2025 Costs Breakdown: Shipping Your Vehicle from USA to Nigeria

The first time I helped a relative ship a car from Houston to Lagos, we were convinced we had the numbers figured out. The shipping company gave us a quote, and we thought, “Okay, that’s the bill.” Big mistake. By the time the vehicle rolled out of Tin Can Island Port, the actual cost had ballooned by nearly 40 percent. Fees we hadn’t budgeted for—clearing charges, customs valuation adjustments, and even port storage—crept in one by one. That experience taught me an important lesson: if you’re planning to ship a car from the U.S. to Nigeria, you need to understand every layer of cost involved.

2025 isn’t making things any simpler. Global shipping rates are still unpredictable after the pandemic-era disruptions, and Nigeria’s import duty structure seems to shift every few years. Add in fluctuating exchange rates and fuel surcharges, and suddenly a car that looked like a bargain in New York can feel like a money pit once it arrives in Lagos. This guide lays out the full cost breakdown—what you’ll likely pay, what might surprise you, and how to budget smartly if you want to avoid nasty shocks.

The Big Picture: What Shipping Really Costs in 2025

When people ask, “How much will it cost to ship a car to Nigeria?” the honest answer is: it depends. The base shipping quote from the U.S. might sound straightforward—say $1,400 for a Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) shipment from Baltimore to Lagos—but that’s only the beginning. You have to layer in customs duties, clearing agent fees, documentation, port handling charges, inland transport, and sometimes little “extras” that no one tells you about until you’re standing in the queue.

Think of it like booking a cheap flight: the ticket looks affordable, but by the time you add baggage fees, seat selection, and airport taxes, you’ve spent far more. The same psychology applies here.

Let’s break down the categories one by one.

Shipping Charges: RoRo vs. Container

You usually choose between RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off) or container shipping.

RoRo means the car is simply driven onto the ship and driven off at Lagos. For 2025, rates from East Coast ports like New York, Baltimore, or Savannah to Lagos range between $1,200 and $1,800. It’s usually the cheapest option and ideal for standard sedans or SUVs. The downside? The vehicle is exposed during transit, and you can’t load it with personal belongings.

Container shipping means your car is secured inside a container. Prices for a 20-foot container (one vehicle only) average $2,000 to $3,200 in 2025, while a 40-foot container (fitting two cars) could be $3,800 to $4,800 depending on the port. If you’re shipping a high-value vehicle—a Range Rover, Lexus LX, or Mercedes—you’ll probably prefer container shipping for the added security.

One of my cousins once shipped a Lexus GX in a RoRo vessel to save money, and while nothing was stolen, he wasn’t thrilled to find scratches that hadn’t been there before. That small saving ended up costing him in bodywork repairs back in Lagos.

U.S. Side Costs

Even before the car leaves America, there are expenses to handle:

Ground transport to the port: If your car is in Texas but sailing from Baltimore, you’ll need to truck it there. That can run $500 to $1,200 depending on distance.

Loading fees (if containerized): Some freight forwarders include this in their quote, but others may charge separately—think $150 to $300.

Export paperwork: Generally minimal in the U.S., but you may pay a forwarding company a service fee of $50 to $150.

It may sound like small change compared to the shipping itself, but stack these fees up and you’ll feel the pinch.

Nigerian Port Charges and Customs Duty

This is where the costs jump significantly. Nigeria’s import duty system can appear like a puzzle to a first-timer. The standard formula involves:

35% import duty on the vehicle’s assessed value.

7.5% VAT (Value Added Tax).

1% ETLS levy (Economic Community of West African States levy).

0.5% CISS levy (Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme).

Other small port surcharges.

Let’s make this real. Say you bought a 2017 Toyota Camry at auction for $6,500. Customs won’t necessarily take your auction price at face value—they often use a reference book value. If they assess that Camry at $8,000, your import duty alone will be $2,800 (35%). Add VAT (about $600), ETLS (around $80), and CISS (about $40), and you’re already at $3,500+ in government charges.

And here’s the kicker: if the exchange rate spikes, your duty bill climbs instantly because it’s calculated in U.S. dollars but paid in naira. More than one importer has had their budget wrecked by a sudden naira depreciation.

