a new or new-to-you luxury car, the only thing
standing between you and your dreamy new
vehicle might be importing the car from the
So how can you bring your baby to your home
country after making a purchase? The process
doesn’t have to be difficult if you work with
Auto Auction Mall. But even if you go with
another site or prefer to manage your own
shipping, you can navigate the import process
with just a few simple steps.
Bureaucratic Issues Associated With Shipping
Cars to Nigeria
A few decades ago, Nigerians could easily
afford new American cars, and these cars could
readily be found on Nigerian roads. But when
the nation sought assistance through structural
adjustment programs (SAP), the value of the
Nigerian Naira plummeted, causing inflation to
skyrocket and putting American cars squarely
out of reach for the average Nigerian.
Nigerians, ever devotees of American consumer
products, responded to this challenge by
increasingly purchasing their cars used. The
Internet revolution made the practice even
easier, providing a number of online auction
sites where cars could be purchased at a steep
discount.
Today, Nigerians face a number of
restrictions on what they can and cannot
import:
• With the exception of some trucks and buses,
you cannot import cars that are over 10 years
old.
• US customs rules prohibit exports containing
additional items, so you cannot purchase cars
with items loaded in the car or its trunk.
• Shipping usually takes three to four weeks.
• The underground economy continues to take
advantage of exports to Nigeria, so it’s
important to research the reputation of any
shipping company or shipping agent you use.
• Leaving your car at the shipping yard for any
extended period of time is a risky undertaking,
since criminals may steal the car, or break into
the car and begin stripping it for parts. IF this
happens, you’ll have no recourse unless you
purchased insurance on the car. Even then, the
insurance may only cover damages incurred
during shipping, not damages that occurred
after the vehicle’s arrival in Nigeria.
• Sales tax is usually 5%. You will also have to
pay duty taxes on all imports, though the
specific amount of the tax varies greatly. For a
comprehensive guide to Nigerian import and
duty taxes, click here.
Shipping a Car Through a Shipping Agent
If you prefer to manage your own shipping, or if
you buy somewhere other than Auto Auction
Mall, the safest and most efficient way to ship
your new vehicle from USA to Nigeria is to hire
a shipping agent. The process can be a
relatively lengthy one, taking as long as three
months:
• Find an international car shipping agent, and
be sure to check online reviews or ask for
references, since just about anyone can put up
a website and call themselves a shipping
agent.
• Complete paperwork with the shipping
agency, which may require you to provide
detailed information about the car, yourself, and
the location to which you are shipping the
vehicle.
• Provide the agent with access to the car,
keys, and title. If you are currently in Nigeria,
this will likely require you to coordinate the
process with the location from which you
purchased the car.
• Wait for the agent to complete the bill of
lading.
• Pay the shipping fee. You may have to pay
immediately, or when the car departs. Some
agents require a deposit upfront, and then a
final payment after the car departs from the
USA to Nigeria.
• Send the bill of lading to your clearing agent,
who will clear the car from the port.
• When the car arrives in the port, pick it up.
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Working with a shipping agent saves you the
time and trouble of arranging shipping, and
may also help you avoid some paperwork.
You’ll still be responsible for duties and other
taxes, and depending upon the shipping agent,
may have to pay for insurance. It usually costs
between $1,000-$2,000 to work with a car
shipping agent.
Shipping the Car Yourself
Shipping the car yourself can save you a few
hundred dollars in shipping agent fees, but also
requires considerable time, planning, and legal
acumen. You must work with a shipping broker,
then complete a detailed docket receipt and
provide your shipping broker with the
paperwork. You will need six copies of the
receipt and car title. You will then be
responsible for taking your car to the port. If
you cannot do so, you’ll have to arrange for
someone else to do it, which can cost a few
hundred dollars. The broker will send you a
shipping bill after your car ships; most brokers
charge around $1,000, but rates vary with
shipping speed, time of year, and other factors.
After you pay for the shipping, you will receive
a copy of your bill of lading. From there, the
process is substantially similar to working with
a shipping agent, with a clearing agent clearing
the car from the port. The process usually
takes around three months, but this too can
vary seasonally or depending upon the
workload of the shipping company you use.
Other Considerations
After you import the car, you may have to file
paperwork in your local municipality before you
are able to drive it. Check local laws, since the
penalties associated with importing and driving
an unauthorized vehicle can be quite stiff.
Working With Auto Auction Mall
The easiest and most low-stress way to import
your car to Nigeria from the USA is to partner
with Auto Auction Mall. We can arrange for
international shipping that works with your
needs, schedule, and budget, and we ensure
that your shipping plan meets all local and
international laws. If you have questions about
our import assistance, or would like to learn
more about what we can do to help you import
your car to Nigeria from USA, contact Auto
Auction Mall today.
Website: www.autoauctionmall.com
Phone number: 01-440-6960
E-mail: info@autoauctionmall.com
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