Why do Nigerians fear using Nigerian-used cars?

Buying a car has become a necessity in this day and age, and we have to believe that with the high price tag of cars this year and no plans of it dropping any time soon. People have no choice but to buy used cars.

Why? Because they are more affordable than outright buying something brand new, and most people are comfortable buying what they deem to be the next best thing. A brand new 2022 Toyota Corolla sells for over N17,000,000, and this is just for the base model. 

The price for most expensive trim, the XSE, can sell for over N25,000,000. If you take into consideration other deciding costs such as car registration and insurance, you would be well on your way to N30,000,000. This would certainly eat into anyone’s pocket, and at this rate, with this amount, you could actually get a used luxury car rather than going for the Corolla, noting that the luxury car you would be getting would be a few years old, but no matter, you could be driving a 2016 Mercedes-Benz for that price alone. So that is why most people buy used cars. 

But the dilemma would have to be whether to go for foreign or Nigerian use. What can we say is the difference between them? Well, foreign used cars are cars that have been imported from countries like the U.S. or UK to Nigeria. In such a case, these were previously owned by people in those countries and are now being imported for sale into Nigeria. 

From the meaning of Nigerian used, we can all guess the meaning: it is not imported; it is used probably by the Nigerian who wishes to sell the car to you. But, why the reason for this disparity? Why do many Nigerians prefer foreign-used cars to Nigerian-used cars? There are a couple of reasons for this, and we are taking a look at them. Continue reading the article if you wish to buy a used Nigerian car in the near future. 

What are the advantages of Nigerian-used cars?

We can say that both foreign-used and Nigerian-used cars are more affordable than buying a brand-new car, but buying a Nigerian-used car is the cheapest out of all the rest. One has to wonder why, because we believe it is the tag “Nigerian used” that makes it so. 

Most people in the country believe that most things Nigerians used have been compromised in some way. But, this isn’t always the case; most Nigerian-owned cars can adeptly rival foreign-owned cars if they go head-to-head. Another reason for its affordability is that it saves more money in the long run because you don’t have to worry about any customs duties and the hassle that comes with clearing the car at customs, which can take weeks before you get your car. 

You should note that buying a foreign used car yourself from abroad by the price tag might be considerably cheaper than buying a Nigerian used car, but if you take into consideration, like we mentioned, customs, and if, for instance, the car is from a country where they drive on the left-hand side, it can easily dent your budget. 

What makes Nigerian used cars have an edge in this place is the fact that, when these foreign used cars are being resold by a car dealer, the buyer would have to compensate for the incoming costs, and in this case, Nigerian used cars don’t have any problems. When it comes to registration and transfer of title in Nigerian used cars, the money you would spend isn’t very substantial. 

What are the disadvantages of Nigerian-used cars?

Apart from cost, we have to admit that buying Nigerian used cars comes with a number of negatives that may sway your decision to buy one. The fact remains that most Nigerian car drivers have a poor maintenance culture, which, coupled with bad driving and poorly constructed roads, might affect the car’s performance. The tendency of Nigerian used cars to break down consistently after just being purchased from a seller is very high. In this case, if you plan on buying the car, ensure you take a well-trained and trustworthy mechanic to inspect the car before you buy it. 

Another factor in buying Nigerian used cars is the fact that there is probably no vehicle history that you can search for, and it would be highly impossible to know more information about the car as regards its maintenance or criminal record. This also means that you wouldn’t know how many owners the cars have had in the past, unlike their foreign counterparts, where VIN numbers and car histories are readily available for the buyer. 

The chance that a Nigerian used car has depreciated a lot Over a number of years is very likely, and the price you are getting it for isn’t worth the car you are buying. What you see isn’t always what you get when it comes to Nigerian used cars. Because the body of the car might have been changed in the past and the seller might not want to disclose this information because it would drastically reduce the car’s selling price, an inspection is a must in this case. 

What Should I Consider When Buying A Nigerian Used Car?

If you’re on a tight budget and you want something you can drive around for a few years, then you should consider buying a used car if you take into account what it is being used for. We discourage people from buying Nigerian used cars for long-distance trips or using Uber because the daily commute might affect the car terribly. 

Ensure you take a mechanic who is well-trained and trustworthy with you when you are on your way to buy a Nigerian used car. Let him check all vital parts of the car and ensure they are all in good condition. Ensure an inspection is done before any payment for the car is made. 

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