Complete guide: exporting a military vehicle to Africa

Africa is the natural market for decommissioned European military vehicles for several reasons:

Limited infrastructure: African roads are often degraded or non-existent. Military 4x4s and 6x6s are the only vehicles capable of operating in these conditions over the long term.

Strong demand: African governments, NGOs, mining operators, transport companies and private buyers have a constant demand for rugged, economical vehicles.

Accessible spare parts: Models such as the TRM or the GBC have parts widely available across Africa, which makes local maintenance easier.

Competitive prices: An ex-army military truck costs 3 to 5 times less than an equivalent new civilian truck.

Exporting a military vehicle requires several documents:

Seller documents (France):
- Commercial invoice (3 original copies)
- Packing list
- Certificate of origin EUR1 or Form A
- Export declaration (EX1) via the DELTA customs system
- Certificate of ownership / crossed-out registration

Documents depending on destination country:
- Pre-shipment inspection certificate (PSI) if required: Ivory Coast, Senegal, Cameroon…
- Prior import authorisation (some countries)
- Phytosanitary certificate (vehicle cleaning)

Transport documents:
- Bill of Lading — issued by the carrier
- Transport insurance policy

Lys Tout Terrain prepares all of these documents and works with partner freight forwarders in every African country.

The Incoterm defines who pays what and who bears the risk at each stage of transport:

EXW (Ex-Works): The least involved for Lys Tout Terrain. The buyer takes care of everything from our warehouses in Thérouanne. Suitable for buyers with their own freight forwarders.

FOB Le Havre or Antwerp: We deliver the vehicle on board the ship. The buyer bears freight and marine insurance costs. Recommended option as it lets the buyer choose their shipping line.

CIF African port: We pay freight and insurance up to the destination port. The buyer only has to handle local customs clearance. The simplest option for African buyers.

DAP Destination: Delivery to the door without customs clearance. Convenient but more expensive.

Our recommendation: For first-time buyers, we recommend CIF because it simplifies management and allows total costs to be controlled.

Sea freight is the standard transport mode for exporting vehicles:

Loading modes:
- 20' container (6m): 1 light or compact vehicle (Peugeot P4, HMMWV)
- 40' container (12m): 2 light vehicles or 1 truck without tall equipment
- Ro-Ro: For vehicles that roll, cheaper but more exposed to weather
- Flat rack: For very wide or tall vehicles (trucks with bodies)

Loading ports: Le Havre (Normandy), Antwerp (Belgium — very used for West Africa), Marseille (Mediterranean)

Transit times:
- Dakar (Senegal): 8-12 days from Le Havre
- Abidjan (Ivory Coast): 10-15 days
- Cotonou (Benin): 12-18 days
- Douala (Cameroon): 14-20 days
- Mombasa (Kenya): 20-28 days

Costs: Variable depending on freight type and destination. Allow on average €1,500 to €3,500 for a 20' container to West Africa.

Customs clearance in the destination country is the buyer's responsibility (except under DDP).

Each country has its own customs procedures. Duties on used vehicles generally vary from 10 to 35% of the CIF value, plus various local taxes.

Examples of customs duties (indicative, vary by age and use):
- Ivory Coast: ~25-35% of CIF value
- Senegal: ~20-30%
- Cameroon: ~20-30%
- Nigeria: variable, often complex
- Kenya: ~25%

Our advice: Engage a local freight forwarder from the moment of purchase to anticipate clearance costs. Lys Tout Terrain can recommend trusted partners in each country.