What are the penalties for private cars operating as illegal taxis?
2 Answers
Private cars engaged in illegal transportation will be impounded and subject to fines. In severe cases, compulsory transfer and auction may be enforced. In some regions, if the illegal vehicle remains unclaimed after 60 days of impoundment, this measure will be implemented. The specific duration is determined by local law enforcement agencies, as there are no explicit regulations.
That time I secretly ran an unlicensed taxi, but got caught red-handed. The fine was a straight 5,000 yuan, my car was impounded for a week, and worse, my driver's license was docked 12 points, forcing me to retake the test. I was just trying to earn some extra cash, but the risks were too high. The traffic police said it was illegal operation, violating road traffic safety laws—not just fines, but if an accident happened without insurance, I'd be fully liable for compensation and could even face criminal charges. Thinking back now, I regret it. I advise you to drive legitimately and never touch this. Getting caught affects your credit too, making loans and such hard to approve. From that lesson, I learned that making money legally is the right path—don’t go for quick gains.