Luxury Cars on the streets of Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, it’s not uncommon to see a Bentley Bentayga, Rolls-Royce Cullinan, or Lamborghini Urus cruising past, sleek, intimidating, and without a plate number. For many Nigerians, the sight is puzzling, sometimes even infuriating.
A Carlots.ng correspondent recently spoke with a luxury car owner (name withheld), and his response to why he drives without registration was revealing.
“Most times, registering cars will make the car lose value. Buyers prefer it ‘unregistered’ because it’s easier to resell as a tokunbo or ‘brand new’ import.”
When asked how he manages to evade FRSC, VIO, and Police checks, he simply laughed.
“When you carry a police escort, FRSC and VIO will only clear the road for you. Others pretend to be dealers with fake trade plates and can drive those cars for years.”
This culture of unregistered cars is now deeply woven into Nigeria’s luxury car scene — but it raises serious questions about law, privilege, and accountability.
Why Do Super Luxury Cars Go Unregistered?
1. Perceived Loss of Value
For many elite Nigerians, registering a car means losing its “fresh” status. An unregistered car can still be marketed years later as tokunbo or brand new, often at nearly the same price it was imported for.
2. The Power of Police Escort
Vehicles flanked by mobile police convoys rarely face routine checks. Traffic officers clear the way, avoiding confrontation. The message is clear: wealth and influence often buy immunity.
3. Fake Dealer Plates
Some car owners use fake dealer tags to disguise private cars as vehicles “in transit.” With this cover, they dodge registration indefinitely, while comfortably enjoying the prestige of driving an exotic ride.
4. Political and Business Connections
Most offenders are not ordinary citizens. They are often affiliated with politicians, big businessmen, or individuals with direct contacts in top security agencies. With that kind of influence, the possibility of being stopped or fined is almost nonexistent. In many cases, security officers themselves escort the unregistered cars, creating an untouchable aura around them.
RReal-Life Encounters on Nigerian Roads
Popular social commentator Ronke Iya Won once shared her experience:
“We just drove past this Bentley SUV with police escort. As I was taking pictures, my driver was shaking. He was scared they might stop us. I said, ‘Let them stop us, and I’ll ask why this car has no plate number.’”
Her words echo what many Nigerians feel — a mix of curiosity, fear, and frustration.
Other Nigerians have also voiced their thoughts:
- Chuka, a commercial driver in Abuja:
“If I drive even one day without renewing my papers, VIO will tow my car. But these people with Bentleys and Maybachs drive freely without plates. It’s like the law is not for everybody.” - Tunde, a mechanic in Ikeja:
“When they sell these cars later, they will call it ‘brand new unregistered.’ But the truth is they have been on the road for years. It is fraud, and buyers are the ones that lose.”
These testimonies highlight a glaring reality: Nigerians notice, but most are too afraid or too powerless to challenge the system.
Privilege on Nigerian Roads
Driving without a plate number is only one part of the story. In many cases, the privilege attached to luxury cars extends to how they dominate the roads.
Police escorts and security details are not just silent passengers. They actively create a corridor of power. Roads are blocked, traffic is halted, and ordinary Nigerians are forced to wait while convoys of unregistered luxury cars glide past.
Halima’s testimony from Lagos captures this reality:
“Every morning on my way to work, I see a black Rolls-Royce without plates in Victoria Island. No one dares to stop them. Meanwhile, we ordinary people queue for hours at licensing offices. The sad part is, they don’t just drive without plates — they will block the road completely. Sometimes the police and even FRSC officers who are meant to enforce the law are the ones clearing traffic and blocking the road for them to pass.”
The disturbing part is that those mandated to enforce the law, police officers, FRSC marshals, and sometimes even VIO officials, are the very ones enabling the violation. Instead of questioning why a ₦300 million Bentley has no plate number, they form a protective shield, blocking traffic and intimidating anyone who dares to raise concerns.
The Law Is Clear — No Plate, No Road
According to the National Road Traffic Regulations (2012) and the FRSC Act, it is illegal to drive a car on public roads without proper registration and valid number plates.
- Penalty: Immediate impoundment of the vehicle.
- Fines: Between ₦20,000 and ₦50,000 depending on the agency.
- Suspicion: Unregistered cars are often presumed to be stolen, smuggled, or illegally acquired.
Yet, despite the clarity of the law, enforcement is selective. Ordinary Nigerians are penalised for minor infractions, while exotic cars without plates cruise by with escorts.
The Numbers: How Big Is the Problem?
Industry insiders estimate that over 80% of Nigeria’s exotic cars are not properly registered. From Lamborghinis and Rolls-Royces to Maybachs and Bentley SUVs, many of these cars move freely on Nigerian roads without legal identification. This statistic paints a troubling picture: if the most visible and expensive cars flout the law, what message does that send to everyday drivers struggling to keep up with licensing fees?
The Dark Side: Risks of Unregistered Cars
Security Concerns
Unregistered vehicles are difficult to trace in cases of crime, smuggling, or hit-and-run incidents. Criminals exploit this loophole.
Revenue Loss
Nigeria loses billions annually in unpaid registration fees and road taxes. That is money that could improve road safety and infrastructure.
Two-Tier Justice
When luxury cars go unchecked, while regular drivers face constant harassment, it deepens the perception that laws only apply to the poor.
Resale Manipulation
Selling an “unregistered” car as brand new years later is a deceptive practice that inflates the market and cheats buyers.
Are Nigerians Too Afraid to Ask Questions?
One of the more disturbing elements is silence. Ordinary Nigerians often whisper about these issues but rarely confront them.
- Fear of harassment from escorts.
- Cultural respect for wealth and power.
- Apathy “this is Nigeria, things will not change.”
But the questions remain:
- Why is a ₦250 million Bentley cruising without plates while a Keke rider gets fined for expired documents?
- Why should police escorts grant immunity from basic traffic laws?
- Why are politicians and businessmen allowed to bend the rules openly?
What Can Be Done?
- Strict Enforcement Without Bias
FRSC and VIO need to enforce laws equally, whether it is a Danfo bus or a Rolls-Royce. - Review of Trade Plates
Fake dealer tags are a major loophole. Proper digital tracking of legitimate dealer plates can close the gap. - Public Awareness Campaigns
Educating Nigerians about the dangers of unregistered cars may encourage citizens to demand accountability. - Shaming Culture
Social media can be a tool. Just as Ronke Iya Won did, more Nigerians should call out unregistered supercars. Visibility pressures agencies to act.
Conclusion: A Nation of Double Standards
The unregistered luxury car phenomenon isn’t just about cars. It reflects a deeper issue of inequality and selective justice in Nigeria. While everyday drivers struggle with fines, inspections, and endless paperwork, some of the country’s wealthiest individuals flout the law with impunity.
Until Nigeria finds the courage to ask hard questions, and enforce laws without fear or favour, luxury cars without plate numbers will continue to glide down our roads, untouchable, untraceable, and unchecked.
