Is it advisable to buy a commercial-to-private vehicle?
2 Answers
Be cautious when purchasing a commercial-to-private vehicle. Here are the relevant details: 1. Service life: Before purchasing, it is advisable to check its service life. Commercial vehicles have a mandatory scrapping period, and you may encounter some issues during annual inspections. 2. Commercial-to-private: This refers to the conversion of a commercial vehicle to a private vehicle. Typically, commercial-to-private vehicles mainly refer to decommissioned taxis converted to local license plates. After conversion to local license plates, the service life remains 8 years, with mandatory scrapping 8 years from the date of manufacture, no further annual inspections, and no extension of the scrapping period. The Road Traffic Safety Law stipulates: Taxis and mini trucks must be scrapped after 8 years of operation, with no extensions allowed. The scrapping period for converted taxis is the same as that for commercial passenger vehicles.
I previously considered buying a commercial-to-private vehicle, which was originally a taxi or ride-hailing car and later converted to private use. The affordable price is highly tempting, but the risks are not small. The key is to verify the car's condition: Has the odometer been tampered with? Are the engine and chassis heavily worn? After all, commercial vehicles are driven more frequently, leading to faster part aging, and subsequent repair costs might outweigh the initial savings. Regarding insurance, the rate drops slightly after conversion to non-commercial use, but the higher claim frequency affects compensation. Before purchasing, have a professional mechanic inspect the car, testing the brakes, lights, and emissions. Saving money is good, but don't lose more than you gain—safety first is what truly matters.
