What is the Cost to Ship a Car to Nigeria?

Understanding the Cost to Ship a Car to Nigeria

There’s several things you’ll need to know before you start shipping cars from the USA to Nigeria. Shipping cars to Africa is different from shipping to other countries because some of the importation rules are stricter. Anytime you ship a car overseas, you’ll need to bear in mind that the country’s rules and regulations determine whether or not your car will be accepted once it reaches its destination country. The cost of shipping your car will also depend on the size of your vehicle, the make, and model of your car, and a handful of other variables we’ll cover in the upcoming sections..

What Cars Can be Imported Into Nigeria

As you prepare to ship your car to Nigeria, it’s very important for you to be aware of what cars are accepted into the country. You’ll find the basic requirements your car will need to meet listed below.

• Cars, vans, and pickup trucks  older than 15 years are not accepted into the country
• New vehicles require a FORM M that is provided by the consignee in Nigeria prior to shipping.
• You must provide a Title of Ownership with no Liens on the Title.
• If your car is new, then your name has to be listed on the front of the Title as the registered owner.
• If the vehicle was sold, then both seller and buyer are required to sign the back of the Title in the spaces.
• The vehicle cannot have more than a ¼ tank of gas.

NOTE:  If your car does not meet all the requirements, you may still be able to import your car, but you’ll be subjected to additional duties and taxes when your car enters the country. You can also talk to a customs agent from Nigeria to find out whether your car can be accepted and what specific duties and taxes you’ll be expected to pay.

Documents You’ll Need to Ship Your Car

There are several documents you’ll need when shipping cars from the USA to Nigeria. It’s suggested that you reach out to a customs agent when shipping to Africa. The agent will be able to tell you exactly what documents you’ll need. Here are a few of the most common documents you’ll need.

• Driver’s License
• Proof of Insurance
• Proof of Address
• The bill of sale for your car
• Your vehicle’s information. This includes year, make, model, shipping weight, VIN #, and car dimensions.
• Shipper name or company information.
• Consignee full name, company information,  contact number.

How Much Does it Cost to Ship a Car to Nigeria

The cost of shipping a car to Nigeria depends on several different factors. Typically, the cost to ship a car to Nigeria is dependent on the size of your vehicle, the distance it needs to travel, and the speed your car is traveling at.

• The size and weight of your vehicle directly affects the cost you’ll pay to ship your car. Car shipping carriers typically either charge a flat rate per pound or based on vehicle type.

• The more flexible you can be with your shipping time frame, the lower your cost will be. Expedited shipping raises the price you’ll pay to get your vehicle to Nigeria by its expected arrival date.

• Where you’re located in the USA will also affect the overall cost of shipping to Arica. Take a look at the table below to get a general sense of what it costs to ship a car to Nigeria as well as what the different cost estimates are.

Take a look at the table below to get a sense of the general costs for shipping a car from the USA to Nigeria.

Car Size	Shipping Cost	Example
Sedan	$1,290	Toyota Corolla, Honda Accord
Small SUV	$1,290	Honda CRV, Toyota Venza
Medium SUV	$1,490	Toyota Highlander, Acura MDX
Large SUV	$1,999	Toyota Sequoia, Nissan Armada
Space Bus	$1,790	Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey
Van	$2,400	Ford F150 and F250

How Insurance Affects Shipping Costs

When you’re shipping cars to Africa from the United States, you’ll have the opportunity to insure your car shipment. The vast majority of car shippers provide a varying degree of insurance types in order to help you have more peace of mind while your vehicle is making its way across the sea. Choosing minimal insurance over maximum insurance can greatly reduce the overall cost of your shipment. However, having the maximum amount of insurance will enable you to rest easy. A pro tip from car shippers is to always get as much insurance as you feel you need. It’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. 

How the Seasons Affect Pricing

Something else that’s important to keep in mind is the way that the seasons affect the cost to ship a car to Nigeria. The country is already known as being one of the most expensive African countries to ship to, but the season you ship during can either lower or increase the price you are made to pay.

Summer is one of the most expensive times to ship a car. The summer season is when car shipping is at its peak. You’ll need to plan your car shipment ahead of time, otherwise, you’re likely to face shipping delays, higher rates, convenience charges, and congestion on the seas.

Winter, on the other hand, is the down season for shipping. However, though it’s the quiet time for car shipping carriers, you may still find yourself receiving high price quotes. The reason for this is that some shipping carriers will lower their rates during the winter season, while others increase their rates to offset costs. Winter shipments also face delays due to inclement weather and congestion on the seas caused by weather conditions and people trying to take advantage of the off-season.  

How Long Does it Take to Ship a Car from USA to Nigeria

The amount of time it takes to ship a car from the USA to Nigeria depends on what port you are starting from. In general, it takes anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks to ship a car from the United States to Nigeria. Sometimes it can take longer depending on whether the vessel is taking a direct route to Nigeria or will need to stop off at other ports along the way. 

