How to Ship a Car from Canada to Nigeria — Complete 2026 Guide
Everything you need to know to ship a vehicle from any Canadian city to Lagos, Tin Can, or Port Harcourt — costs, paperwork, transit times, RoRo vs container, and the common mistakes that cost first-time shippers thousands.
What you'll pay
Pricing varies by vehicle type, destination port, and time of year. The table below shows the shipping methods available for common vehicles to Nigeria from a Canadian East Coast port (Montreal or Halifax):
Rates fluctuate weekly with carrier capacity, fuel costs, and seasonal demand. For a firm quote, fill out our quote form and we'll respond within 24 hours.
RoRo vs Container — which should you pick?
RoRo (Roll-on / Roll-off)
The vehicle is driven onto a specialized car-carrier vessel, secured by chains to the deck, and rolled off at the destination port. Cheaper, faster turnaround, and no container space wasted.
Choose RoRo if:
- The vehicle is operable (drives, even slowly)
- You only need port-to-port, not door-to-door, on the destination side
- You're shipping a standard-size car/SUV/truck
- You want the cheapest option and the quickest vessel turnaround
Container
The vehicle is loaded into a 20ft or 40ft shipping container, secured with straps and blocking, and the container is sealed before being placed on a regular container vessel. More protection, but more expensive and slightly longer turnaround.
Choose container if:
- You're shipping a classic or project car that needs full enclosure (note: Swift Shipping currently accepts running vehicles only)
- You're shipping a luxury or rare car you want fully enclosed
- You want the vehicle sealed away from weather and port handling for the whole voyage
- You're shipping two cars and want to share a 40ft container to cut costs
Transit time, week by week
- Day 0 — Drop-off (or our pickup) at our Oakville warehouse
- Day 1–5 — Vehicle inspected, documented, loaded into container or staged for RoRo
- Day 5–8 — Container or vehicle trucked to Port of Montreal (sometimes Halifax)
- Day 8–12 — Awaiting vessel cutoff date, loaded onto sailing
- Day 12–32 — Atlantic crossing — typically 18–25 days at sea to West Africa
- Day 32–40 — Port arrival, customs clearance at destination (paperwork-dependent)
- Day 40+ — Vehicle released to consignee
Total door-to-door: 40 to 55 days on average. Faster routes exist via Mediterranean transshipment (Algeciras → Lagos) but those add cost.
Required paperwork (Canada side)
Before we can ship your vehicle, we need:
- Vehicle title — Original Ontario or other provincial title, in your name. If financed, a lien-release letter from your bank.
- Bill of sale — If you bought the vehicle within the last 12 months, the original purchase receipt.
- Government-issued photo ID — Driver's license or passport.
- CBSA export declaration (CERS) — Required once an export exceeds the declaration threshold. Then we prepare the declaration data and confirm who files it before the vessel loads.
- House Bill of Lading (HBL) — We issue this once the vehicle is loaded.
If the vehicle is registered to someone else (gift, family transfer), we'll need a notarized letter from the registered owner authorizing the export.
Required paperwork (Nigeria side)
Your consignee in Nigeria will need to clear customs at Apapa, Tin Can, or PTML. They'll need:
- Original Bill of Lading (the one we issue, mailed to them)
- Form M — Pre-arrival import permit from Nigerian Customs (filed before the vessel sails)
- PAAR (Pre-Arrival Assessment Report) — issued by Nigeria Customs Service
- SONCAP certificate for newer vehicles
- Original purchase invoice and title
- Duty payment — typically 35% of CIF value + 7.5% VAT for used vehicles, more for newer/luxury
Most consignees use a Nigerian customs broker (clearing agent) for the destination side. We don't hold a broker network, so pick your own — look for one licensed with the Nigeria Customs Service, ask what they charge as a percentage of duty rather than a flat fee, and get the quote in writing before the vessel arrives.
5 mistakes that cost first-time shippers thousands
1. Under-declaring the vehicle value
Some forwarders suggest declaring a low value to reduce duty. Nigeria Customs has a comprehensive used-vehicle valuation database — they'll re-value at the actual market price and slap a penalty on top. Always declare honestly.
2. Choosing a forwarder with no insurance
If your vehicle is damaged in transit and your forwarder doesn't carry cargo liability insurance, you have almost no recourse. Ask any forwarder for proof of cargo insurance before booking. (For the record: we carry comprehensive cargo liability + E&O coverage on every shipment.)
3. Filing Form M too late
Nigeria requires Form M to be filed before the cargo arrives. If your consignee files after arrival, the vehicle sits at port accruing daily storage and demurrage fees. Get your consignee started on Form M as soon as we send sailing confirmation.
4. Not emptying the vehicle before drop-off
RoRo carriers do not allow personal effects inside the vehicle. If port inspectors find them, your vehicle can be held, fined, or refused loading. We ship running vehicles only — not household goods or personal effects — so empty the car completely before drop-off, whichever method you choose.
5. Picking a forwarder based only on price
The cheapest quote often comes from forwarders who don't pay the full carrier rate, hoping to add surcharges later. Real total cost matters more than the headline number. Ask for an all-in quote with every fee itemized — that's what we provide on every quote.
Ready to ship?
We've shipped vehicles to Lagos, Apapa, Tin Can, Port Harcourt, and beyond. Fill out our 3-minute quote form and we'll send a firm price with full breakdown within 24 hours.
Have questions we didn't cover? Reach out — we answer real questions from real people, usually within a few hours.