Timeline Expectations: How Long Does It Take to Ship a Car to Nigeria?

When I shipped my first car from the United States to Nigeria, I made the rookie mistake of assuming the process would be as quick as ordering something online. You know—pay, wait a week or two, and the car magically appears at the port. Spoiler: that’s not how it works. Car shipping across continents has its own rhythm, and if you’re planning on sending a vehicle to Nigeria, you’ll need to manage your expectations around timelines.

The truth is, the length of time it takes depends on more than just “how far” the car has to travel. Shipping is a blend of paperwork, logistics, customs, and, sometimes, just waiting your turn in a queue of hundreds of other vehicles. Let’s break it down step by step, so you can see what the journey looks like from purchase to pick-up at Tin Can or Apapa port.

Step 1: Buying the Car (1–2 Weeks)

Most Nigerians shipping cars from the U.S. start by purchasing from an auction site like Copart, IAAI, or Manheim. Others go the dealer route—buying from a lot in Texas, Georgia, or New Jersey. Either way, the buying stage alone can take a week or two.

Here’s why:

Auction cars often require you to wait until payment clears before the release paperwork is issued.

Some sellers, especially smaller dealerships, may delay releasing the title or vehicle documents.

If you’re financing through a middleman or agent, add a few days of back-and-forth communication.

On paper, this seems fast. But I’ve seen cases where a delayed title stretches this step to three or even four weeks. If you’re on a tight timeline, double-check that the title is clean and ready before sending money.

Step 2: Inland Transportation to Port (3–7 Days)

Buying the car is only half the story—you now need to get it from wherever it’s sitting to the nearest shipping port. The U.S. has major ports in places like Houston, Baltimore, Newark, Savannah, and Los Angeles. If your car is 1,000 miles away, you’ll need a trucking service.

On average, trucking companies take three to seven days, depending on distance and how quickly they can find a driver headed your way. For example:

Atlanta to Savannah: usually 2–3 days.

Chicago to Newark: about 4–5 days.

Dallas to Houston: could be 1–2 days if you’re lucky.

Here’s the catch: if you’re shipping during busy seasons (like right after tax refund season in the U.S. or around summer), transport companies are swamped. I once had a car sit in Michigan for 10 days simply because no driver wanted to take a low-paying route to Baltimore.

Step 3: Loading and Shipping Schedule (1–3 Weeks)

Once your car reaches the port, it doesn’t just roll straight into a container or ship. Shipping lines operate on fixed schedules, and sometimes your car arrives just after a vessel has left.

There are two main shipping methods:

Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo): Your car is literally driven onto the vessel and secured inside.

Container shipping: Cars are loaded into a 20- or 40-foot container, often shared with other vehicles.

RoRo ships usually depart every 1–2 weeks, while containers can take slightly longer to fill, especially if you’re consolidating with other customers. So you might wait anywhere from a few days to nearly three weeks before the ship even leaves.

Think of it like catching a bus. You could show up right on time and board immediately, or you might just miss one and have to wait for the next.

Step 4: Ocean Transit (2–4 Weeks)

Here’s the part most people focus on—the actual voyage across the Atlantic. Sailing time from the East Coast of the U.S. to Lagos is typically two to four weeks, depending on the route.

From Newark, NJ or Baltimore, MD, transit is usually around 14–18 days.

From Houston, TX, you’re looking at about 18–25 days.

From Los Angeles, the route is much longer (the ship may pass through the Panama Canal), and it can stretch up to 40 days.

But don’t forget: shipping lines sometimes make multiple stops along the way. Your car might pause in Antwerp or Dakar before continuing to Lagos. If you’re unlucky, those extra stops can tack on an additional week.

Step 5: Nigerian Port Process & Customs Clearance (1–3 Weeks)

This is where timelines often unravel. Your car has technically arrived in Nigeria, but you can’t drive it out just yet. The port and customs clearance process can be smooth—or it can test your patience.

Here’s a general breakdown:

Offloading and inspection: A few days to get your car off the vessel and staged in the yard.

Customs documentation: Submitting your Bill of Lading, invoice, title, and Form M.

Duties and clearance: Customs calculates import duty (typically 35% duty + 35% levy on used cars). Once paid, they’ll clear the release.

If all your documents are perfect and you have a reliable clearing agent, you could be out of the port in 7–10 days. But realistically, two weeks is common, especially when there’s congestion at Tin Can or Apapa.

I’ve personally seen a car sit at the port for nearly a month because customs wanted to “re-evaluate” the duty based on a higher valuation. Lesson learned: always budget time (and money) for delays.

Putting It All Together: The Full Timeline

If we add up all these steps, here’s what a typical timeline looks like:

Buying the car: 1–2 weeks

Inland trucking: 3–7 days

Port waiting and loading: 1–3 weeks

Ocean transit: 2–4 weeks

Nigerian port clearance: 1–3 weeks

Total estimate: 6–12 weeks from purchase to driving in Lagos.

That may sound like a huge range, but it reflects real-world unpredictability. Best case, everything flows smoothly and you’re done in about six weeks. Worst case, a single snag—say, a missing title or customs valuation dispute—can double that time.

Factors That Can Extend the Timeline

A few variables outside your control can stretch the process:

Peak shipping seasons: Ports and shipping lines get busier during certain times of the year.

Weather delays: Atlantic storms can slow or reroute vessels.

Port congestion: Lagos ports are notorious for long queues, especially when multiple ships arrive at once.

Customs strikes or policy changes: Nigeria occasionally adjusts its import policies, sometimes mid-process.

These aren’t deal-breakers, but they’re reminders that flexibility matters when shipping cars.

A Personal Note on Managing Expectations

The first time I shipped a Toyota Camry, I thought I’d be behind the wheel in Nigeria within a month. In reality, it took almost three months because the title wasn’t ready and customs delayed release. The second time, I planned better, used a more reliable agent, and got my car in six weeks.

If there’s one takeaway, it’s this: shipping isn’t a sprint; it’s a process with moving parts you don’t always control. The smoother you handle the parts you can control—choosing the right shipping company, making sure documents are correct, paying duties promptly—the less stressful the unpredictable parts will feel.

Final Thoughts

So, how long does it take to ship a car to Nigeria? The honest answer: expect anywhere between six and twelve weeks. Some lucky shippers get their cars faster, while others face delays they never saw coming.

Instead of focusing on speed alone, focus on preparation. Get your paperwork in order early, choose a shipping agent with a solid track record, and stay in constant communication throughout the process. That way, even if the journey takes longer than you hoped, you’ll at least avoid nasty surprises along the way.

And one more thing: be patient. Shipping a car to Nigeria is not like ordering on Amazon Prime—it’s closer to planning a long-distance move. A little patience and realistic expectations can make the entire experience feel less like a headache and more like a calculated investment.

Published on: Sep 07, 2025

Related Post