This is a detailed guide on how to change vehicle ownership in Nigeria, read to the end to know how to change vehicle ownership in Nigeria.
Vehicles can be transferred from one person to the other, but the only thing that will make the other person the legal owner of the vehicle is when the vehicle’s ownership has been changed.
However, if you intend to purchase a used car in Nigeria, you should know that it is mandatory to change the vehicle’s ownership to your name.
It is not right to purchase a used car from an original owner without the approval of vehicle inspector officers.
Getting the approval of vehicle inspector officers will enable you to claim the vehicle in case of a misunderstanding or theft.
However, It is important to Know how to change vehicle ownership in Nigeria by reading this article to the end.
Documents Needed To Change Vehicle Ownership In Nigeria
To successfully change vehicle ownership in Nigeria, you have to deal with some offices that will help in the transfer of ownership process.
The offices include Vehicle Inspection Office, Vehicle Licensing Office, Vehicle Registration Office, and Raters and Taxes Office.
Moreover, you would also need to provide some vital documents before the change of vehicle ownership can take place.
Below are the documents you need to make available before a change of vehicle ownership can take place.
- Completed forms (as required)
- Valid proof of Identity
- Inspection Report from vehicle inspector officers.
- Transfer letter
- Purchase Receipt
- Insurance from the third party
- Valid Vehicle License
- Original Plate number allocation form
- Certified Proof of ownership
- Passport-size photographs of the new owner
- Details of the new owner
Also read: Cost of Shipping A Car From USA To Nigeria
How To Change Vehicle Ownership In Nigeria
The process of changing vehicle ownership in Nigeria is not very easy, you need the determination to get it done.
However, when you follow the process appropriately, you would be glad you did it.
Below are the procedures you need to follow to change vehicle ownership in Nigeria.
1. Visit A Vehicle Inspection Centre
To start the process of a change of vehicle ownership in Nigeria, you have to visit the nearest vehicle inspection office in your state and obtain the necessary forms.
However, you must go with the owner of the vehicle you want to purchase to the inspection office.
The vehicle inspection officer will carry out a series of inspections on the vehicle you want to buy to know its roadworthiness.
After the inspection, the Vehicle Inspection Officer will issue an inspection report to let you know if the vehicle can be transferred to a new owner.
2. Apply For A Change Of Vehicle Ownership
After the vehicle inspection, you will have to go with the original owner of the vehicle to the Vehicle Licensing office for further registration.
The owner of the vehicle you want to purchase must obtain and fill out the MVA 5 form.
This form is to notify the vehicle registration office of a change in ownership of the vehicle you want to buy.
After that, you will also get the transfer form for yourself, the buyer, and the vehicle seller from the raters and taxes office.
However, all forms needed to change vehicle ownership in Nigeria must be signed by you and the owner of the vehicle at the raters and taxes office in the presence of a rater and taxes officer.
It is important to carefully complete the application form(s) as required and attach the necessary documents to the completed form(s) to avoid rejection.
3. Submit The Forms
When you are done filling out the forms, the next thing is to submit the forms to the right office for additional verification processes.
However, when the application is reviewed and approved, the licensing officers will proceed with the ownership transfer process.
4. Finish the process And Make Payments
Changing vehicle ownership in Nigeria is not free, you will need to make payments.
You can enquire the Vehicle Licensing Office about the fee details and payment procedure for changing vehicle ownership in Nigeria.
After a thorough review of your documents, the vehicle licensing office will issue a new license if the documents are accepted, and t is the duty of the former vehicle owner to notify you, the new owner, of the change of ownership.
The former owner of the vehicle must also provide you, the new owner, with the necessary documents, such as the registration book.
However, the process of transferring ownership of a car can take up to one week, and for the vehicle owner to be changed fully, the former owner of the vehicle must have kept the vehicle registered for at least six months.
Furthermore, the notice of change of ownership by the vehicle licensing office must be made known to the vehicle registration office immediately for further registration.
