We probably have heard different brave and may be slightly bogus stories about buying cars from Cotonou and also how these cars are all smuggled via Nigerian border towns. Other stories that cloud vehicle purchase from Cotonou are the assumed inevitable problems these vehicles encounter after getting to their end users. Some of these stories are true and in spite of these tall tales, some underlying reasons still make this trading option worth considering and this is why I found it interesting to put up a little list of the facts and the fiction that surround buying cars from Cotonou.

Myth #1: Cars are Cheaper in Cotonou.

When it comes to the purchase of fairly used cars, always remember that good cars come with a higher price tag and the fact that these cars (tokunbo) cars don’t have a rigid price tag. The two main factors that influence pricing of these cars are; how clean(mileage and appearance) the vehicle is and your bargaining power (which has a whole lot to do with how informed and persuasive you are). The major Cotonou advantage is the availability of a wide range of options even for the same type of car you might have in mind.

Myth #2: Buying cars from Cotonou is plain risky.

Buying cars from Benin might not be as convenient as simply going to a nearby car lot, paying for your car and driving off immediately but, it is anything but risky if you go about it the right way. Simply ensure you obtain important documents like original custom papers (after paying the duty) and most importantly the carte-de-cruise (after obtaining the vehicle receipt) document.

Myth #3: Agents are frauds.

When it comes to trading across Nigeria-Benin borders, it’s best you have an agent to guide you through. You might be paying them for almost everything you most likely can do by yourself; but here are reasons why you should consider the agency path; firstly, these agents (experienced ones) understand the market trends and true valuation of vehicles at anytime of the year. Secondly, park-owners can spot a novice a mile away and can easily capitalize on that, the third reason is the language barrier. And lastly, after crossing the Nigerian border you don’t need to grease all palms and you need someone experienced on that route to deal with custom or police men along this route. Escorts generally charge #5,000 and above to deliver cars from the border to their destinations.

Myth #4: Cotonou cars are clean and never tampered with.

These men have blood flowing through their veins and also have families to feed just like desperate Nigerians over here do. Just like cars get upgraded and maybe tampered with here in Nigeria, these things happen as well in Benin. You can get odometer readings reduced, repair accident-vehicles and even replace essential vehicle parts. However, these practices are in most cases done in the open with the buyer or trader’s permission. Everything boils down to hiring the right agent for the job.

Myth #5: You can get your order in less than 24hours.

This is very unlikely because cars in Cotonou are subject to the first-come-first-serve basis, meaning you have to physically select the vehicle of your choice and make the necessary payment or deposit to secure the vehicle. So paying fully for a vehicle and processing it that quickly(less than 24hrs) probably means you didn’t take time to assess the vehicle (with a mechanic or technically grounded individual with knowledge about cars) or you just didn’t take out time to choose. After payment there is no going back so it’s best to exercise patience.
http://autobaseafrica.com/buying-cars-from-cotonou-the-mythtruth/

carte-de-cruise

please explain this

It's one of the essential documents you need to have and its a proof that you legitimately purchased the vehicle from a Cotonou car dealer. You can get this document after you receive the official receipt and proof of payment. This is what most police men look out for.