Take a look at the table below to get a sense of how long it can take for your car to ship from the USA to Nigeria.

Port of origin	Port of destination	Steamship Line	Transit time
New York, USA New Jersey, USA Maher Terminals, USA	Tin Can Island, Lagos Nigeria	ACL – Atlantic Container Line	18 Days
New York, USA New Jersey, USA Maher Terminals, USA	Tin Can Island, Lagos Nigeria	MSC – Mediterranean Shipping Company	30 Days
New York, USA New Jersey, USA APM Terminals, USA	Onne, Port Harcourt, Nigeria	MAERSK CONTAINER LINE	35 Days
Baltimore Maryland, USA Dundalk Terminal, MD, USA Seagirt Marine Terminal	Tin Can Island, Lagos Nigeria	ACL – Atlantic Container Line	20 Days
Savannah Georgia, USAOcean Terminal, Savannah	Tin Can Island, Lagos Nigeria	ACL – Atlantic Container Line	21 Days
Miami Florida, USAPort everglade	Tin Can Island, Lagos Nigeria	ZIM CONTAINER LINE	38 Days
Houston Texas, USA	Tin Can Island, Lagos Nigeria	MSC	32 Days
California, USA Long beach port, USA b Port of Los Angeles, USA.	Tin Can Island, Lagos Nigeria	COSCO	60 Days
Port of Vancouver, Canada	Tin Can Island, Lagos Nigeria	ZIM LINE	65 Days

As you can see in the table, the region of the country your car ships from can vastly increase or decrease the amount of time it takes for your car to get to Nigeria. If you can, then you should try to ship your car from New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Georgia, or Texas. Shipping from other states can add a lot of time to your vehicle’s journey to Nigeria.

Shipping Methods

There are two primary methods for shipping cars from the USA to Nigeria. You can use either Roll on Roll off (RoRo) shipping or container shipping. RoRo shipping is more economical than container shipping, but container shipping provides added protection for your vehicle. 

• With RoRo shipping your car is driven onto the vessel at the loading port. Once your car is on the vessel it’s secured in a designated spot. Your car will remain in this spot until it arrives at its destination port. The only downside to RoRo shipping is that your car is left vulnerable to the elements.

• Container shipping provides added protection to your vehicle. Your car is loaded into a container, secured, and placed onto the ship. There are two different price plans for container shipping. You can share a container with other cars, which will lower the cost of shipping your car, or you can pay a higher price to ship your car in its own private container. Should you choose to ship using a private container, you’ll also be able to ship some of your personal belongings along with your car.

Shipping Services

In addition to the shipping method you choose when shipping cars from the USA to Nigeria, you’ll also have to decide what shipping services you’ll choose to use to transport your vehicle to the loading port.

The two most common shipping services provided by car shipping carriers are door-to-port and port-to-port. Door-to-port is more convenient but comes at a higher price. Port-to-port is less expensive but requires you to do more of the work when you are shipping your car.

With door-to-port service, an agent from the shipping carrier comes to your home, collects your car, and brings it to the loading port for you. The only thing you’ll be responsible for is picking up your vehicle after it arrives at the destination port.

Choosing port-to-port requires you to drop your car off at the loading port and pick it up at the destination port. You’ll also have to figure out how you’ll get back home after dropping your car off at the loading port. Port-to-port shipping will save you money, but it may be more difficult to do if you live in a rural area or don’t have anyone to drive you back once your car’s been dropped off.

Marine Insurance

When you’re shipping from the USA to Nigeria, you may want to consider buying marine insurance. The shipping carrier you choose will provide varying degrees of insurance you can get to protect your vehicle. Marine insurance can help provide you with peace of mind while your car is traveling across the sea. Some insurance types only cover the damage that occurs while your vehicle is on the boat. Marine insurance protects your vehicle the entire time your boat is at sea.

Import Duties, Taxes, and Fees

Whether you’re shipping cars from the USA to Nigeria or shipping cars to Africa in general, you’ll need to be ready to pay import duties and taxes when your car arrives in the country. Every country has different duties and taxes it makes a person pay when they are importing a car. The price you pay will depend on the age, size, and weight of your vehicle as well as its appraised value.

It’s also important to note that when you receive a quote from your car shipping carrier, the final number they provide you with does not include the import duties, taxes, and fees you may be made to pay once your car arrives at the destination port. The shipping carrier is responsible for shipping your car, not the other costs you’ll incur.

Conclusion

After reviewing this post, you’ve learned about the cost to ship a car to Nigeria. You’ve discovered how costs are affected by the size of your car, the season you ship during, how fast you ship, and the shipping method and service you use to transport your vehicle from the USA to Nigeria. You’ve also learned what documents you’ll need to have your shipment processed and accepted when it arrives at the destination port. Now, the only thing you’ll need to do is find the shipping carrier that’s in your budget and meets your needs.