You need your papers, such as the vehicle license, registration like custom papers, and proof of ownership like title, to operate your vehicle legally or transfer ownership in Nigeria. Without these documents, you will face fines and find it difficult to prove ownership when selling your car, or even dealing with law enforcement during routine checks. Now, let’s show you how to get car papers if LOST in Nigeria.
How to Get Car Papers If Lost in Nigeria
1. Report to the Police about Your Missing Papers
The first thing you do after your car papers are missing is to report to the police to create an official record of the situation, which you will need for the rest of the process. Go to the nearest police station and explain to the officers that your car papers are missing. You’ll only provide information about your car, such as the make, model, color, and registration number. The more details you can give, the better.
The police will write a report. This report is often called a police extract. It is an official document that confirms you have reported the loss to the authorities. Make sure to keep it safe because you will need it later on. The police report makes sure that your lost car papers cannot be misused by someone else.
2. Get an Affidavit from a Court
Now, get an affidavit from a court. An affidavit is a written statement that you swear under oath to be true, which serves as a formal declaration that your car papers are lost. To get an affidavit, you need to visit a court of law, usually a magistrate court or a high court.
When you get to the court, look for the office where affidavits are processed. You will need to fill out a form stating that your car papers are missing. Make sure to come with your identification, such as a national ID card, driver’s license, or passport, as well as the police report you obtained earlier. The court official, often called a commissioner for oaths or a magistrate, will ask you to swear an oath that the information you provided is true.
After you swear the oath, the court official will sign and stamp the affidavit, making it an official legal document. You need this affidavit for the subsequent steps of getting your replacement papers. The affidavit is also proof that you have legally declared your car papers missing and applying for replacements.
3. Contact Your Local Vehicle Licensing Office
Visit your local Vehicle Licensing Office (VLO). Note that the one in your state might not necessarily be VLO. This agency can go by any name in the state where you reside. The VLO is typically the agency that handles vehicle registrations and licenses. Find the nearest one in your area and go there with your documents.
At the venue, explain to the staff that you have lost your car papers and need to get replacements. Show them the police report and the affidavit you collected from the court. The staff will guide you on what to do next, and will show you a list of additional documents required or forms you need to fill out.
Follow their instructions carefully. The staff are there to help you through this process. Don’t hesitate to ask questions where you don’t understand as you don’t want to enter incorrect information while trying to replace your lost car papers.
4. Submit Available Proof of Ownership and Your ID
At the vehicle licensing office, you will need to submit any proof of ownership you have for your car such as the original purchase receipt, previous vehicle registration documents, or any other paperwork that shows you are the owner of the car. You will also need a valid form of identification like your national ID card, driver’s license, voters card, or international passport to confirm that you are who you say you are.
Hand them over to the officer to review everything. As long as all your information is correct, you won’t have any issues with this process. The checks are just to make sure that the agency is giving the duplicate papers to the rightful owner. Once your documents are verified, you can move on to the next step.
5. Apply for the Replacement Car Papers
Now that you have submitted all the necessary documents, the next step is to apply for the replacement car papers. The Vehicle Licensing Office will provide you with an application form. Fill out this form with all the required details about your car, such as the VIN (chassis number), make, model, color, and registration number. You will also need to explain the circumstances under which your original car papers were lost. The licensing office may need to verify the details of your car in their records and possibly conduct an inspection of the vehicle to make sure it’s safe for driving, that the car matches the details provided, and that it is not stolen. It is a standard procedure. Therefore, make sure you provide all the requested information. The verification and inspection confirm that you are the legit owner of the car and that the replacement papers are genuine too. Once everything is in order, your application for the replacement car papers will be processed as soon as possible. Sometimes, you might have to come back after a few days, which the officer will let you know.
6. Pay the Replacement Fees
After your application has been processed and verified, you will pay the replacement fees. The amount really depends on the type of car papers you are replacing and the regulations of the Vehicle Licensing Office in your state.
You can make the payment directly at the office or through the banks. When you make the payment, make sure to get a receipt as proof of payment. It will be required when you go to collect your new car papers. Keep the receipt safe. You’ll need it to finalize your replacement car papers. Depending on the licensing office, processing times may take a few days to a few weeks for the new documents to be ready. Stay in touch with the office to know when you can collect your new car papers.
7. Update Your Records and Keep Your Papers Safely
Once you have your new car papers, update your records if need be. You may need to inform your insurance company about the new papers to avoid any confusion or issues in the future. Try not to misplace your car papers again.
What you should be driving with is your photocopies, preferably colored copies (where necessary). So, make copies or digital backups of the documents. Keep your papers safe and ready whenever you need them to avoid problems.
Read Also: How to Check if a Car is Stolen in Nigeria