Nigeria’s appetite for imported cars is not slowing down. Fresh Foreign Trade Statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics show that the country’s passenger motor car import bill jumped 145.6% year-on-year to ₦1.18 trillion in the first half of 2026, up from ₦479.26 billion in the same period of 2025. For anyone shopping for tokunbo cars in Nigeria right now, that number matters — but probably not in the way the headlines suggest.
This guide breaks down what the data actually says, how a tokunbo car price is really assembled from CIF value, import duty, NAC levy and terminal charges, and what a realistic landed cost looks like in Lagos today. No fixed price list — because nobody can honestly give you one in a market where the customs exchange rate moves every few weeks.
What the H1 2026 import figures actually say
The breakdown, as reported from the NBS quarterly foreign trade reports, looks like this:
- Passenger motor cars: ₦1.18 trillion in H1 2026, versus ₦479.26 billion in H1 2025
- Q1 2026: ₦552.34 billion (Q1 2025: ₦224.58 billion)
- Q2 2026: ₦624.75 billion (Q2 2025: ₦254.67 billion)
- All transport equipment and parts: ₦3.73 trillion, up 44.2% from ₦2.59 trillion
- Parts and accessories: ₦722.59 billion — down about 4.4% from ₦755.43 billion
Value is not volume — read this before you panic
Here is the part most people skip. The NBS measures the naira value of vehicles imported, not how many units came in. A 145.6% rise in value does not mean 145.6% more cars landed at Tin Can or PTML. A weaker naira, higher freight, higher assessed customs values and a shift toward pricier vehicles all inflate the same number without a single extra car arriving.
So treat the figure as a signal of how much harder Nigerians are working to put imported cars on the road — not as proof that a Corolla is about to get 145% more expensive.
How a tokunbo car price is actually built
The sticker you see at a dealership in Berger, Apapa or Abuja is the end of a chain that starts with an auction price abroad. Understanding the chain is the single best defence against being overcharged.
- Purchase price abroad — what the car cost at auction or from a US/Canada/Europe dealer.
- CIF value — cost, insurance and freight: the purchase price plus shipping and marine insurance to a Nigerian port. Customs assesses duty on this, using its own valuation book, not your receipt.
- Statutory customs charges — the government’s cut (detailed below).
- Terminal, shipping line and NPA charges — paid at the port before release.
- Clearing agent fee and haulage — getting the car out and onto the road.
- Dealer margin, detailing and registration — plates, papers and profit.
The statutory charges on a used import
Based on the current tariff structure as applied by the Nigeria Customs Service, a foreign-used passenger car under HS heading 8703 typically attracts:
- 20% import duty on the assessed CIF value
- 15% NAC levy — the National Automotive Council levy on used vehicles
- 7% surcharge calculated on the duty amount
- 4% FOB levy, which replaced the older 1% CISS charge
- 0.5% ETLS (ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme levy)
- 7.5% VAT on the combined base
Stack those together and industry clearing agents put total statutory charges at roughly 42% to 49% of assessed CIF value. Add terminal and agent costs and the widely quoted working range is that clearing adds 45% to 70% on top of what the car cost overseas by the time it is on Nigerian soil. Where you land in that range depends on the vehicle’s age, engine size, the customs valuation applied, and — crucially — the exchange rate.
The exchange rate is the hidden variable
Customs charges are computed in dollars and converted at an official rate that is reviewed at intervals. Clearing agents have been quoting a customs rate in the region of ₦1,440 to ₦1,450 to the dollar recently, though this is adjusted periodically and you should confirm the current figure before budgeting.
Two things follow from that. First, the rate applied is the one in force on your Form M date — not the day you bought the car abroad. Second, a ₦50 move in the customs rate on a car with a $10,000 CIF value shifts your duty bill by roughly ₦200,000 before you have touched terminal charges. That is why no honest dealer can lock a price three weeks ahead.
A worked example (treat this as an estimate, not a quote)
Take a common mid-size tokunbo sedan — a 2015 to 2018 Toyota Corolla is the classic Nigerian benchmark. Clearing agents typically describe a CIF value in the $9,000 to $12,000 band for that era of car, with clearing costs landing around ₦2.5 million to ₦3.5 million, and an on-the-road landed price commonly quoted at ₦8 million to ₦10 million in 2026 depending on trim, mileage and accident history.
