Shipping a Car from the USA to Nigeria
Nigeria is one of the busiest vehicle export destinations from American ports, and Lagos is where nearly all of it lands. We handle the whole chain: trucking from your door or auction yard to the port, then the ocean crossing booked through our sister company, Royal Port Container Lines, Inc. DBA Cassandra Logistics, an FMC licensed OTI.
How much does it cost to ship a car from the USA to Nigeria?
Two legs make your price. The US trucking leg to the port is priced instantly in our calculator. The ocean leg is where we are different: we show you the ocean carrier's actual invoice and cap our commission at $100 per shipment. No padded freight, no mystery markup. Most people shipping to Lagos pay less through us than through exporters who bury a margin in the ocean rate.
Is container or RoRo better for shipping to Lagos?
Container is the standard answer for Nigeria. Your car travels sealed, it can share a 40 foot container with a second vehicle to split the cost, and declared spare parts can travel with it. RoRo sailings to Lagos exist and can price lower for a single running vehicle, but the car travels exposed on a vehicle deck and nothing can be shipped inside it. For most Nigeria shipments, especially auction cars, container wins.
How long does it take to ship a car to Nigeria?
Plan on four to six weeks on the water from the US East Coast to Lagos, plus the domestic trucking to port, which usually takes under a week. Sailing schedules and transshipment stops move the total, so we confirm the current transit when we quote your ocean leg.
Which port does my car arrive at in Nigeria?
Tin Can Island and Apapa, both in Lagos, receive the overwhelming majority of vehicle traffic. Your receiver's clearing agent collects the car at the port after customs. We hand off a clean document set so that handoff is boring, which is exactly how port handoffs should be.
Can I ship a salvage or auction car to Nigeria?
Yes, and thousands of people do every month. Copart and IAAI cars are the backbone of this lane. We pick up at the auction yard, winch loading included for non-runners, truck to the port or export warehouse, and roll straight into the ocean booking. Our auction pickup guide covers the yard-side details.
What paperwork does the export need?
The original title is the heart of it, plus customs export validation before the car can sail. The full checklist lives in our export documents guide. Send us copies early and we flag problems before they cost you a sailing.
Nigeria shipping questions
Can I put spare parts or belongings inside a container going to Nigeria?
Loading spare parts with the vehicle inside a container is common on the Nigeria lane, but everything must be declared on the shipping documents and duties may apply on arrival. Tell us what you plan to load when you email for your quote and we will confirm what the carrier allows.
Can I ship a right-hand drive car to Nigeria?
No. Nigeria drives on the right and bans the import of right-hand drive vehicles. Every car we send to Lagos is left-hand drive.
Can two cars share one container to Nigeria?
Yes. Two sedans fit a 40 foot container comfortably, and consolidation is the single best way to cut your per-car ocean cost on the Lagos lane. Email us both vehicles and we will price the shared container.
Does my car need to run to ship it to Nigeria?
No. Non-running and accident vehicles ship to Nigeria every week, especially from auctions. The trucking leg needs a winch carrier and the port loading is handled with equipment, so a dead car is routine, not a problem.
Who clears my car through customs in Lagos?
A licensed clearing agent in Nigeria handles customs on arrival, usually one your receiver already works with. We hand off clean documents and the agent takes it from the port gate.
Are there age limits or special duties for cars entering Nigeria?
Nigeria restricts very old vehicles and charges import duty based on the vehicle's value, and the rules shift with government policy. Confirm the current limits with your clearing agent before you buy, then we handle the shipping side.
Actual carrier invoice, our commission capped at $100. Price the US trucking leg in the calculator.
Email us your shipment