Every vehicle on Nigerian roads needs the same core set of papers. Missing one turns a routine stop into a long afternoon.
The documents that matter
- Vehicle licence — renewed annually, the one most often allowed to lapse
- Insurance certificate — third-party is the legal minimum; comprehensive is what any hire vehicle should carry
- Roadworthiness certificate — annual, requires an inspection
- Proof of ownership — issued once, keep the original somewhere safe and a copy in the vehicle
- Hackney permit — required if the vehicle carries passengers commercially, which includes hire vehicles
Renew before expiry, not after
Renewals are straightforward while the document is still valid and become tedious once it has lapsed. Set a calendar reminder six weeks before each expiry date.
If you are hiring rather than owning
This is our problem, not yours. Every vehicle we hire out goes with its full document set, and if you are stopped, the papers are in the car. Ask to see them before you drive away on a self-drive booking — a company that hesitates is telling you something.
