, the average shipping time takes about 18 days for the vehicle to reach Nigeria.
The average shipping time from Japan to Nigeria takes an average of 21 working days.
Things You Have To Know Before Shipping A Car Into Nigeria.
- Vehicles older than 15 years are not accepted into Nigeria. Hence, when making the choice of a car to buy, go for cars lesser than 15 years old.
- Right-hand drive vehicles are not allowed in Nigeria, according to the 2012 National Road Traffic Regulation. Do your thorough research to be sure the car is left-hand drive.
- Calculate your total shipping cost, import duty and other levies you have to pay. Ensure you have enough money stashed away in your account.
- Once your car has been successfully inspected by the customs, you will get a Vehicle Identification Tag (VIT) and then you have to address the Federal Road Service Commission.
- All NEW vehicles require a FORM M obtained by the consignee in Nigeria prior to shipping.
- A clear Title of Ownership with no Liens on the Title.
- If you bought a car new, then your name must be listed on the front of the Title as the registered owner.
- If the vehicle has been sold, then both the Seller and Buyer have to sign the back of the Title in the spaces as detailed on the back of the Title.
- For safety reasons, the vehicle cannot have more than a ¼ tank of gas/fuel
Documents you need to have to import a car in Nigeria:
- Original shipping bill of lading, or Seaway bill, or Airway bill
- E-Form M for imports in Nigeria, Form M number
- Original invoice
- Packing list
- Combined Certificate of Value and Origin (CCVO)
- Nigerian Drivers License or Passport
- Pier fees document for Lagos terminal
CONCLUSION
It usually takes a period of time for any car you buy overseas to get to Nigeria. It’s important you are aware of the estimated shipping timeline from the shipping agency you are using to get your car into Nigeria. In conclusion, you need to be patient while awaiting your vehicle’s arrival, because unforeseen circumstances can happen along the way.
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