Vehicle Registration
Fee Calculator

Vehicle registration fees in Nigeria are split across two layers of government. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), working with the Joint Tax Board (JTB), sets uniform national fees for number plates and driver's licences. These rates took effect on 8 June 2025 and apply without variation in all 36 states and the FCT. A standard vehicle number plate costs ₦30,000 whether you register in Lagos Island or Maiduguri.

The second layer is state-level fees administered by each state's Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA) or Board of Internal Revenue (BIR). These cover vehicle licence renewal, roadworthiness certificates, change of ownership processing, stamp duty, capital gains tax, and miscellaneous admin. These fees are not nationally standardised and vary significantly — Lagos MVAA publishes the most detailed schedule, while most other states calculate fees at the counter based on engine capacity and vehicle category.

The practical implication: when someone says "car registration cost Nigeria," they're usually asking about the total bill — FRSC plate plus all state add-ons. That total typically ranges from ₦35,000 to ₦140,000+ for a standard saloon, depending on the state and transaction type.

Payment channels matter. FRSC plate fees are paid via the NVIS portal (nvis.frsc.gov.ng) or at designated bank branches. Driver's licence payments go through nigeriadriverslicence.frsc.gov.ng. State fees are paid through each state's MVAA office, BIR portal, or the national autoreg.ng renewal platform which works in most states. Processing through agents is common but adds ₦10,000–₦30,000 in unofficial fees.

Vehicle licence renewal is an annual obligation in Nigeria and is engine-capacity-based. A small saloon (under 1.4L) pays less than a large SUV or commercial vehicle. The vehicle licence (often called "road licence") must be accompanied by a valid roadworthiness certificate, which requires a physical inspection at a Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO). Driving without either is a FRSC-enforceable offence with penalties up to ₦10,000 and vehicle impoundment.

The June 2025 FRSC fee revision was the most significant increase in years — standard plates rose from earlier figures, and the public disposal price (what you pay at the MVAA) is higher than the internal production cost charged to FRSC. No further nationwide hikes have been announced as of early 2026.

Change of vehicle ownership (COO) is the process of transferring a car from the seller's name to the buyer's name at the state MVAA. It is required after every private car sale and is one of the most confusing and fee-variable transactions in Nigerian vehicle administration.

The FRSC component is a new standard number plate at ₦30,000. On top of this, the state MVAA charges a change of ownership processing fee, capital gains tax (CGT) of typically ₦625–₦2,000, an ownership certificate processing fee, and stamp duty. In Lagos, the full state add-on subtotal is approximately ₦8,675 on top of the ₦30,000 plate fee, giving a MVAA total of roughly ₦38,675. A roadworthiness certificate is usually also required (₦5,000–₦12,000). Third-party insurance and an agent fee can push the total to ₦60,000–₦80,000+ in Lagos.

In states outside Lagos, COO costs are estimated at ₦50,000–₦130,000 depending on whether a new plate is required, local MVAA processing rates, and whether the buyer uses an agent. Rivers State is consistently reported as among the most expensive, with full re-registration costs sometimes exceeding ₦100,000.

Both the buyer and seller typically need to be present (or provide notarised documents) at the MVAA. Required documents include the original registration certificate, proof of ownership/customs paper, CMR clearance, both parties' valid IDs, and a signed sales agreement. Some MVAA offices require the sales agreement to be notarised. See our Vehicle Papers Checklist for the full document list.

This calculator covers five transaction types: New Registration (first-time plate), Change of Ownership (buying/selling a used car), Licence Renewal (annual papers renewal), Roadworthiness (certificate only), and Driver's Licence (FRSC national fee).

For each state, we show whether the data is based on an official fee schedule (Lagos, Ogun), portal data and user reports (FCT, Rivers, Enugu, Oyo), or national average estimates (most other states). The confidence indicator is displayed below the state selector.

The FRSC fees (number plates and driver's licences) in this calculator are marked as OFFICIAL — they are confirmed from the JTB/FRSC June 2025 announcement. State add-on figures are midpoint estimates from their published ranges, marked EST. — they are guides, not guarantees. Always verify at your state MVAA office or official portal before attending.

Use the optional insurance and agent fee toggles if you want a realistic total-cost estimate rather than just the government fee. Agent fees are unofficial but common — typically ₦10,000–₦30,000 — and can save significant time navigating the queue at MVAA or VIO offices.