The most popular business in Nigeria is transportation business. It is one of the fastest growing business opportunities in Nigeria. Nigeria’s high population has made transportation business a lucrative one. Commercial Taxi make between N5,000 to N10,000 daily, while the mini buses make between N10,000  to N15,000 daily. Big buses makes between N20,000 to N30,000 daily.

If you are thinking of going into transportation business that requires the use of taxi/cab or you want to know the best car for a taxi transport business. This article will guide towards buying the best car for commercial taxi transportation business – intra and inter- city taxi /cab transportation. We will also show you the best car for transportation business across different part of Nigeria.

 

Choosing the best car for commercial transport business

The most important critical step you have to take before starting transportation business is deciding what type of car will work best for your business. This is because not all cars are used for commercial taxi transportation business in Nigeria.

Apart from this, your location or locality for the business has to be taken into consideration. The taxi business in Nigeria, particularly in Lagos, is now more. Not all cars used as commercial taxi in Lagos can be used as commercial car in Abuja.

Things to consider when buying a car for taxi business

• Fuel economy – this is one of most important factor to consider when purchasing a car for commercial use. Volkswagen, Opel, New Toyota camry and so on brand models are cars with good fuel efficiency.

• Rugged cars – many Nigerian roads are so bad. When it comes to using a car for commercial transport, fuel economy and ruggedity are the first 2 things to consider.  There are lots of port-holes here and there. It therefore necessary to consider rugged cars for Nigerian roads when buying a car for commercial use. Most Toyota models are rugged cars.

• Available of the car spare parts – availability of the car spare parts need to be taken into consideration when buying a car for commercial use. For example; Opel model car spare parts are readily available in Northern part of Nigeria than any other part of Nigeria.

• Maintenance – availability of specialize car mechanics and electrician must be faction into your budget when buying a car for commercial use.

• Good rear passenger space and carrier – car with enough rear passenger space are the best for transportation business. Your passengers need to relax or seat comfortable especially when plying long distance (inter-city transportation)

• Engines capacity – when buying car for commercial purpose make sure it is up to 1.6 litres engine or at most 1.8 litres engine capacity.

 

Best Cars for commercial taxi transportation business

In Nigeria generally, most taxi/cab operators only accept Toyota, Golf 3, Nissan and Volkswagen car for commercial taxi business.

In western cities part of Nigeria like Ibadan, Ado-Ekiti, Ondo, Akure, Oyo; Audi 80, Volkswagen jetta, Golf 3, Nissan Sunny and Nissan micra are popularly used for intra city taxi transportation. These cars have good rear passenger space; boots and they are 1.8L i4 engines. Their fuel efficiency is superb. Their spare parts are readily available and relatively cheap.

In North city like Jos-Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe and far – northern part of Nigeria; Opel Vectra, Golf 2, Golf 3 and Golf 3 wagon are popularly used for intra and inter – city taxi transportation business. Opel is quite fast, spacious both for the rear passengers and the boot; the engine is a 1.8 SOHC GM engine.  Opel Vectra is used in Adamawa, Gombe, Taraba, Bauchi, Kano; Plateau, Niger states. Their parts are readily available in North and cheap but not in west.  Opel brand is more common in the North; they attribute their preference to fuel economy, easy maintenance, speed and stability.

In south east cities like Enugu, Ebonyi, Owerri, Anambra; Toyota camry, Toyota carina 2, Golf 2, Golf 3, Nissan Sunny and partially Mazda are popularly used for taxi/cab business. Their spare parts are available and relatively cheap. Toyota camry is commonly used for intra and inter- city taxi transportation in Enugu. Toyota usually doesn’t have mechanical/electrical problems as other cars. Their parts are abundant and cheap. They have resale value (if properly maintained).

In Abuja, Federal Capital Territory; Toyota Sienna, Toyota Camry, Opel Vectra, Golf 3 Wagon, Honda Accord, Nissan Sunny and mini buses are popular used for intra and inter – city transportation business. These brands of cars have good rear passenger spaces and carrier spaces. Their spare parts are readily available and they are easy to maintain. The road network in Abuja is good, so ruggedity is not prerequisite when buying car transportation business in Abuja.

Honda and Toyota model cars for transportation business

Honda is a reliable and good and among the best selling cars worldwide but not anyway used as taxis, one reason being that the spare parts are expensive than Toyota.  Honda Accords are stronger, but fuel economy and maintenance is higher than Toyota and the rest. Honda civic and city are compact cars with good fuel economy but they are too fragile. Honda cars are not very rugged… that doesn’t mean they are not reliable. Thirdly, Hondas are not used because of its suspension system especially the rear. The Honda’s rear suspension cannot be modified to carry more weight or repaired when bad. There is because of the diameter of Honda shocks which is smaller when compare to both Toyota and Nissan and even Mazda. Many commercial drivers sometimes modify the suspensions of Toyota by doubling the coil spring to carry more weight while there is no allowance for that in Honda shocks. Also, the toyota and Nissan shock absorbers can be opened and resealed once the oil and rubber seals leak.

Most transport companies that use newer model of cars use either Toyota or Nissan Sunny. However, at the airport you will see varieties of cars as taxi including 2000+ model Hondas.
Volkswagen Golf MK1, 2 and 3, Passat, Jetta, Audi 80, Nissan Sunny, Mazda 626 have 1.6-2.2L Inline 4 engines, 4 or 5 doors, good rear passengers and cargo compartments, fewer electrical components than recent cars, spare parts availability and mechanic availability, durability, and also year of manufacture 1986-1996. Toyota cricket or first-lady is known and called circa 1986-1992, toyota carina II is 1988-1992 but carina E is 1993-1997. This is the same age range of cars, Opel Vectra is circa 1988.

In summary, best car for intra and inter-city transportation business in Nigeria include; Volkswagen Golf MK1, 2 and 3, Passat, Jetta, Primera , Audi 80, Nissan Sunny, Mazda 626, 323, volvo 244, Sienna, 504,505, Toyota camry, Toyota GL, Toyota corolla, Opel vectra. Few Honda Concertos and Golf 4 can also be used for commercial taxi business. 2000 and above model of Jetta, Volvo, Primera, Mazda 626 are very fragile and hardly used for commercial purpose.

Buying your Taxi Car online

Buying car is very easy these days. You can sit down at the comfort of your home and buy new or fairly car online. All you need to do is to search for the car you want to buy online from any of these sites and order for it. The pictures should be there for you to see. Once, the car you order arrive border; you go inspection and clearing it.

Read also:Where to Buy Car & Pay Installmentally in Nigeria

Warning: don’t pay for a car you’ve not seen, and touch with your hands.