Shipping Cars to Niger

Are You Thinking of Shipping a Car to Niger? Read This First!

 

Shipping cars to West Africa need not be intimidating with the help of a trustworthy shipping company like AFL. If you are shipping cars to Niger, West Africa, there is a cultural and language barrier to consider. Also, you would have to handle the lengthy documentation and customs process. But with AFL, you won’t have to trouble yourself with anything. Our company specializes in shipping all over the West African region, such as Togo, Benin, Senegal, Nigeria, and Niger. We can introduce you to a comprehensive and personalized plan to make your shipping experience as seamless as possible.

Shipping cars to Niger, West Africa: An introduction to the country

Niger is a landlocked country named after the Niger River and situated in West Africa. Its economy heavily relies on agriculture and the export of raw commodities. Agricultural products make up a large part of Niger’s economy. This country is also famous for having one of the largest uranium reserves in the world. 

The main exports of Niger include gold, uranium, radioactive chemicals, and refined petroleum. Primary imports include rice, palm oil, vehicles, weapons, and explosives. 

Niger shares a bilateral trade relationship with the US under the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) and TIFA agreements. The capital and largest city of Niger is known as Niamey, located southwest along the River Niger. This metropolitan city emerged as a cluster of agricultural villages in the 18th century. But now, it accounts for 40% of the GDP of Niger. 

Popular ports for shipping cars to Niger, West Africa

Niger is a landlocked country with no seaport of its own. But it lies close to the country of Benin and uses its Port of Cotonou as a trade route. The Port is a key in providing a way to landlocked countries such as Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali in West Africa

The Port of Cotonou can support 650,000 TEU containers and over 100,000 vehicles annually. Trade between both countries occurs via the Cotonou-Niamey economic corridor, a part of Transthe -Saharan Road Network. To a lesser degree, Niger’s trade also relies on the Ports of Lome (Togo) and Harcourt (Nigeria).

Methods of shipping cars to Niger, West Africa

Before shipping cars to Niger, West Africa, you must choose a shipment method. You may want to send some other goods alongside your vehicle as well.  So your shipping method will depend on the type of cargo you wish to ship. Mainly shipping companies worldwide offer two standard options.

RoRo shipping

RoRo shipping is the least expensive, quickest, and open-air shipping option. It involves rolling the car on the carrier and strapping it to the deck alongside other people’s vehicles. The good part about this method is that you can ship as many and all kinds of vehicles as you want. Your car can roll off/ drive off from the deck when the ship reaches the destination port. But to utilize this option, your vehicle must be operational.

Container shipping

Container shipping is another option to choose from if you want to send your household items or other goods alongside your vehicle. Your shipping company will offer you a 20ft or 40ft container, depending on the size and weight of your cargo. However, this method is a bit more expensive than RoRo. But the additional money is worth a container’s extra layer of security. There are two more options in container shipping:

FCL

You’ll get a container in Full Container Load shipping except you won’t have to share it with anyone. The whole container will be solely yours to use. You can place as many items and cars as can fit inside it. However, this method is quite expensive as you have to pay the lease for a full container. 

LCL

Less than Container Load shipping is similar to FCL. The only difference is that you would have to share the container space with other people’s belongings. But the good part about it is if you have a limited budget, you can select this method to save on shipping costs. You would only have to pay for the space your goods will occupy inside the container. But there is a major drawback to this method: a delay in delivery. The container has to fill before it can adjourn towards Niger.

Cost of shipping cars to Niger, West Africa

The cost of shipping cars to Niger, West Africa, depends on various factors such as the method of shipment, size and dimension of a vehicle, and distance between ports. But if you exclude all such aspects and calculate the price on an average, it can cost you between $2100-$6100 to transport a vehicle to Niger.

Customs & duty

Like other countries, Niger also imposes custom tariffs on imported goods according to their origin or value. The import tariff system in Niger contains two types of taxes. A fiscal import duty of around 5-66% applies to all goods regardless of origin. 

The other tax is known as standard external tariff (CET). It is imposed at a maximum of 22% on all goods from non-WAEMU (West African Economic and Monetary Union) countries. Another custom tax includes 19% VAT and 4.5% statistical tax. 

There is only a minimum customs duty on imported goods from countries with a trade agreement with Niger. Imports from other countries are subject to higher tax.

Requirements for shipping cars to Niger, West Africa

Before shipping cars to Niger, West Africa, you need to fulfil some criteria and follow some rules so the Niger Customs can allow your vehicle to enter the country. These are standard requirements for shipping and include:

  • Your car must be operational to ship to Niger. In case it is non-functional, take it to a mechanic for a thorough check-up.
  • Empty the gas tank until only 1/4th of fuel is left.
  • Don’t place anything inside the car if you ship it through RoRo. Only a spare tire or jack will do.
  • Before shipping, complete your paperwork and read the fine print about Niger Customs rules.