Also read: How To Become A Car Dealer In Nigeria
List of Approved Vehicle Licensing Offices In Nigeria
| S/N | STATE | LOCATION |
| 1 | ABIA | BIR Zonal Office, 5 Bende Road, Umuahia |
| 2 | ADAMAWA | BIR Office, Yola North |
| 3 | AKWA IBOM | BIR Office State Secretariat, Uyo |
| 4 | ANAMBRA | Motor Licensing Office, Npaje Awka |
| 5 | BAUCHI | BIR Office, Jos Road, Bauchi |
| 6 | BAYELSA | MLA Yenagoa: Obele street, Ovom, Yenagoa |
| MLA Kpansia: INEC Junction, Kpansia, Yenagoa | ||
| MLA Brass: BIR Secretariat complex, Road Safety Road, Yenagoa | ||
| MLA Ogbia: Emeyal II, Ogbia LGA | ||
| MLA Sagbama: Hospital Road, Yenagoa | ||
| 7 | BENUE | BIR Office, G.R.A. Kashim Ibrahim Road, Makurdi |
| 8 | BORNO | BIR Office, Opp. Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri |
| 9 | CROSS RIVER | BIR Office, 43 Akim Road Calabar |
| BIR Office, Ikot Omin Calabar | ||
| BIR Office, Inyang Street Calabar | ||
| 10 | DELTA | BIR Office, 27, Ezenei Avenue, Off Nnebisi Road Asaba |
| 11 | EBONYI | BIR Office, Ministry of Finance, Abakaliki |
| Ezza South LGA Motor Licensing Office, Onueke | ||
| Ebonyi LGA Motor Licensing Office, Ugbodo | ||
| Afikpo North LGA Motor Licensing Office, Afikpo | ||
| 12 | EDO | EIRS Office, New Lagos Road |
| EIRS Office, Forestry Road (LTO I & LTO II) | ||
| EIRS Office, TV Road | ||
| EIRS Office, Uselu | ||
| EIRS Office, Ikpoba Hill (Ramat Park) | ||
| EIRS Office, Obe | ||
| EIRS Office, Okada | ||
| EIRS Office, Ekpoma | ||
| EIRS Office, Auchi. | ||
| 13 | EKITI | BIR Office, Oke-Oriomi, Ado Ekiti |
| BIR Office, Beside First Bank Erekeson Market, Efon-Alaaye | ||
| BIR Office, Old secretariat complex, Emure-Ekiti | ||
| BIR Office, Oja-oba premises, Ido-Ekiti | ||
| Bir Office, Opp Oba palace, Ise-Ekiti | ||
| BIR Office, Oke-Osun, Ikere Ekiti | ||
| 14 | ENUGU | BIR Office, Okpara Avenue, Opp. PHCN Office Enugu |
| 15 | FCT | VIO Office, Mabushi Abuja |
| 16 | GOMBE | BIR Office, Gombe |
| 17 | IMO | BIR Office, Okigwe Road, Owerri |
| 18 | JIGAWA | BIR Office, Old Secretariat, Sani Abacha way, Dutse |
| 19 | KADUNA | BIR Office, Opp. High court Bida RS Kaduna |
| 20 | KANO | BIR Office, No.2 Bank Road, Kano. |
| 21 | KATSINA | BIR Office, G.R.A. Katsina |
| 22 | KEBBI | BIR Office, Opp. Diamond Bank, Birnin Kebbi |
| 23 | KOGI | BIR Office, No.1 Beach Road Lokoja |
| 24 | KWARA | IRS Office, Ahmadu Bello Way, Ilorin. |
| 25 | LAGOS | Beach road, Agbowa/Block 9, Old Secretariat, Ikeja |
| Ipaja road, Abekoko, Agege | ||
| Agege Local government | ||
| 13 Olubunmi Alonge Street, Aguda | ||
| 7/9 Dele Bakare Str., Trinity Tpapa Oshodi Expressway, Lagos | ||
| Oriade Local Council Dev Area Office Kirikiri | ||
