Change of Ownership of a Car in Nigeria: Steps and Costs

To change the ownership of a car in Nigeria, the seller or the buyer must notify the state motor licensing office within 30 days of the sale, on Form MVA 5, and the buyer pays the fee. Documents and fees are set state by state. In Lagos, the latest official schedule we could open (June 2025) asks for the proof of ownership certificate, the purchase receipt, a sworn affidavit and a police report, and totals ₦38,675 before the vehicle licence and other extras.

What does the law say about change of ownership in Nigeria?

The federal rule sits in Regulation 12 of the National Road Traffic Regulations 2012 (S.I. 61), made under the FRSC (Establishment) Act 2007. Three points matter to anyone buying or selling a used car:

• Who files: the former owner or the new owner gives notice of the change to the licensing authority on Form MVA 5, and the new owner pays the fee prescribed by the Joint Tax Board.
• The deadline: the notice must be given not later than 30 days after the actual change of ownership.
• Duty-free imports: for a vehicle imported free of import duty, the notice must come with a certificate of payment of import duty, or of exemption, issued to the new owner by the Nigeria Customs Service.

Regulation 12 also says the former owner presents the registration book to the authority, which records the change and hands the book over to the new owner. Regulation 28 covers the vehicle licence: it stays valid until its expiry date if the new owner keeps the same use, and in other cases the vehicle is re-licensed after payment of the prescribed fee. If the new owner fails to comply, the existing licence ceases to be valid. The 2016 amendment to these regulations does not list Regulation 12 or 28 among the provisions it changed.

Form MVA 5 asks for the purchase price, mode of payment, purchase date, registration number, proof of ownership certificate number, engine and chassis numbers, intended use, and the signatures and right thumbprints of both the registered owner and the new owner. Have these details ready before you go.

Who handles the transfer: the state, FRSC or the police?

Several agencies touch the same file, which is why buyers often get sent from one desk to another.

The state motor licensing office

This is where you file and pay. In Lagos it is the Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA). In Imo State it is the Motor Vehicle Administration of the Imo State Internal Revenue Service, and in Edo State the Motor Licensing desk of the Edo State Internal Revenue Service. The office checks your documents, assesses the fees and prints the new papers once payment is confirmed.

FRSC and the proof of ownership certificate

The Federal Road Safety Corps runs the National Vehicle Identification Scheme (NVIS). The Proof of Ownership Certificate (POC) is one of its components, alongside the national vehicle licence. In Edo State's published registration procedure, the FRSC desk officer completes the record on the FRSC portal and generates the POC; in Lagos, the MVAA uploads the record to the FRSC platform. In a 2019 presentation, FRSC said vehicles reported stolen are flagged in the NVIS database so that desk officers are alerted when someone tries to re-register them.

The police Central Motor Registry (CMR)

Lagos asks for a police report and CMR information for a change of ownership. In July 2024 the Nigeria Police announced that its electronic CMR (e-CMR), on cmris.npf.gov.ng, would make changes of ownership easier and help stop innocent buyers from purchasing stolen vehicles. Days later, the Inspector-General suspended enforcement of the e-CMR and told officers to stop demanding the certificate. At the time of writing (October 2026) we found no official notice that enforcement has resumed, so ask your licensing office exactly which police document it wants.

Nigeria Customs for tokunbo cars

In October 2025 the Nigeria Customs Service launched the Customs Verification Management System (CVMS), which lets individuals verify the clearance status of an imported vehicle. The portal is cvms.nigeriatradehub.gov.ng; check the steps and any fee on the portal itself before you pay for the car.

Which documents do you need for change of ownership in Lagos?

The MVAA schedule as at June 2025 lists these requirements for a change of ownership:

• Old registration form (MVAA01)
• Proof of Ownership Certificate
• Valid vehicle licence
• Receipt of purchase
• Letter of authority to effect the change of ownership
• Sworn affidavit by the new owner
• Police report to support the change of ownership
• CMR information for the change of ownership

The same schedule warns that incomplete documentation terminates the process. Other states ask for different papers. Imo State's change of ownership form, for instance, is an affirmation signed by the new owner, with a court affidavit and a police extract attached and the former owner's details filled in. Before you queue, get your own state's list from its licensing office.

How much is change of ownership in Lagos?

This is the fee breakdown in the Lagos MVAA schedule as at June 2025, the most recent official version we could open at the time of writing (October 2026):

• Number plate: ₦30,000
• Change of ownership: ₦2,500
• Capital gains tax: ₦625
• Admin charge: ₦2,500
• Proof of ownership and stamp duty: ₦550
• Ownership certificate: ₦500
• Processing fee: ₦2,000
• Total: ₦38,675

That total excludes the vehicle licence, which depends on the vehicle's capacity, as well as CMR, roadworthiness, insurance and pre-registration inspection. The stated timeline is 3 working days when the application has no irregularity. In July 2026, Lagos signed a concession to automate MVAA processes, so steps and amounts may change. Other states set their own fees. Wherever you are, pay against the official assessment the licensing office gives you.

How to do change of ownership of a car in Nigeria, step by step

1. Check the papers before paying. The name on the vehicle licence and POC should match the seller's ID, and the chassis and engine numbers on the papers should match the car. Our guide on how to inspect a used car before buying covers the physical checks.
2. For an imported car, check customs clearance on the CVMS portal before money changes hands.
3. Write a receipt or sale agreement with the price, date, mode of payment, plate number, chassis and engine numbers. These are the details Form MVA 5 asks for. Both parties sign and each keeps a copy.
4. Collect the seller's documents: registration book, POC, current vehicle licence and, in Lagos, a letter of authority to effect the change.
5. Prepare the affidavit and police papers your state requires.
6. Go to the state licensing office within 30 days of the sale. Submit the form, pay the assessed fees through the official channel and collect your new papers.
7. Re-license the car if its use changes, for example from private to commercial, as Regulation 28 requires.

What should the seller do to stay protected?

Regulation 12 lets either party file the notice, so a seller does not have to wait for the buyer. Keep your copy of the signed receipt, note the date and time you handed over the car and keys, and follow up until the licensing office has recorded the new owner. Until the change is entered in the register, the car is still linked to your name.

Once the deal is done, mark your listing as sold on AfricaSoco so buyers stop calling. Selling across the border? The rules differ: see how to transfer car ownership in Kenya.

Which mistakes cost buyers money?

• Paying a deposit for a car you have not seen. Read how to avoid online scams in Nigeria and Kenya before you transfer anything.
• Buying a car whose papers carry a third person's name, with no letter of authority from the registered owner.
• Handing cash to an intermediary instead of paying the licensing office's official assessment.
• Letting the 30-day window pass and driving on papers that still show the seller.

Buying or selling a car on AfricaSoco

AfricaSoco is a classifieds site where every listing is reviewed by moderators before it goes live, and buyers contact sellers directly on WhatsApp or by phone. We take no commission and hold no money, so the payment and the change of ownership happen between you and the other party, at the licensing office. Browse used cars for sale, read how to sell your car fast in Nigeria, then post your car ad for free once you have opened an account.