If you dream of coasting down back roads in 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 USA to Nigeria.
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.
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.
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