Why engine size decides the fee
Lagos MVAA prices a vehicle licence by how big the engine is, not by the vehicle's make or value. A bigger engine costs more to licence than a smaller one, across four bands.
This is the same principle used for other MVAA charges by vehicle class, just applied to engine capacity specifically for this particular fee.
A small hatchback and a large SUV are not treated the same, even if both are private cars. The licence fee scales with the engine, not with the badge on the boot or what you paid for the vehicle.
The four tariff bands
| Engine size | Vehicle licence fee |
|---|---|
| Below 1.6 litres | ₦1,250 |
| 1.6 to 2.0 litres | ₦1,875 |
| 2.1 to 3.0 litres | ₦2,500 |
| Above 3.0 litres | ₦3,125 |
Check your registration document if you are unsure which band your car falls into. Getting the band wrong can hold up your renewal at the counter.
These four bands cover private cars. A private motorcycle sits on a separate tariff of its own, and so does a commercial vehicle, so do not assume this table applies to every vehicle type on the road.
What else the licence needs
The vehicle licence itself needs no office visit, provided your current insurance and roadworthiness certificate are in order. Both of those are separate documents you renew on their own schedules, not part of this fee.
A vetted partner firm can file your vehicle licence renewal once your documents are ready, rather than you queueing at a station yourself.
Keep copies of your insurance certificate and your roadworthiness certificate together with your vehicle registration document. Having all three ready before you start avoids a back-and-forth once your renewal is already in progress.
Where to pay
Lagos accepts payment online at portal.autoreg.ng, with the printout collected afterwards at a station, or in person at any of 140 licensing stations, designated banks, or online at portal.autoreg.ng. Since 1 September 2025, a Payer ID, NIN or NIN-linked phone number is mandatory for a renewal processed through AutoReg.
Whichever route you use, keep your payment reference until the physical document is in hand.
Common mistakes
Guessing your engine size rather than checking your registration document is the most common mistake, and it is an easy one to avoid. Letting your roadworthiness certificate or insurance lapse and assuming the licence renewal will still go through smoothly is another; the office visit rule for the licence assumes both are current.
Paying for the wrong band, then having to correct it at the counter, wastes a trip that a two-minute check could have avoided.
Treating this fee as the whole cost of keeping a car on the road is a third mistake. Your number plate, your insurance and your roadworthiness certificate all sit on their own separate schedules and their own separate fees.
For the full renewal process, see our vehicle licence renewal cost guide or the licences and vehicles hub.