Shipping a Car from Los Angeles to Nigeria

Your Guide To: Shipping a Car from Los Angeles to Nigeria

If you need to have a car shipped from Los Angeles to Nigeria, I’m sure that you naturally have a lot of questions. While the process may seem rather daunting, we’re here to help. When you partner with our team of auto shipping experts, transporting a car from Los Angeles to Nigeria is a breeze. After all, Nigeria isn’t identified as having superb public transportation so having a vehicle during your permanent residency or even just an extended stay can be beneficial.

At Ship Vehicles, we have over 30 years of experience in the auto shipping industry, much of that being international auto transport. We coordinate roughly 50 trips a year between the United States and Nigeria. Whether this your first or tenth time shipping a vehicle, we will provide you with all the necessary information so you can make the most informed decisions. Continue reading for your ultimate guide to shipping a car from Los Angeles to Nigeria.

How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car to Nigeria?

Nigeria is considered to be one of the more expensive countries to ship a vehicle to. This is largely due to the limited route availability, overall shipping distance, and less amount of accessible ports in the area.

The average price to ship a standard-sized car to Nigeria ranges from $970 to $1,650. However, it will cost you a considerable amount more to ship the car from the West Coast than the East Coast. Having your car shipped from Los Angeles to Nigeria involves it being loaded onto a land transport, arriving to the port in New York, and then it is transported across the ocean on a shipping vessel. Ultimately, your car needs to end up on the East Coast before it can be loaded onto the shipping vessel and sent to Nigeria.

Dependent on a number of factors, the cost to have your car shipped from Los Angeles to Nigeria is between $1,600 and $1,850. You can save money by driving the car to the dedicated departure port on the East Coast yourself, rather than having a transporter pick it up. However, the amount of money saved may be insignificant when you consider the costs associated with a cross-country road trip.

What Documents Are Required to Ship a Car from Los Angeles to Nigeria?

In some cases, Nigeria import can be strict. However, when it comes to importing a personal vehicle, it’s a rather simple process. While there is a lot of documentation required to present, as the owner, you’ll most likely already have it on hand. The following documents are required when shipping a vehicle to Nigeria.

1. The vehicle’s original bill of sale, or purchase invoice.
2. The vehicle’s title and registration. If it has a lien on it, you’ll need to provide a lien authorization form.
3. Power of Attorney, in the case of a lien.
4. Proof of insurance documentation.
5. A packing list.
6. The vehicle’s make, model, and VIN.
7. A copy of your passport.
8. A certificate indicating the vehicle’s value and origin.

Aside from the standard documentation, a vehicle is not permitted for import if it is 15 years or older. The vehicle must also be fully operational and road worthy.

Nigeria and Its Roadways

Nigeria is a part of West Africa, bordered by the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean. The country consists of a total of 36 states. Each region varies exponentially but are comprised of highlands, plateaus, forests, and tropical rainforests.

With the second greatest road network in West Africa, Nigeria has quite a number of roadways. However, the roads are not well-maintained and many accidents and deaths are reported yearly due to the roads’ poor conditions. Recently, it has been a struggle in the country to provide proper maintenance to the roadways in order for them to be both safe and easy to travel on.

While public transportation is available, it is primarily water-based transportation and railways. Possessing a personal vehicle while in Nigeria is essential for anyone who will be traveling throughout the country often.

What Overseas Transport Methods are Available for Shipping a Car to Nigeria?

One of the many tasks you will have when planning out the shipment of your vehicle from Los Angeles to Nigeria is to decide on an overseas transport method. When you choose Ship Vehicles for your international shipping services, you have a number of options available to you. The following are some of our most popular methods for transporting vehicles to Nigeria:

Roll On/Roll Off Shipping to Nigeria

The Roll On/Roll Off method, or Ro-Ro, is the most common method for shipping a car overseas, regardless of destination. With this method, your vehicle is driven onto the cargo ship and is secured to the deck to prevent any movement during its journey. Ro-Ro shipping is considered to be the most affordable option for international auto transport.

It is also reliable and quick when you need to ship a car from Los Angeles to Lagos Port or Tin Can Island in Nigeria. The only downside to this option is the fact that there is generally a 15ft height restriction, making it not suitable for large or heavy equipment.

Lift On/Lift Off Shipping to Nigeria

The Lift/On Lift Off (Lo-Lo) method of shipping is similar to Ro-Ro in that the vehicle is secured to the deck of the ship and is exposed to the elements during its ocean voyage. However, this method is generally recommended for those with vehicles or equipment that is non-functioning. With Lo-Lo Shipping, a crane is used to pick up the vehicle and place it onto the vessel, where it is strapped in place for transport.

Container Shipping to Nigeria

Shipping your car in a container is the most secure international transport option, offering full protection from the elements and inclement weather. It’s also great for those who need to ship multiple vehicles at once, as you can fit more than one in a container. Your car will be transported in either one of our secure 20- or 40-foot shipping containers.

When it comes to international container shipping, you essentially have two options: LCL (Less-Than-Container-Load) or FCL (Full-Container-Load). The latter means that you will have the container all to yourself whereas, LCL involves the container being shared with multiple vehicles leaving the same port. With LCL, you will save some money since the overall costs of this premium service will be split between multiple vehicle owners.

Flat Rack Shipping to Nigeria

With flat rack shipping, your vehicle is placed in a “shipping container” that is open-top and does not have walls. This method is most recommended for those shipping boats, machinery, pipes or other equipment. That way, these awkwardly shaped vehicles can be easily loaded in from either the top or the sides of the flat rack container.

Frequently Asked Questions About Car Shipping from Los Angeles to Nigeria

How do I get my vehicle to the port?

While you can certainly drive your car from Los Angeles to the port yourself, this may not be an option for some people. In this case, we can have the vehicle transported for you. One of our experienced carriers will pick up the car from your desired location and have it transported to the port for shipping to Nigeria. For cross-country shipping, you have the option between an open-air trailer and an enclosed trailer.

How long does it take to ship a car from Los Angeles to Nigeria?

On average, it will take between 45 and 50 days for your car to arrive in Nigeria from Los Angeles. However, you should factor in an additional 10 days for the processing of all the required documents.

How do I ship my car to Nigeria?

Like any other domestic or international auto transport, it all begins with gathering a quote and scheduling the booking. Reach out to one of our shipping experts today by filling out our request form online or calling (888) 231-0113. We’ll help walk you through the whole process, educate you on required documentation for import to Nigeria, and provide an international shipping experience that is seamless and hassle-free.