Understanding Tokunbo And Foreign Used Cars

Foreign used cars, popularly known as Tokunbo, are common in Nigeria. Tokunbo is derived from the Yoruba language, and it means ‘from overseas’. Tokunbo cars are used vehicles shipped from abroad and resold in Nigeria. Generally, Tokunbo cars are less expensive compared to brand-new cars, and this is a major reason why Nigerians would prefer to buy Tokunbo cars.

Nigeria is a huge market for used cars, imported from various parts of the world. However, the United States of America is the leading country of import for Nigeria. Other countries for Tokunbo cars in Nigeria are Europe, America, Cotonou and other foreign countries. These cars resold in Nigeria as second-hand are often repackaged, repainted, and repaired to make them attractive to Nigerians. 

A Brief Look At the History Of Tokunbo Cars In Nigeria

In the past, Tokunbo cars were not the norm in Nigeria. Tokunbo cars started becoming the preferred car choice of Nigerians after the Civil War. Initially, buying a brand new car, commonly known as a ‘tear-rubber’ was the trendy thing in Nigeria before the civil war. However, things changed with the Nigerian economy after the civil war. The economic stability and prosperity that existed before the Civil War began to dwindle when the Civil War ended. The naira to dollar exchange rate began to exponentially increase, which resulted in the hike of goods and services.

The economic downturn affected the purchasing power of middle-income earners in Nigeria as their salaries seemed not to be enough for them anymore. It was during this time that Nigerians began to seek alternatives to still remain mobile and comfortable. The price of Tokunbo cars to brand-new cars was considerably cheaper, and because of this, many Nigerians began buying more Tokunbo cars than brand-new cars.

Pros Of Tokunbo Cars

Tokunbo cars are good alternatives for brand-new cars in Nigeria. Buying a Tokunbo car comes with its benefits. These are:

1. Tokunbo cars are generally less expensive and easy to get. The majority of Nigerians are average income earners, and as such, it would take a long time to save up to buy a brand-new car. 
2. Tokunbo cars are easy to get. You don’t really have to do an intense search to buy a Tokunbo car. Most of the car dealers in Nigeria sell lots of Tokunbo cars, so you have a wide range of options to choose from.
3. You can easily get older models of cars that you can’t get brand new if you buy a Tokunbo car. 
4. Tokunbo cars are available in almost all car brands. Common Tokunbo car brands in Nigeria are Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Peugeot, KIA etc.

Cons Of Tokunbo Cars

There are also downsides of Tokunbo cars you must be aware of. Some of these are:

1. If you desire to buy newer or the latest models of cars, you can hardly find them like Tokunbo.
2. The increase in demand and use of Tokunbo cars in Nigeria has made the country a dumping ground for used cars, which does not help the economy of the country.
3. Another important thing to note is that Tokunbo cars are not brand new cars, hence, you can’t expect everything in it to be brand new or perfectly fine. In fact, if you are unlucky, you might get deceived and buy a car with serious issues. This is why it is good to thoroughly inspect a used car before buying.
4. Also, an increase in Tokunbo cars in Nigeria will not promote the growth of indigenous automobile manufacturing companies in Nigeria.
5. In addition, Tokunbo cars might not be as cheap as you think. Some Tokunbo cars, especially high-end vehicles like the Lexus LX 570, 2018 Toyota RAV 4 etc, will still cost millions of naira. This means, that if you desire to buy high-end Tokunbo cars, you might be spending as much as if you choose to buy a brand new car of a lesser brand or model. 
6. Lastly, a change in geographical location might bring up unforeseen issues with the car. Most of the Western roads are good and free of bumps and potholes, however, the opposite is the case for most Nigerian roads. 

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CONCLUSION

Tokunbo cars or foreign used cars is a car option preferred by Nigerians because it is less expensive. Also, most Tokunbo cars are believed to be strong and well-maintained. 

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