Nigeria is the largest used-car import market in West Africa. Lagos receives RoRo vessels weekly from Baltimore, Newark, Brunswick, Galveston, and Freeport. The mechanics of getting a car from a US driveway to an Apapa terminal are well-trodden - but every step has at least one place where shipments get stuck.
The five-step path
1. Lock the title
Title must be in the shipper's name (or with a notarized bill of sale and lien release). CBP will not let the car export without it. If the title is still with a bank, get a 10-day or release letter before booking.
2. Choose the loading port
Baltimore and Newark have the most frequent RoRo sailings to Lagos - typically weekly. Brunswick and Jacksonville also run direct service. Galveston/Freeport can be cheaper from Texas. We pick the port with the cheapest live combination of inland trucking + ocean rate + sailing date.
3. Pickup and drayage
We dispatch a flatbed (running car) or tow truck (non-running) from the pickup ZIP to the chosen port. For Copart/IAAI lots, we coordinate gate releases and storage fees.
4. AES filing, dock receipt, lashing
We file the AES/ITN with US Customs, hand the dock receipt to the terminal, and supervise lashing at the deck. You receive a booking confirmation, sailing date, and house BL.
5. Apapa or Tin Can clearance
On arrival, our broker handles SON, NCS, and SGD documentation. Duty is calculated by Nigeria Customs on a customs-assessed value × duty rate × age coefficient. Older cars carry higher duties.
Apapa vs. Tin Can - which terminal?
Lagos has two main terminals for vehicle imports.
Apapa (PTML, Five Star)
Larger, more vessel calls, faster discharge, but heavier congestion at peak. Most US RoRo vessels berth here. Best for single cars and small batches.
Tin Can (RORO Terminal)
Cleaner exit roads, sometimes faster gate-out for the consignee. Used by some carriers as their primary Lagos call. Good for dealer-volume buyers and trucks/buses.
The carrier picks the terminal based on the vessel's rotation. We tell you on the booking which terminal your car will arrive at.
Duty - what to expect at Nigeria Customs
Nigeria Customs (NCS) sets duty from its own reference value - not your declared invoice - then layers surcharge, VAT, and an age penalty for older vehicles on top. Rates move; these are the current baseline.
Pricing method
How NCS builds the bill
Duty is assessed on the customs-assessed value, not your invoice. Older vehicles add an age-based depreciation penalty before duty is applied.
1. Dutiable value
Customs-assessed value × age coefficient
The age coefficient grows with vehicle age. Newer cars carry less; 10+ year cars approach the ceiling.
2. Total payable
Dutiable value × (35% duty + 35% surcharge) + 7.5% VAT
VAT applies on top of the dutiable value after duty and surcharge are added.
Rule of thumb for a 5-10 year old sedan landing at Apapa: duty + clearance + handling totals 60-110% of the car's CIF value. Newer or higher-value cars trend lower in percentage terms; older or cheaper cars hit harder.
Other cost components
- Terminal handling
- SON / NCS clearance
- Broker fee
- Demurrage (if late)
We send a destination duty estimate with every booking confirmation, so the consignee can line up cash flow before the vessel arrives - not after the car is sitting at Apapa accruing demurrage.
Common stuck points
Title issues
The single most common delay. Auction title release can take 14-30 days after purchase. Plan the loading-port booking around it, not the other way around.
AES errors
Wrong VIN, wrong consignee, wrong HS code - any of these will hold a vessel. We file AES in-house so we control the data.
Wrong consignee details
If the BL consignee name does not match the duty payer's documents at Apapa, customs holds the car. Get the consignee's TIN and full legal name right at booking time.
SON / SONCAP for new vehicles
Brand-new vehicles (under 1 year) require SONCAP certification. Used cars do not. Edge cases (low-mileage, near-new) sometimes get challenged - we plan for it.
Demurrage at Apapa
Once a car lands, the consignee has a free-time window (typically 3-7 days) to clear. Beyond that, demurrage starts. Have the consignee ready before the vessel arrives.
Timeline - a typical Lagos shipment
What 'door to gate-out' actually looks like on the calendar — from your first message to the consignee driving the car off Apapa or Tin Can.
- 01
Day 0
Quote and booking
You send the lot or VIN, we quote, you confirm.
- 02
Days 1-7
Title clearance and pickup
We pick up the car and stage it for the loading port.
- 03
Days 5-10
AES, lashing, sailing
Vessel sails on its scheduled day. Live tracking begins.
- 04
Days 26-35
Lagos arrival
Vessel discharges at Apapa or Tin Can. Arrival notice goes to the consignee.
- 05
Days 35-45
Clearance and gate-out
Customs duty paid, terminal release issued, consignee picks up the car. Demurrage clock applies after free time.
Door-to-gate-out averages 35-45 days from booking on the well-run case. Title delays and customs disputes are the two factors that move the back end.
Shipping to Lagos?
Send us the VIN, the lot number, or just year-make-model and pickup ZIP. Quote in one business day.