Nigeria does not allow the import of vehicles more than 12 years old from the year of manufacture — that is a prohibition, not a fee. Vehicles within the limit pay duty on their assessed value plus freight and insurance, with levies and VAT on top.
Shipping a car to Nigeria goes wrong in one predictable way: someone buys the vehicle first and checks the rules second. The rules are not complicated, but one of them is absolute, and it has no workaround.
The 12-year rule
Vehicles more than 12 years old from the year of manufacture cannot be imported into Nigeria. Not "cost more", not "need a permit" — cannot. If the car falls outside the window it does not matter how good the condition is or how much you paid.
Two things catch people here. First, it is the manufacture year that counts, not the registration year — a car first registered in the UK in one year may have been built the year before. Second, the clock keeps running: a car that qualifies this year may not next year, so a long gap between buying and shipping can be fatal to the plan.
How the duty is worked out
Assuming the car qualifies, Nigeria Customs assess duty on the vehicle's value plus what you paid to freight and insure it — the CIF value. Levies and VAT then stack on top of the duty figure, which is why the final number is always higher than the headline percentage suggests.
The important nuance: Customs assess the value, not you. Buying cheaply does not guarantee a cheap assessment, and under-declaring is the fastest route to a held vehicle. Budget on the assessed value and treat any saving as a bonus. Our duty calculator lets you model the whole stack before you commit.
What you need to have
- V5C logbook — the vehicle's registration document
- Proof of purchase — invoice or receipt
- Photo identification for the shipper
- SONCAP compliance — the Nigerian product standards regime applies to vehicles
- An empty fuel tank — vehicles must be drained before shipping; fuel makes it dangerous goods and carriers will refuse it
RoRo or container?
| RoRo | Container | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Usually lower | Higher |
| Suits | A single running vehicle | Non-runners, high-value cars, or a car plus household goods |
| Belongings inside | Generally not | Often possible — ask first |
| Exposure | Open deck | Enclosed |
Most people shipping one ordinary car choose RoRo. The container conversation is worth having if you are relocating and would be shipping furniture anyway — filling the space around the vehicle can make the maths work out better than two separate shipments.
Motorcycles, vans and parts
Motorcycles and vans follow the same pattern: age limits apply, duty is assessed on value, and everything must be drained of fuel. Spare parts are generally fine with duty — with one firm exception. Used and retreaded tyres are prohibited outright. New tyres are fine.
Plan the timing too
Vehicles go by sea, so the seasonal booking deadlines apply and vehicle cutoffs fall earlier than general cargo — clearing a vehicle takes longer than clearing a barrel. If the car needs to be there for a particular date, check the current cutoffs before you buy.
Vehicle shipping starts from £1,500 for a car, £2,300 for an SUV and £2,800 for a van. Send us the make, model and year and we will confirm both that it qualifies and what it will cost — see car shipping.
Common questions
How old can a car be to import into Nigeria?
No more than 12 years from the year of manufacture. A vehicle older than that cannot be imported at all — it is not a duty question, it is a prohibition. Check the manufacture year, not the registration year, before you buy.
How much is duty on a used car in Nigeria?
Duty is assessed on the vehicle's value plus freight and insurance, with levies and VAT on top. The total is a meaningful fraction of what the car cost, so work it out before you commit — our import duty calculator gives you an estimate in seconds.
Is the duty based on what I paid for the car?
Not necessarily. Customs assess the value themselves, and a low purchase price does not automatically produce a low assessment. Keep the invoice and the V5C, declare honestly, and budget on the assessed value rather than the bargain you got.
What documents do I need to ship a car to Nigeria?
The V5C logbook, proof of purchase, and your identification as a minimum. SONCAP compliance applies to vehicles, and the vehicle must be completely drained of fuel before it ships. We will tell you exactly what is needed for your shipment when you book.
Is RoRo or container cheaper for a car?
RoRo is usually cheaper for a single running vehicle — it drives on and drives off. A container makes sense if the car is not running, if it is valuable enough to want enclosed, or if you want to fill the remaining space with household goods.
Can I put belongings inside the car?
By RoRo, generally no — the vehicle travels as a vehicle and loose contents are a risk. In a container it is often possible. Ask us first rather than loading the boot and hoping, because undeclared contents cause clearance problems.