How do you import a car from Japan to Nigeria, and what does it cost? (2026)
Last reviewed by AVON INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., licensed USS member dealer (card L-1525)
Nigeria charges 20% import duty, a 15% automotive (NAC) levy, roughly 3% in ETLS/surcharge/CISS fees, and 7.5% VAT — about 45-50% of CIF all-in. Right-hand-drive cars cannot be registered and used cars over 12 years old are banned.
Car import duty calculator for Nigeria
Japan's auction stock is right-hand drive. We do not convert steering. For Nigeria we can only source the limited left-hand-drive cars that come up at Japanese auctions, mostly European and American imports, so choice is narrow and prices are higher than for ordinary Japanese stock.
Nigeria is West Africa's largest car market by volume, and used Japanese vehicles — arriving through Lagos's Tin Can Island terminal — are a significant part of the import mix. The most important rule before you start: Nigeria requires left-hand-drive vehicles for normal road registration, which means the standard right-hand-drive stock from Japan's domestic market does not suit the Nigerian road network. There is also a vehicle age policy to navigate. On the duty side, Nigeria layers costs firmly. Expect approximately 20% import duty, a 15% excise surcharge, 7.5% VAT and additional levies of around 12.5% on the imported value. Customs valuation follows VIN-based pricing schedules, not the invoice amount, and the clearing process — Form M, SONCAP/PAAR documentation and customs broker engagement — is detailed enough that having an experienced team on the ground makes a real difference.
Can you import a used car from Japan to Nigeria?
- Steering
- Left-hand drive only
- Age limit
- Used vehicle age limit and policy changes should be checked; LHD required for normal road use.
- Inspection
- Form M, SONCAP/PAAR/VIN valuation, customs broker
- Entry ports
- Lagos / Tin Can Island
How do you import a car from Japan to Nigeria, step by step?
Check the import rules
Used vehicle age limit and policy changes should be checked; LHD required for normal road use. Nigeria requires left-hand-drive vehicles, so ordinary right-hand-drive Japanese stock cannot be registered there.
Buy the car and obtain the export certificate
After purchase in Japan the car's registration is cancelled and an export certificate is issued. An English translation of it is needed for customs and registration in Nigeria.
Complete the required inspection
Required for Nigeria: Form M, SONCAP/PAAR/VIN valuation, customs broker.
Ship to Lagos / Tin Can Island
Cars from Japan arrive at Lagos / Tin Can Island. Sea transit is about 34–50 days. The shipping line issues the bill of lading, which customs needs for the entry.
Lodge the customs entry and pay the taxes
A licensed clearing agent lodges the import declaration with the invoice, bill of lading and export certificate. Customs assesses Import duty, Auto/NAC levy, ETLS, surcharge & CISS and VAT; the rates are in the duty table on this page.
Register the car
After customs release and payment of port charges, the car is registered and plated by Nigeria's vehicle registration authority.
What import duties and taxes does Nigeria charge?
| Tax | Rate | Charged on |
|---|---|---|
| Import duty | 20% | CIF value |
| Auto/NAC levy | 15% | CIF value |
| ETLS, surcharge & CISS | 3% | CIF value |
| VAT | 7.5% | CIF + duty + earlier taxes |
Import duty
Rate: 20%. Charged on: CIF value.
Auto/NAC levy
Rate: 15%. Charged on: CIF value.
ETLS, surcharge & CISS
Rate: 3%. Charged on: CIF value.
VAT
Rate: 7.5%. Charged on: CIF + duty + earlier taxes.
Nigerian import taxes for used vehicles stack up to a significant total. The current indicative rate is approximately 20% import duty, 15% excise/surcharge, 7.5% VAT and further levies of about 12.5% — all applied to the customs-assessed value using VIN-based schedules rather than your purchase price. This means two buyers importing the same model can face different bills depending on which year's VIN schedule applies.
How much does it cost to import a car from Japan to Nigeria?
Worked examples are not shown for this market. Use the calculator below with your own car.
How long does shipping take, and which ports?
| Port | Method | Transit (days) | Freight from (sedan) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lagos / Tin Can Island | RoRo or container | 34–50 | US$2,800 |
Which cars from Japanese auctions can be registered in Nigeria?
- Models and prices
Ford Explorer
Sold new in Japan with left-hand drive, so used Explorers turn up in Japanese stock from time to time.
- Models and prices
Porsche Cayenne
Some Cayennes were sold new in Japan with left-hand drive and resurface in Japanese used stock in small numbers.
- Models and prices
Cadillac SRX
An American SUV sold new in Japan with left-hand drive; examples appear in Japanese used stock occasionally.
- Models and prices
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Left-hand-drive S-Class cars sold new in Japan appear in Japanese used stock, mostly older examples.
How much is inland delivery to cities in Nigeria?
| City | From port | Sedan | SUV / wagon | Extra days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lagos | lagos | US$100 | US$120 | 1 |
| Abuja | lagos | US$380 | US$480 | 3 |
| Kano | lagos | US$540 | US$680 | 5 |
| Port Harcourt | lagos | US$340 | US$420 | 3 |
| Ibadan | lagos | US$160 | US$200 | 2 |
| Benin City | lagos | US$230 | US$290 | 2 |
How do you avoid scams when buying a car from Japan?
- Check that the exporter is a registered Japanese company: look up its corporate number and address, and prefer members of the Japan Used Motor Vehicle Exporters Association.
- Ask for the original auction sheet and, after purchase, the export certificate. Both name the chassis number, which should match the invoice.
- Pay only to a company bank account in the exporter's name, never to a personal account or a money-transfer agent.
AVON INTERNATIONAL company and licence details are on the About page, and the JUMVEA member list is public. JUMVEA (exporters association) · About AVON INTERNATIONAL · Is buying a car from Japan safe?
Frequently asked questions
- Can I import a right-hand-drive Japanese car to Nigeria?
- Standard Japanese domestic-market cars are right-hand drive, which does not suit Nigerian roads where left-hand drive is required.
- Is there an age limit on imported cars in Nigeria?
- Nigeria has had a 15-year age cap in policy, later adjusted to 12 years, and rules have changed over time.
- What is Form M and do I need it to import a car from Japan?
- Form M is a mandatory Nigerian import declaration that must be opened at a Nigerian bank before the shipment leaves Japan. It is part of the PAAR/SONCAP process that governs all commercial imports.
- How much duty will I pay to import a car from Japan to Nigeria?
- The indicative total is around 20% import duty, 15% excise, 7.5% VAT and roughly 12.5% in additional levies — all applied to the VIN-based customs value, not your purchase price.
- Which port do Japanese cars arrive at in Nigeria?
- The main vehicle entry point is Tin Can Island Port, Lagos. It handles the largest volume of imported vehicles in Nigeria.
Car import duty calculator for Nigeria
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Estimate only. Duties are assessed by customs on arrival, freight rates move, and rules change. Check current figures before you buy.