Begin with a landed-budget ceiling

Tell your sourcing contact the total you can spend to reach an agreed handover point. Clarify whether that ceiling includes registration, repairs and first maintenance. A vehicle-only budget can produce a shortlist that is unaffordable once the other stages are included.

Write the destination and intended use alongside the amount. A non-running auction vehicle, for example, needs a different cost discussion from a car advertised as ready to drive.

Request an itemised quote

Ask for separate lines for the vehicle, purchase or auction charges where applicable, sourcing service, movement to the export port, export paperwork, ocean freight and insurance if offered. Then request destination charges, customs and other applicable charges, clearance, local movement and delivery.

This is a list of questions, not a claim that every charge applies to every transaction. Ask who is responsible for obtaining and paying each item. Check for overlapping lines so you do not compare an inclusive quote with a partial one.

Make currency and estimates visible

Ask which amounts are in US dollars, Canadian dollars or naira. Record the exchange-rate basis, the quote’s expiry and when the rate becomes fixed. Confirm what happens if a third-party charge changes after you approve the vehicle.

Use a working sheet with three columns: quoted amount, confirmed or estimated, and party responsible. Leave unresolved costs marked unresolved rather than entering zero.

Check eligibility before buying

Import eligibility, valuation and destination requirements must be confirmed for the specific vehicle under the rules in force at the time. Ask a qualified customs professional to assess the VIN, year, vehicle type and relevant documentation before you commit.

This guide does not quote a universal duty percentage, import-age limit or delivery promise. Those shortcuts can mislead a buyer whose vehicle or transaction differs. Ask for the basis of any calculation you receive.

Agree on approvals and contingencies

Confirm what payment authorises, who may bid or buy, and whether your written approval is required before exceeding the agreed ceiling. Ask what happens if the chosen car becomes unavailable, inspection is unsatisfactory or shipping is delayed.

Request stage updates and the documents you should receive at each point. Keep a separate contingency amount for identified uncertainties; ask your sourcing contact to explain the risks behind that amount rather than applying a random percentage.

Questions buyers ask

Is the auction price the total import cost?

No. Ask for the other purchase, transport, shipping and destination costs that apply to your transaction, as well as any repair allowance.

Can Con Dios give me a sourcing quote?

Use the enquiry form with your preferred car, year range, destination and total budget. Ask for availability, an itemised scope and payment terms for the specific request.

Start your car shortlist.

Explore car references, then send your model, budget and destination.

Browse autos