US And Canada – Which Is The Best Place To Buy Cars And Ship To Nigeria

It is common knowledge that almost all cars found on Nigerian roads are being shipped from abroad because there is only one manufacturing plant in the whole of Nigeria which is Innoson Motors and it’s safe to say that Nigerians don’t really patronise made-in-Nigeria items. And the major places to buy these cars and import/ship them into the country are the United States and Canada.

Shipping Cars From The Us

Methods Of Shipping A Car

You can either ship a car through a ship via container service or roll-on roll-off service (RO-RO). You can also ship a car via a flight. The method you use will determine how fast the car gets to you. The flight takes between one to three days while the ship takes about 15 to 18 days and sometimes it may extend up to a month depending on various factors. 

Factors To Consider When Shipping Cars From Us To Nigeria

1. It costs less to ship from the East Coast than the West Coast.
2. Taking the car yourself to the port will cost less than paying a truck driver to transport it there. But this is often inevitable when you are importing many cars.
3. The size of your car determines the amount you’ll pay. For example, the cost of importing a sedan is far lesser than that of a pick-up truck.

The departure ports from the USA to Nigeria include:

• Newark, NJ
• Baltimore, MD
• Savannah, GA
• Jacksonville, FL
• Freeport, TX

Cost Of Shipping A Car From Us To Nigeria

CAR	SHIPPING COST DOLLAR	SHIPPING COST NAIRA	EXAMPLE
Sedan	$1,290	N534,873	Toyota Corolla, Honda Accord
Small SUV	$1,290	N534,873	Toyota Rav4, Honda CRV
Medium SUV	$1,490	N617,799	Toyota Highlander
Large SUV	$1,999	N829,260	Toyota Sequoia
Space Bus	$1790	N724,188	Honda Odyssey
Van	$2400	N995,112	Ford F150

Shipping Cars From Canada

Shipping a car from Canada to Nigeria basically takes the same steps but the prices differ slightly.

CAR	PRICECANADIAN DOLLAR	PRICENAIRA
Sedan	$1,000	N414,630
Small SUV	$1,000	N414,630
Medium SUV	$1,200	N497,556
Large SUV	$1,650	N684,140
Space Bus	$1,570	N650,969
Van	$2000	N829,260

What to look for when buying a used car

When you’re looking for a used car, there are a few things to consider:

Reliability: Google is your best friend when it comes to learning about your car’s reliability. Searching for recalls and consumer reviews is your best overview of the vehicle. The price of the vehicle will also give you some insight into its reliability, as lower-priced vehicles may be at the end of their lifespan.

Vehicle History Report: Using the car’s VIN, you can run a vehicle history report on our Nigeria Vehicle Identification Number Checker. The report should come back with any serious accident claims, including fire or flood. Some car lots may spin the odometer back to increase the selling price, the vehicle history report can alert you of the real number. Some reports even show if maintenance was done on time and the locations where it was performed.

Durability: Find out whether or not any parts have been replaced, or if you have to replace any of them soon. If something needs to be replaced, it opens up space for negotiation.

Steps involved when shipping a car from Canada to Nigeria

1. Fill up a dock receipt: This is a very important document as it contains some essential information like the type of car, the owner, who it is being shipped to, and more. Once this receipt has been filled out, it is given to the shipping company.
2. Receipt processing: This contains the information that was filled in at the initial stage. It will tell you where the exact port where the car will be delivered to.
3. Make as many copies of the receipt: Once the receipt has been received and processed, it is necessary to make several copies of the receipt because it will be requested at the port by the shipping company.
4. Convey the car, documents, and receipt to the port: It is time to take the car to the port for shipping along with the necessary documents. The officer at the port will receive the car and the documents, where the documents will be officially stamped, and a copy of a stamped and duly signed receipt will be returned back to you. In that receipt, it shows the date the car was brought to the port and the items to be shipped along with the car like tyres, bumpers, steering wheel, etc.
5. Confirm the shipping schedule and follow up to ensure that the car arrives on the due date without any errors.
6. Bill for lading and clearing the shipment at Lagos: immediately notice is sent for the shipping fees to be paid, which means that the bill for lading is ready. The bill for lading is a legal document that entails the type, quantity, and destination of the car.

CONCLUSION

Remember, the Nigerian Customs Clearance fee to import a used car is 35% duty while shipping newer cars to Nigeria the duty will be from 35% to 70% of the value of the vehicle ($).

Cars 15 years older cannot be shipped and imported to Nigeria.

There is only one arrival port in Nigeria: the Port of Lagos. Also known as the Premiere Port (Apapa Quays), the Port of Lagos is the first and largest Port in Nigeria. Located in Apapa, Lagos State, this is the commercial hub of the country, established in 1913.

While shipping a car may be cheaper, the stress involved and the risks may not be worth it. Except you are a car dealer, it is advisable that you buy your car locally.