Shipping a Range Rover from the UK to Nigeria

Nigeria enforces a strict rule limiting importation to vehicles no older than 15 years from the date of manufacture, a policy the Nigeria Customs Service applies rigidly at the Port of Lagos (Apapa and Tin Can Island). This means a Range Rover built in 2011 or later is currently eligible, but anything older is barred from import regardless of condition — a rule that has caught out UK sellers offering older Range Rover Sport and L322 models to Nigerian buyers unaware of the cut-off. We always verify the exact manufacture date against the current 15-year window before confirming a booking.

Range Rovers ship from Southampton via RORO to Lagos (Tin Can Island Port), with transit taking approximately 18–24 days depending on the vessel's routing and any West African coastal stops. RORO costs typically range from £1,100–£1,600 depending on the specific Range Rover variant — the compact Evoque and Velar sit at the lower end, while the full-size Range Rover and Range Rover Sport, being taller and heavier, sit toward the top of that range. Given the popularity of this lane, sailings run roughly every 10–14 days from Southampton.

Every vehicle entering Nigeria requires a Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR), generated through the Nigeria Customs Service's online platform using the vehicle's bill of lading, invoice and specifications before the ship even arrives — without a valid PAAR, clearance at Lagos can be delayed by weeks. Nigeria's total import levy on vehicles is substantial: 35% import duty plus a further 35% import levy on top (totalling an effective 70% combined charge on the CIF value for most passenger vehicles), though this combined rate has periodically been the subject of government review, so we confirm current rates before every shipment. On a Range Rover valued at £30,000 CIF, this can mean well over £20,000 in Nigerian duty and levies — a cost that must be planned for well before the vehicle sails.

Nigeria's tropical climate and challenging road surfaces mean Range Rovers destined for Lagos benefit from a pre-shipment inspection focused on air suspension integrity, since Lagos's notoriously poor roads put additional strain on the Range Rover's air-spring system, and replacement parts can be expensive or slow to source locally. We recommend documenting suspension condition and tyre tread depth before shipping, along with topping up all fluids and ensuring the battery is in good health, since vehicles can sit in port for 1–2 weeks awaiting clearance.

Most Range Rovers to Nigeria ship via RORO for cost efficiency, but buyers moving higher-spec Autobiography or SVR models, or those wanting to include spare parts and personal effects, often choose a shared container instead, at roughly £1,600–£2,200, which also offers better protection against the salt-air corrosion common in Lagos's port environment during any clearance delays.