Shipping Cars to West Africa

Car Shipping To West Africa

If you are thinking of car shipping to West Africa it’s important to know the different methods you can use. After making your initial car purchase, carriers will provide you with the ability to ship your car via container or by using a Roll on Roll off (RoRo) service. Which service you choose to use […]

If you are thinking of car shipping to West Africa it’s important to know the different methods you can use. After making your initial car purchase, carriers will provide you with the ability to ship your car via container or by using a Roll on Roll off (RoRo) service. Which service you choose to use will depend on the size of your car, its make, model, age, and how much you want to spend. Your decision will also be influenced by which country in West Africa you are shipping to. Each country has different rules, regulations, and laws that determine whether cars can be imported. This article will walk you through each of the decisions you’ll need to make before international shipping cars to West Africa.

RoRo Shipping vs. Containment Shipping

First, let’s review some quick facts about the differences between RoRo shipping and Containment shipping.

RoRo car shipping is typically used when you are shipping more than one car. The cars are put on 20ft or 40ft ocean containers when being transported to their final location.

RoRo shipping is not only the most affordable way to ship a car to West Africa, but it is also the most commonly used. The process for shipping a car using the RoRo method involves a person dropping off their car at a terminal and then picking it up at the destination terminal. Generally, the cost of shipping a car using the RoRo method is less expensive than shipping a car using a shared container.

Containment shipping is oftentimes more expensive than RoRo shipping. But, containment shipping comes with more safety and security than RoRo shipping. With containment shipping, one can choose to have their vehicle shipped one of two ways: Full Container Load (FCL) and Less Container Load (LCL). a Full Container Loads (FCL) or a Less Container Load (LCL). An FCL is less costly than an LCL, but your car runs a higher risk of being damaged. An LCL allows your vehicle to have more space but also costs more money. The containers the vehicles are placed in are secure, but damage can still occur during their travel to West Africa.

AN LCL can also be a better choice if you are shipping a luxury car or a very car. Depending on your preferences and the general space needs for your car, an LCL may help provide you with more peace of mind as your vehicle is travelling to its new home in West Africa.

In addition to these factors, you’ll also want to consider the services provided by your chosen carrier. It’s better to go with a carrier who will provide full insurance for your vehicle, so you can rest assured that your car will remain undamaged when it arrives in West Africa.

The price you pay and the carrier you choose to use will also be influenced by how long it will take the carrier to ship your vehicle. If the shipment of your vehicle is not time-sensitive, then you may be able to find a carrier who will ship your car for a lower rate. The rate you pay will also be influenced by whether you decide to use a full container for your vehicle and if you decide to ship only your vehicle or personal belongings as well.

Knowing Your Options

When shipping a vehicle internationally it’s important to know your options. Because you are shipping your vehicle from the United States to West Africa, you may have fewer options than if you were trying to ship to a different continent or country. Carriers will oftentimes ship to select ports/locations. You may need to do a fair amount of research before you find the carrier whose price and location will work for you.

General Shipping Costs

Car Shipping to West Africa
Shipping Cost According to Location

To gain a better sense of how your chosen method of shipping will influence the price you pay, take a quick look at the table below provided courtesy of BR Logistics.

Port to port ServiceType of VehicleOcean Freight rates:
Ship Car to Nigeria from Boston US

Ship Car to Nigeria from Providence US

Ship Car to Nigeria from Newark US

Ship Car to Nigeria from New York US

Ship Car to Nigeria from Wilmington US

Ship Car to Nigeria Baltimore US

Ship Car to Nigeria from Savannah US

Ship Car to Nigeria from Jacksonville US
Roll on roll off service:
Cars up to 650cft
Roll on roll off service:
Cars up to 650cft
Roll on roll off service:
Cars up to 650cft
Roll on roll off service:
Cars up to 650cft
Roll on roll off service:
Cars up to 650cft
Roll on roll off service:
Cars up to 650cft
Roll on roll off service:
Cars up to 650cft
Roll on roll off service:
Cars up to 650cft
from: $955

from: $955

from: $955

from: $955

from: $955

from: $955

from: $955

from: $955
Ship Car to Nigeria from Boston US

Ship Car to Nigeria from Providence US

Ship Car to Nigeria from Newark US

Ship Car to Nigeria from New York US

Ship Car to Nigeria from Wilmington US

Ship Car to Nigeria Baltimore US

Ship Car to Nigeria from Savannah US

Ship Car to Nigeria from Jacksonville US
Roll on roll off service:
Cars up to 650cft
Roll on roll off service:
Cars up to 650cft
Roll on roll off service:
Cars up to 650cft
Roll on roll off service:
Cars up to 650cft
Roll on roll off service:
Cars up to 650cft
Roll on roll off service:
Cars up to 650cft
Roll on roll off service:
Cars up to 650cft
Roll on roll off service:
Cars up to 650cft
from: $1250