Clearing Agent Fees

Unless you’re a fan of stress and endless paperwork, you’ll hire a clearing agent. These folks handle the customs submissions, payments, and the actual release of your car from the port. Fees vary widely—anywhere from ₦200,000 to ₦400,000 in 2025, depending on the car category.

The temptation is to go for the cheapest agent. But trust me, a bad agent can cost you far more in delays, storage fees, and even penalties. A friend once tried to save ₦50,000 by using a cousin’s “contact,” only to end up paying over ₦300,000 in storage fees because the car sat un-cleared for weeks.

Port Storage and Handling

Ports don’t run on goodwill. If your car isn’t cleared within the free window (usually 5–7 days after arrival), storage fees kick in. These can be ₦10,000 to ₦20,000 per day, and they add up fast. Handling charges for processing, security, and terminal use can tack on another ₦100,000 to ₦200,000.

It’s a bit like paying hotel charges for your car to “stay” inside the port. Nobody plans to pay them, but delays—either from customs valuation disputes or agent inefficiency—can make them unavoidable.

Inland Transport After Clearing

If you live outside Lagos, budget for transport from the port. Trucking a car to Abuja currently costs around ₦250,000 to ₦350,000 in 2025. If you’re going to Port Harcourt or Kano, expect similar figures. Some people choose to drive the car themselves, but factor in fuel, police checkpoints, and potential wear on a newly imported vehicle.

Miscellaneous Fees You Might Not Expect

Beyond the main categories, there are smaller costs that first-time shippers rarely anticipate:

Form M processing: Required for imports into Nigeria. Fees may be modest, but you’ll usually pay an agent to help.

Nigerian Insurance (NIID): Some clearing agents bundle this into their service.

Plate registration and roadworthiness: Once cleared, you’ll still need to register the car locally, which costs around ₦100,000 to ₦150,000 depending on the state.

Each fee might seem minor alone, but together they add to the final total.

Case Study: 2016 Toyota Camry

Let’s run a sample breakdown for clarity.

Auction purchase: $6,500

Inland U.S. transport: $700

RoRo shipping (Baltimore to Lagos): $1,400

Nigerian customs duty and taxes: $3,500 (based on $8,000 valuation)

Clearing agent fee: ₦300,000 (~$350 at ₦850/$)

Port handling and storage: ₦150,000 (~$175)

Inland transport to Abuja: ₦280,000 (~$330)

Total estimated landed cost in 2025: $12,800 equivalent (give or take depending on exchange rate).

So that Camry you thought you were getting for $6,500 ends up nearly doubling by the time you have it parked at home in Abuja. Not necessarily a bad deal—if local equivalents are still selling higher—but definitely not as cheap as the auction price suggested.

Is It Still Worth It in 2025?

The answer isn’t the same for everyone. Some buyers swear by direct imports because they get more control over the vehicle’s history and often better prices than buying “Tokunbo” already in Nigeria. Others argue that with today’s duties and fees, the hassle outweighs the savings.

I’ve met people who said importing was their best decision because they landed a well-maintained car that would have cost millions more if bought locally. On the other hand, one guy I spoke with last year admitted he wished he’d just bought from a dealer in Lagos—it would have saved him months of waiting, surprise expenses, and headaches with customs.

It seems the sweet spot is targeting cars that aren’t overpriced in the U.S. market but still hold strong demand in Nigeria. Toyotas, Hondas, and certain SUVs often fit that bill. Buying a niche brand with limited parts availability may save money upfront but can be a nightmare later.

Final Thoughts

If you’re planning to ship a car from the USA to Nigeria in 2025, treat the process like building a layered budget. Start with the base shipping cost, then add each layer: U.S. side costs, Nigerian duties, clearing agent fees, port charges, inland transport, and registration. Don’t stop adding until you’ve painted the full picture.

And—this is me speaking from experience—always pad your budget with an extra 15–20 percent for surprises. Exchange rate shifts, sudden customs revaluations, or port delays can and do happen.

At the end of the day, bringing in a car from the U.S. is less about finding the cheapest path and more about planning for the realistic one. Get that part right, and you won’t be blindsided when your shiny Camry, Accord, or Lexus finally rolls onto Nigerian soil.

Published on: Sep 07, 2025

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