How to Import Used Trucks to Nigeria: A Step-by-Step Importer's Guide

Is importing a used truck into Nigeria worth it?

Nigeria's haulage, construction and distribution sectors run on heavy trucks, and demand consistently outstrips quality local supply. Importing a refurbished Chinese truck gives operators a strong, reliable unit at a price the domestic market rarely matches, with a much wider choice of tonnages and configurations.

The work is in the clearance. Lagos ports are busy and documentation must be precise, so most importers use a clearing agent. Done properly, importing through a vetted china used truck exporter lets you specify exactly the model you need rather than settling for whatever is on a local lot. Start by reviewing realistic landed pricing on our used trucks for sale listings.

Step-by-step import process

The sequence from order to plated truck is straightforward once mapped out:

1. Confirm specification. Choose the model, tonnage and configuration; Nigeria uses LHD, which suits most Chinese trucks as supplied.

2. Agree CIF terms and pay. Buying CIF Lagos means freight and insurance to the port are included in the price.

3. Shipping. The truck is loaded (RoRo or container) and a bill of lading is issued.

4. PAAR and documentation. Your agent obtains the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report and assembles the shipping documents for clearance.

5. Clearance at Lagos. The agent files the entry at Apapa or Tin Can, duties and levies are assessed and paid, and the truck is examined and released.

6. Registration. The cleared truck is registered and plated. A licensed clearing agent is effectively essential at Lagos, especially for first-time importers.

Customs duties, levies and VAT

Import charges in Nigeria are a stack assessed by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on the customs value of the truck. You should budget for:

• Import duty at the rate applicable to goods vehicles;
• applicable levies and surcharges; and
• VAT on the relevant value.

The customs value is generally built from the CIF value, so freight and insurance feed into the figure that charges are calculated on. Rates and levies are revised from time to time, so treat any percentage you see quoted as indicative and confirm the current figures directly with the NCS before finalising your budget. A clearing agent will give you the most accurate landed-cost estimate for a specific unit.

Steering, age and condition rules

Steering side. Nigeria drives on the right, so left-hand-drive (LHD) trucks are required. This is convenient, since most Chinese export trucks are built LHD — though if you ever need the opposite, we handle RHD/LHD conversion in-house.

Age. Commercial trucks in Nigeria are generally not subject to the same strict age cap that applies to passenger cars, but rules do change — confirm the current position with the NCS before you ship rather than assuming.

Condition. Buying a properly refurbished, inspected unit protects you against costly post-clearance repairs. Our used-truck inspection checklist covers the engine, chassis and driveline points that most affect a heavy truck's working life.

Choosing the right truck for Nigeria

Nigerian operators tend to specify rugged, high-capacity units. For sand, granite and construction haulage, the used dump trucks range — particularly a robust HOWO dump truck — handles the load and the road surface well. For long-distance freight and container haulage between Lagos and the north, a HOWO tractor head coupled to a trailer is the standard choice.

Across the board, used heavy duty trucks with proven engines and good local parts support deliver the lowest cost per kilometre. Spec for parts availability and resale, not just the headline price.

Shipping and CIF to Lagos

Most importers buy on CIF terms, so the agreed price already includes freight and insurance to Lagos. That gives you a clean landed-at-port figure to which you add NCS charges and local clearance costs. Lagos handles the bulk of Nigeria's vehicle imports through the Apapa and Tin Can terminals, both well served from China.

From the port, your clearing agent files the PAAR-backed entry, pays the assessed charges and secures release. We ship our HOWO trucks and SHACMAN trucks CIF to Lagos, supplied LHD and inspected before loading. For more on protecting your payment, see our L/C and payment guide for truck import.