What is underage vehicle? you may ask.

There are specific age limit for imported vehicles in every
country, in Nigeria, before President Jonathan, the limit was
ten years from the year of manufacture but now is fifteen
years ”thanks to Mr President and his team”. Now for every
car or jeep that is older than fifteen years is officially
contraband.
Like i have explained before, officially, underage vehicles are
illegal, but our people still bring them in, that is because of
Nigeria situation many people can not afford to pay millions
to buy a car. So i think Nigerian Customs (in my opinion)
use their discretion by allowing them take delivery of their
imported underage vehicles with some………….i don t know
But that was before, because right now Nigerian Customs
are so strict about underage vehicles, though still allowing it
but so strict to the extent that it is either you pay hefty fine
or your vehicle goes for total seizure.
In Nigerian port today to clear any underage vehicle you
need to be prepare because additional money you are going
to spend depend on which terminal your vehicle is at.
Terminals and additional money is as follow:
Apapa (COASTAL TERMINAL) 150,000.
PTML (GRIMALDI) 60,000.
Tin-can (CAR PARK C) 60,000.
Note that these additional charges are unreceiptable so
does not have anything to do with normal clearing charges.
And please don`t ask me where those additional charges
goes, you can go to Customs and ask them yourself.
I learnt from a friend who is an importer that the different
between 1997 Toyota Camry and 1998 is about 50,000 to
100,000 Naira, the same goes for all vehicle brand. He paid
150,000 additional charges the last time he imported 1997
Camry through Coastal Terminal Apapa. He was so angry
because he spent more than the amount he would have
spend on 1998 Camry and plus Camry 1997 does not have
the same value as Camry 1998 in Nigerian Market, so the
transaction was a big lost for him. He vow never to import
any underage vehicle again.
Though Nigerian Customs maybe using their discretion for
now but the truth remains that officially, underage vehicles
are contraband and importing contraband is not legal and if
you are so unlucky your vehicle might be seize forever.
So business wise importing underage vehicles is a waste of
resources, no matter how cheap the vehicle might be except
if it`s a gift, of cause you wouldn`t mind to spend little
change on something you did not buy.
VEHICLES THAT ARE UNDERAGE:
Cars of any kind be it SEDAN or WAGON from 1997
backward JEEP of any brand from 1997 backward but from
1998 upward is ok and legal,
VEHICLES WITHOUT UNDERAGE:
TRUCKS, LORRY, TRACTOR, TIPPER, BUS, PICK-UP and
SPACE WAGON
we can import all these without fear at least for now.
Note that 1998 is 15years in 2013 so 2014 is going to be 1999 and 2015 is going to be 2000 and so on.
www.nigerianportforum.com/blog/archives/40

Thanks this.

Femonjay: Thanks this.

You are welcome