from: $1250

from: $1250

from: $1250

from: $1250

from: $1250

from: $1250

from: $1250
Ship Car to Nigeria from Galveston Texas US

Ship Car to Nigeria from Freeport Texas US

Ship Car to Nigeria from Houston Texas US
Roll on roll off service:
Cars
Sedans
SUV
from: $1075
New York / New Jersey to Lagos Nigeria
Baltimore to Lagos Nigeria
Texas to Lagos Nigeria
Shared Container:
Cars
Sedans
SUV
from: $1550
Los Angeles California to Lagos NigeriaShared Container:
Cars
Sedans
SUV
from: $1650
New Jersey to Lagos NigeriaFull container load:
20ft container to Nigeria
from: $3550
New Jersey to Lagos NigeriaFull container load:
20ft container to Nigeria
from: $4990
Houston to Lagos NigeriaFull container load:
20ft container to Nigeria
from: $3550
Houston to Lagos NigeriaFull container load:
40ft container to Nigeria
from: $5500
Los Angeles to Lagos NigeriaFull container load:
40ft container to Nigeria
from: $6500

As you can see, at times, a person may pay a flat rate to ship a car if they are using the RoRo shipping method. However, the cost of what a person will pay increases depending on the size of the container they are using and the port they are shipping from. The cost of shipping will also reflect whether the vehicle has its own space or is sharing a container with another vehicle.

The amount of time it takes for a car to arrive will also depend on the carrier you choose and how quickly they can get the car to its final destination. Many carriers ship cars internationally every week from their US ports, but other carriers may ship cars less frequently. What carrier you choose may be influenced by the timetable they provide for an estimated time of delivery.

Car Shipping To West Africa – Costs and Factors to Consider

There may be other charges you have to pay in addition to the cost of service being charged by your carrier. Before you prepare your car for shipment, take time to visit the page for the country you are shipping to. The page will provide you with information regarding the Import Duty that you may have to pay for bringing your car into the country. Unless otherwise stated, this duty may be charged in addition to the service prices listed by the carrier.

If you received an estimate for what it will cost for your car to ship to West Africa, take into consideration that you may find yourself on the higher end of the estimate if your vehicle is larger and heavier than the average car.

The best way to reduce the cost of your shipment is to pick up your vehicle at the port location. If your carrier offers door-to-door service, you will be paying much more to have your vehicle delivered.

If you choose to have your car shipped using a container, there is a second decision you’ll need to make. Cars can be shipped using either open or closed shipping. Open shipping costs less money but may leave your vehicle open to more damage. Closed container shipping is more costly, but will also enable you to feel more confident your vehicle will not be damaged during transport.

How to Get Your Car Ready for Shipment

Necessary Paperwork

When you are getting your car ready for shipment you’ll need to complete two different tasks. You’ll need to drop your car off at the port location so it can be prepared for shipment. But, before you do that, you’ll need to make sure you’ve completed all the necessary paperwork to ship your car.

Because your car is going to cross international waters, you’ll need to have all of your customs forms filled out and ready for approval. If you do not have all the paperwork completed correctly, the carrier may refuse to load your vehicle, and you may still be charged a fee by the carrier.

Each country has forms/paperwork you will need to fill out before your car can enter the country. Some countries will allow you to own a car only if it’s a certain age and meets certain requirements upon inspection. While certain countries will inspect the car upon its arrival, others will require you to have a pre-inspection completed before the car enters the country.

Laws for Shipping and Owning Cars

As mentioned above, when you ship a car to a country in Africa you must know its different rules and regulations. But, beyond that, you must know all of the different laws held in the country you are shipping to. As Consumer Affairs points out, there are 17 countries in West Africa, and each has different rules about the cars allowed to enter the country.

You may have to go beyond determining if you can import your car, and understand the additional costs you may incur for owning your car in a particular country. Certain cars can be subjected to additional taxes each year depending on how much gas the vehicle requires or how many pollutants it emits while you are driving.

Before shipping your car to West Africa, remember to consider every aspect of what the car is going to cost you once it is in your new country of residence.

Why Choose American Forwarding & Logistics (AFL).

AFL has been in business for more than ten years and has 1300 customers. They offer RoRo and containment shipping and ship to West Africa. The company also helps simplify the process of shipping your car internationally. Whether you have questions or concerns about customs paperwork, an agent from the company will work you through the process. The vehicle–or other materials you ship–are fully insured and you will be able to track your shipment as it travels to its final destination.

In addition to these services, the company also offers affordable pricing and transparency. You’ll understand every detail of your shipment’s cost as well as will be able to work with the agent assigned to you throughout every step of the shipment process.

To learn more and request a free quote, click here!

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