Restrictions and prohibitions on shipping cars to Niger, West Africa

Each country has its own customs laws and regulations depending on the imports of goods and vehicles. But make sure that you don’t ship any restricted or prohibited items because it can result in a penalty or double tax payment for you. It’s always wise to double-check with your shipping company or Niger Embassy in the US before shipping anything.

The restrictions and prohibitions on shipping cars to Niger, West Africa, include:

  • You cannot sell or dispose of your car after importing it to Niger.
  • The Niger Customs doesn’t allow vehicles older than eight years from the manufacturing date to enter the country.
  • Niger is a right-hand drive country, so the import of left-hand vehicles is prohibited.

Documentation

You must create documentation to include the current information. Any outdated data will prevent the entry of your vehicle into Niger. The standard documentation must consist of:

  • Proof of Ownership.
  • Original Bill of Purchase.
  • Make, Model, and Chassis number of the car.
  • Proof of Road Worthiness.
  • Certificate of Registration
  • Proof of Insurance
  • Passport.
  • Driver’s License.
  • Bill of Lading.
  • Proof of Identification.

Factors influencing the cost of shipping cars to Niger, West Africa

Several factors can disturb the momentum of shipping and increase its price. While you can avoid some elements, you cannot do so with others. But we have mentioned them here so you can be aware of them before shipping cars to Niger, West Africa:

Mode of shipment

The method you choose for shipping your cargo heavily impacts the shipping costs. For instance, if you decide on RoRo, it will cost you less as it doesn’t require loading/off-loading. Whereas container shipping will be expensive as you’ll have to pay for hiring a container.

Expedited delivery

Usually, it takes around 3 to 4 weeks to ship a vehicle overseas. But if you want an early shipment and a quick delivery, it can significantly increase the shipping cost.

Vehicle type

When calculating the vehicle shipping cost to Niger, don’t forget to consider the weight and size of your car. If you are shipping heavy haul trucks or buses or a large fleet of vehicles, it can impact the shipping and increase the transportation cost.

Why choose AFL for shipping cars to Niger, West Africa?

Shipping cars to Niger, West Africa, requires you to follow the country’s common customs laws and regulations. Moreover, Niger is landlocked, so you may face difficulty transporting the vehicle to your desired location. Facing the police and customs on the trade route can also be challenging. 

In addition, the currency, culture, and language barriers can make shipping to Niger quite confusing for you. In this scenario, you can be sure that AFL will always come to your rescue. With the assistance of our shipping partners worldwide, we cover all regions of West Africa. From Togo to Benin, Nigeria, Senegal, and Niger, we strive to provide you with a seamless shopping experience. The services we offer include:

Comprehensive Shipping Plan

AFL not only believes in providing a flawless shipping experience and developing a relationship with our clients. From the beginning to the end, we usually devote only one agent who can guide you throughout the course of shipping. This simplifies the communication process and allows you to develop trust with our agent for a better solution. Our comprehensive and personalized shipping plans differ for each client, and we create them according to their needs. We will listen carefully to your requirements and curate the best shipping quote

NVOCC Services

AFL is an NVOCC freight forwarder holding a license acquired from Federal Maritime Commission (FMC). We not only take care of the transportation process, but also assist our clients with paperwork and customs clearance, and negotiate pricing with major shipping lines. Our company takes special care in delivering the cargo to international destinations without unnecessary delay.

Processing Services

The customs process can become a hassle, specifically if you are shipping cars to Niger, West Africa. It is a landlocked country, so you would also have to take care of the transportation process from other countries such as Benin or Togo. But AFL can handle the customs, documentation, and transportation procedures from the US to your desired location in Niger. So, save yourself from this lengthy and troublesome affair and Contact Us to get a free quote today!

FAQs

How long will shipping cars to Niger, West Africa take?

Excluding the external factors that may cause a possible delay in shipment to Niger, it will take an average of 20-34 days to reach Benin port. From there onwards, it will take around 15-16 hours to reach Niamey.

Is buying marine insurance necessary?

Marine insurance can minimize the loss in case your cargo suffers damage during the journey. Although this insurance is optional, our company will take care of your cargo as best as possible. But due to some unforeseen circumstances, anything can happen. 

So, it’s recommended to choose marine insurance. It will protect your vehicle from the point of pick up till we deliver it to your doorstep. In case of a loss, you’ll be able to recover the total value of your car.

Conclusion

Shipping cars to Niger, West Africa, can be a challenging process. The customs and documentation process can be annoying. So, you would need the help of a certified and licensed shipping company specializing in transporting to the West African region. Choose a company that offers transparent pricing and personalized shipping options and provides you with their assistance throughout the shipping process. Besides, only an innovative and trustworthy company will provide enough security to deliver your vehicle to your desired location securely and soundly. 

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