| Water Corporation yard mile 2 bus stop, mile 2 | ||
| 7 Dopemu road Agege | ||
| Old cla Secretariat 1/kemfat road, Thomas Village, Ajah | ||
| 17a Alhaji Tokan street, Western Avenue, Surulere | ||
| Lirs, idi oro | ||
| 65, Abeokuta Expressway | ||
| Allen Avenue, Ikeja | ||
| 2, Plateau road, Apapa | ||
| Vio yard, Berger Cement Bus stop, Olodi Apapa | ||
| Badagry town hall, Badagry | ||
| 62/63 Campbell Street, Lagos | ||
| Oke Oyinbo GRA road, Epe/old cla secretariat, Epe | ||
| Tinubu square, Nnamdi Azikwe Street, Lagos | ||
| Vio/Lastma yard, Ejigbo | ||
| 31b, Oyeleke Str, Alausa Corporate house, Alausa ikeja | ||
| 70, College road, Ifako | ||
| Block 9, Old Secretariat, Ikeja | ||
| Mpwb’s old secretariat, Ikeja beside Muslim pilgrims’ welfare | ||
| 42 Tos Benson road, Ikorodu | ||
| Vio/Lastma yard, Odogunyan, Ikorodu | ||
| 96, Isolo road, Egbe | ||
| 25, Biaduo CLS off Keffi by hosephine, b/stop southwest, Ikoyi | ||
| 19 Oloruntedo way Imota | ||
| 2 Odaliki street, Ebute metta | ||
| 582, Ikorodu road, Ketu | ||
| 13, Town Planning way, Ilupeju | ||
| 8/10 Isheri road, Ojodu | ||
| 155 Olojo Drive, Ojo | ||
| Isheri road, Frsc complex, ojodu | ||
| 13, Idoluwo street, Lagos | ||
| 30, Oke Olowogbowo street, Lagos | ||
| 43, Oregun road, Oregun, Lagos | ||
| 85, Badagry Exp way, Orile Iganmu | ||
| 26, Afari Ogun street, Oshodi | ||
| Block 8, 1st floor, Old secretariat, Ikeja | ||
| Lagos Terminal, Oyingbo | ||
| Old cla Secretariat, PWD Shogunle, Ikeja | ||
| 33/35 Salami Shuaibu str., Shomolu | ||
| 43, Marina Str., Lagos re-insurance house | ||
| Itinrin court, Aboyade close str., Victoria Island | ||
| Yaba lcda secretariat, Adekunle bus stop, yaba | ||
| 26 | NASSARAWA | BIR Office, Kasuwar Tomato, Lafia |
| BIR Office, Testing Ground Lafia | ||
| 27 | NIGER | VIO Office, along Paiko Road Minna |
| 28 | OGUN | IRS Oke-Mosan, Opp Federal High Court Abeokuta |
| 29 | ONDO | BIR Office, Alagbaka, Akure |
| 30 | OSUN | BIR Office, Ministry of Finance, State Secretariat Abere. |
| 31 | OYO | BIR Office, Onireke Road, Egbe Ibadan. |
| 32 | PLATEAU | BIR Office, No.7 Beach Road, Jos North |
| 33 | RIVERS | BIR Office, No. 22 William Jumbo Street, Port-Harcourt |
| Obio Licensing Office, Old Aba Road, Portharcourt | ||
| Emenike Licensing Office. Emenike Junction, Diobu, Mile 1, Portharcourt | ||
| 34 | SOKOTO | BIR Office, behind City Campus, Usman Danfodio University |
| 35 | TARABA | BIR Office, Hamman Ruwa Road, Jalingo. |
| 36 | YOBE | BIR Office, Gujiba Road, Damaturu. |
| 37 | ZAMFARA | BIR Office, Tudun Wada, Gusau |
That is all on how to change vehicle ownership in Nigeria, I hope it helps you know how to change vehicle ownership in Nigeria without any stress.