Inside that clearing figure you should expect, roughly:
- Agent/clearing fee: ₦100,000 – ₦200,000
- Terminal handling: ₦100,000 – ₦200,000
- NPA and shipping line charges: around 2% of value, plus demurrage if the car sits
- Haulage from port to your area: varies widely by state
These are market ranges collected from clearing agents, not official tariffs. Your own car will differ. Always get a written quote tied to the specific chassis number and current customs valuation.
The spare parts signal nobody is talking about
Buried in the same NBS data is a detail that should interest every used-car owner: while complete vehicle imports surged, imports of parts and accessories fell about 4.4% to ₦722.59 billion. More cars arriving, fewer parts arriving.
If that pattern holds, it points to tighter supply and firmer prices at markets like Ladipo for genuine components, and more pressure to accept refurbished or aftermarket parts. When you are comparing two tokunbo options, parts availability for that specific model in Nigeria deserves as much weight as the asking price. A cheaper car with scarce parts is not a cheaper car.
Where government policy fits into this
Two policy moves shape the backdrop. In April 2026, the Federal Government waived import duties on electric vehicles, mass transit buses and manufacturing machinery — a meaningful carve-out if you are considering an EV rather than a petrol tokunbo, since the duty stack above is precisely what the waiver targets.
Then in August, President Bola Tinubu announced that state governors had agreed to lean on compressed natural gas and electric vehicles to bring transport fares down from 1 October 2026. That is aimed at commercial transport rather than private car buyers, but it signals where incentives are heading: away from imported petrol vehicles and toward gas and electric.
For a private buyer today, the practical read is that petrol tokunbo cars are not getting any policy help, while EVs and CNG conversions are. If you plan to keep a car for five or more years, that direction of travel belongs in your calculation.
Tokunbo, Nigerian-used, or new Chinese? An honest comparison
- Tokunbo: better body and interior condition for the money, unknown service history, full exposure to FX and clearing risk if you import yourself. Best when you buy an already-cleared car from a dealer whose costs are sunk.
- Nigerian-used: cheapest entry, no clearing exposure, but you inherit Nigerian road wear and often deferred maintenance. Budget for immediate repairs.
- New Chinese brands: warranty, after-sales support and financing options, and the price gap against a good tokunbo has narrowed. The open question remains resale value and long-term parts supply.
How to protect yourself as a buyer right now
- Ask any dealer to separate the car’s cost from clearing charges. If they will not itemise, that is information in itself.
- Verify customs papers and the chassis number before any money moves. Duty evasion becomes your problem after purchase.
- Get a current duty estimate from a licensed clearing agent using today’s customs rate — not a figure someone quoted in June.
- Check parts availability and typical service cost for that exact model in Nigeria before you commit.
- If you are financing, compare the total repayment, not the monthly figure.
Key takeaways
The ₦1.18 trillion figure measures value, not the number of cars — do not read it as an automatic price increase. Clearing realistically adds 45% to 70% to a car’s overseas cost, statutory charges alone run about 42% to 49% of assessed CIF, and the customs exchange rate is the single biggest swing factor in your final bill. Falling parts imports mean maintenance costs deserve as much attention as the purchase price.
Frequently asked questions
Will tokunbo prices go up because of the import surge?
Not automatically. The data shows rising import value, which reflects FX, freight and customs valuation as much as demand. Individual car prices depend on sourcing cost, the rate at clearing, and dealer margin.
How much is import duty on cars in Nigeria?
For a used passenger car, 20% import duty on assessed CIF plus a 15% NAC levy, 7% surcharge on duty, 4% FOB levy, 0.5% ETLS and 7.5% VAT. Confirm the current tariff with the Nigeria Customs Service or a licensed agent before you budget.
Are electric cars cheaper to import now?
The Federal Government waived import duties on electric vehicles in April 2026, which removes the largest single line from the cost stack. Confirm the exact scope and any conditions with Customs, as implementation details matter.
Is it cheaper to import a car myself?
Sometimes — but only if you can absorb FX movement between purchase and clearing, and you have a reliable agent. Buying an already-cleared car transfers that risk to the dealer, which is often worth the margin.
Figures in this article come from the National Bureau of Statistics foreign trade reports for H1 2026, the Nigeria Customs Service tariff structure, and quotes published by licensed Nigerian clearing agents.
Disclaimer: vehicle prices, import duties and specifications change frequently in Nigeria — always confirm current figures with the dealer, a licensed clearing agent or the official customs tariff before buying.
