🇳🇬 How Much Does It Cost to Import a Car to Nigeria?
Combined import taxes in Nigeria run about 36.5%–48% of a vehicle's CIF value. On a $10,000 (CIF) car that is roughly $3,650–$4,800 in duties and taxes — before ocean freight and local clearance. Below is the full 2026 breakdown, then a free calculator for your exact car.
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Key import facts for Nigeria
- Combined import taxes (petrol/diesel): ~36.5%–48% of CIF
- Electric vehicles: ~2%–5% of CIF (EV incentives apply)
- Maximum vehicle age: 12 years
- Used-car imports: allowed (within the age rule)
- Driving side: left-hand drive (LHD)
- Local currency: NGN
Ocean freight to Nigeria
| Destination port | RoRo (1 car ≈ 12.5 CBM) | 40HQ container (2–3 cars) | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lagos (Tin Can / Apapa) | $1,500–$1,750 | $3,250–$3,750 | 35–45 days |
| Onne (Port Harcourt) | $1,500–$1,750 | $3,300–$3,900 | 38–48 days |
RoRo cost shown for a midsize car (~12.5 CBM). A 40-foot high-cube container is shared across multiple cars. Figures marked * are estimates — confirm live rates with your forwarder.
Before you buy: entry rules for Nigeria
These decide whether a vehicle can enter at all. Getting them wrong costs a container, not a margin.
- Age limit: 12 years — counted from the year of manufacture
- Pre-shipment inspection: SONCAP (SON) — Certificate must be raised before shipment; no dockside retrofit.
Worked example: a $10,000 car, step by step
Every figure below is derived, not asserted — this is the same arithmetic our calculator runs. Base: $10,000 CIF (vehicle + freight + insurance at the destination port), engine band 2.0 – 3.99L, new.
| Line | Rate | Charged on | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customs duty | 20% | CIF | $2,000 |
| VAT | 7.5% | CIF + duty + excise | $1,012 |
| Para-fiscal levies | 14.9% | CIF — statistical, community and shipper-council levies | $1,488 |
| Duties and taxes | 45% | of CIF | $4,500 |
| Terminal charges | — | per 40HQ | $775 |
| Customs broker | — | per entry | $300 |
| Landed cost | — | CIF + taxes + port + clearance | $15,575 |
Excludes inland delivery, registration and any age-penalty tax. Change the vehicle, engine size or year in the calculator to re-derive this for your own unit.
Port charges and clearance in Nigeria
On top of duties and taxes you pay the terminal and your broker. These are not part of the tax figures above.
| Charge | Typical range | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal / carrier charges (THC, DO, security) | $600–$950 | per 40HQ |
| Customs broker / clearance fee | $200–$400 | per entry |
| Combined | $1,075 typical | per container |
Paperwork you must have
- Form M
- PAAR (e-clearance report)
- SONCAP
Important: Form M and PAAR must be raised BEFORE shipment — no retrofit at arrival. Customs values the car against the NCS reference database, not your invoice: under-declaring does not lower the duty, it just gets the value uplifted.
Ask your carrier for 14–21 days of destination free time (demurrage/detention) at booking — congested ports and high inspection rates make this the cheapest insurance you can buy.
Frequently asked questions
How much are import duties and taxes on a car in Nigeria?
Combined import taxes (duty, excise and VAT) run about 36.5%–48% of the car's CIF value. On a $10,000 (CIF) car that is roughly $3,650–$4,800 in duties and taxes, before ocean freight and local port/clearance fees.
What is the maximum age of car you can import into Nigeria?
Nigeria allows imported vehicles up to 12 years old. Older units are typically refused at customs.
How long does it take to ship a car to Lagos (Tin Can / Apapa), Nigeria?
Ocean transit to Lagos (Tin Can / Apapa) is typically 35–45 days, depending on the origin port and sailing schedule.
Can I import a used car into Nigeria?
Yes. Used vehicles can be imported into Nigeria subject to the age rule and standard duties and taxes above.
Does Nigeria require left-hand or right-hand drive vehicles?
Nigeria drives on the right, so left-hand-drive (LHD) vehicles are the standard.
Compare with nearby markets
Duty, VAT and age rules change sharply across a border — the same car can land 20 points cheaper one country over.
- Benin — combined import tax 4%–46% of CIF
- Burkina Faso — combined import tax 44%–63% of CIF
- Côte d'Ivoire — combined import tax 40%–60% of CIF
- Ghana — combined import tax 28%–58% of CIF
- Senegal — combined import tax 49%–75.5% of CIF
- Togo — combined import tax 8%–53% of CIF
Related guides
- Used-car age limits by country
- Importing Chinese EVs: incentives and traps
- How import taxes are calculated (CIF, duty, VAT, excise)
- RoRo vs container: which is cheaper for cars
- Cheapest African countries to import into
Estimate your exact cost
Tax rates, car age and engine size all change the final number. Use the free AutoLanded calculator to get a line-by-line landed cost for your specific vehicle and destination port.