There are thousands of cars imported into Nigeria on a yearly basis and they span from brand new to fairly used cars from countries like USA, China, Japan, etc.
The Nigerian government are in charge of securing the border to make sure that contrabands do not enter into the country so when you order a car from any country overseas, there are procedures that you must follow to clear your car at the seaport or border.
The authorities in charge of securing the ports and border is the Nigerian Custom Service (NCS). So, before you can clear your car and drive it in the country, they must have stamped their seal of approval on your car papers because without their stamp your imported vehicle or goods can’t get into the country.
There are lots of procedures involved and the cost of clearing cars from any of the major seaports in Nigeria also vary. If you do not know how to go about this then you are at the right place reading the right article. This article will equip you with all the necessary information you need to clear your car from any seaport in the country.
Step-by-step Guide on How to Clear a Car from Nigerian Port
Below are the procedures involved in clearing your car at any of the major seaports in Nigeria
Get the Car’s Bill of Lading
Ensure you request for your car’s bill of lading because it’s a very important document. Your car’s bill of lading would be sent to you from the foreign shipping company or cargo carrier transporting your car from the country you are importing it from. This car’s bill of lading is a receipt stating that the car you are importing into the country is on board their ship.
The bill of lading contains all the necessary information of the car your are importing into the country such as the name of the car, the brand, model, year of manufacture, weight, VIN, etc. The bill of lading can be sent to you either through an email so you can print it out or through any of the trusted courier services such as DHL, FedEx.
Get an Import Duty Valuation
The next step is to get an import duty valuation. You can apply for this through a trusted clearing agency. It’s important you contact a trusted clearing agency to get this document prepared for you because this will determine whether or not your car will cleared. And also of the process will be a fast one or a tedious one. So, ensure you contact an agency registeled and licensed to prepare this document for you.
In the process of getting your import duty valuation, the clearing agency will send an application with a letterhead of their company and a copy of the bill of lading to the Nigerian Custom Service. Once the letter is received, you will get a response of the value of the car in US Dollars. The import duty valuation is used to calculate the surface duty which is 35 per cent for used cars and 70 per cent new cars with tax terminal and shipping charges excluded.
Register the Valuation into the Customs Database or Servers
As soon as the import duty valuation is received from the Nigerian Customs Command, it will be registered into the Customs database. This is popularly known as punching or “Direct Trader Input” (DTI). This can only be done through the same clearing agency whose letterhead paper was used for the valuation of the car. At this point, the TIN (Tax Identification Number) of the individual receiving the shipment also known as the cosignee will be required.
Once the process is done, you will need to print the DTI or Assessment Notice and the Single Goods Declaration Form (SGD). The Single Goods Declaration Form (SGD) contains the type of car, the details of the transaction and the content of the car.
Pay Import Duty
You must check and be sure of the bank that was stated in the punching process before proceeding to make payment of your import duty. Go with the assessment notice because the bank will request for this document before you can make the payment. Once the payment is made, the bank will issue a receipt. If you pay online, you will need to visit the bank to get the receipt.
Physical Inspection and Customs Release
In this process, you will need to submit all the documents at the Nigerian Customs Service Office. The necessary documents includes bill of lading, bank receipt, assessment notice, Single Goods Declaration Form (SGD) and valuation copy. Once all the necessary documents are submitted, they will be registered and a date for the physical examination the car will be fixed
The documents submitted will help the Nigerian Customs Service confirm the description of the car. The Nigerian Customs Service will confirm the brand of the car, year of manufacture, VIN and chassis of the car. The amount paid for duty will also be confirmed and once all these processes have been successfully completed, a report of release of the car will be submitted to the appropriate office by the Nigerian Customs Service.
Printing of Exit at the Shopping Company
This is also another important step you must follow but it’s very easy. All you have to do is visit the shipping company in charge of your car and provide the Single Goods Declaration Form (SGD) to them to print your exit copy
Release at the Shipping Company
Once you submit all the necessary documents to the shipping company, your car will be released. These documents include signed bill of lading, signed copy of the cosignee’s identify (which includes either Driver’s license, International Passport or National Identity Card) SGD and exit copy.
You will also be required to provide Form C30, this is a custom document that permits clearing agency to operate. And another document of authorization from the agency whose details were used to apply for valuation should also be provided.
As soon as all these documents are check, you will be required to pay for shipping and terminal charges.
Register and Sign at the Gate
You will need to register and sign at the gate of the Nigerian Custom office. Once you get there, they will ask for the documents from Custom and the printed Exit copy from the shipping company.
The officer on seat will check duty payment and verify it on the system. As soon as its verified, the officer will stamp and sign the document.
Collect Terminal Delivery Order (TDO)
To collect the Terminal Delivery Order (TDO), you have to provide the shipping company’s payment receipt as well as a copy of the signed gate document.
Submission for Gate Delivery
At the gate, you will be required to submit all the necessary documents needed for the car to be delivered to the open floor at the final delivery gate.
Final Customer Check
Once the car gets to the floor at the final delivery gate, a shipping company official together with a Custom officer will do their final check on the car before it is driven out of the port.
Final Payment
You may have to make a final payment to the Custom officers, cleaning agent’s association on duty after the final check if there’s any extra charge before can drive out safely.