How to Register a New Commercial Vehicle in Lagos

So you just added another bus, van, or truck to your fleet — congrats, that's growth. But before that vehicle can legally hit Lagos roads carrying goods or passengers, there's paperwork to sort out, and it's far less painful when you know exactly what's coming. Lagos treats commercial vehicles differently from private cars. There's an extra layer of registration, permits and inspections, because you're moving people or cargo for money and the state wants to know the vehicle and its drivers can be trusted on the road. Step 1: Get your proof of ownership sorted first Before anything else, make sure you have clean documentation for the vehicle itself: - Custom duty certificate for imported (tokunbo) vehicles, or purchase receipt/invoice for a brand-new vehicle bought from a dealership - Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and engine number clearly visible and matching your paperwork - A valid means of ID for the company or individual registering the vehicle — for businesses this usually means your CAC certificate too Skipping this step is one of the biggest reasons registrations get delayed, so double-check everything matches before you move forward. Step 2: Register the plate number with FRSC Registration runs through the FRSC's National Vehicle Identification Scheme (NVIS). You'll need proof of vehicle ownership — the customs duty certificate for an imported vehicle, or the sales receipt for a new one — plus one accepted form of owner identification. For a company vehicle the natural choice is your CAC/RC number, but a National ID, driver's licence, international passport or Tax Identification Number are each accepted on their own. This is worth clearing up, because TIN is often described as an extra requirement for commercial vehicles. On the official NVIS form it is one of several accepted identification types, not an addition to them. Insurance is captured as a policy number during registration rather than a certificate you hand over, and your address is entered as a form field rather than evidenced with a separate proof-of-address document. Requirements do change, so confirm against nvis.frsc.gov.ng before making the trip. Mismatched details are a classic cause of rejected applications, so triple-check spellings, chassis numbers and dates. Once your plate is issued, verify it through the NVIS portal. Step 3: Get your Roadworthiness Certificate from VIS This is where commercial vehicles get extra scrutiny. The Lagos State Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) — formerly the Vehicle Inspection Unit — issues the roadworthiness certificate, and LASTMA has the power to impound any vehicle caught without one. For a new commercial vehicle, book an inspection slot, take the vehicle in, and be ready for a queue: VIS centres get busy toward month-end when businesses are racing renewal deadlines. Book your slot as soon as you take delivery of the vehicle, not the week you plan to put it on the road. Step 4: Sort out your Hackney Permit If the vehicle will carry passengers commercially — staff buses, ride-hailing, shuttle services — you need a Hackney Permit on top of everything else. It's issued through the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation and is separate from your regular vehicle licence. It's effectively Lagos confirming that this specific vehicle is cleared to carry paying passengers. Step 5: Make sure every driver has a LASDRI card Here's one people forget: it's not just the vehicle that needs registering — the driver does too. Commercial vehicle drivers, pick-up owners and company vehicle drivers in Lagos must be certified by the Lagos State Drivers' Institute (LASDRI), separately from their regular driver's licence. Drivers must be 18 or over and already hold a valid licence to be trained. This is annual, not one-and-done. Lagos law requires professional drivers to be recertified every year, at a fixed registration fee of ₦2,000. It's also the fleet owner's problem, not just the driver's: a valid LASDRI recertification card is a prerequisite for employment by corporate organisations in Lagos, and employers using uncertified drivers can be sanctioned. Build the renewal date into whatever you use to track vehicle documents, because it expires on its own schedule. Step 6: Get third-party or comprehensive insurance Non-negotiable, and it applies across Nigeria rather than just Lagos. Your commercial vehicle needs valid insurance before it can be registered. For fleet vehicles carrying goods or people, comprehensive cover is usually worth the extra spend — one accident without it can wipe out months of profit. Step 7: Keep all documents in the vehicle, always Once everything is issued, keep physical or digital copies inside the vehicle at all times: vehicle licence, roadworthiness certificate, insurance certificate, hackney permit if applicable, and the driver's LASDRI card and licence. Enforcement checks are common on Lagos roads, and having everything on hand keeps things quick. A quick recap for your checklist 1. Confirm ownership documents and VIN/engine number match 2. Register plate number with FRSC through NVIS 3. Get Roadworthiness Certificate from VIS 4. Apply for Hackney Permit if carrying passengers 5. Ensure drivers have LASDRI certification 6. Secure insurance cover 7. Keep documents in-vehicle and copies on file Registering one vehicle is manageable on your own. But scaling a fleet — five, ten, fifty vehicles — multiplies this process across every vehicle and every renewal date until it becomes a job in itself. Motoka tracks each vehicle's expiry dates in one place and handles the renewals, so nothing slips through the cracks.