What does an off-line vehicle mean?
2 Answers
An off-line vehicle refers to a car that a taxi company, in accordance with government regulations, transfers to local use before the vehicle reaches its mandatory retirement age. These vehicles are categorized into two types: commercial-to-non-commercial and taxi-to-non-commercial. Below is more information about off-line vehicles: 1. An off-line vehicle is a taxi whose operational vehicle registration has been converted to non-operational status. Unlike private cars, such operational vehicles have a service life limit. According to the "Mandatory Vehicle Retirement Standards," they can still be driven for up to 8 years. Depending on the vehicle type, medium-sized taxis have a service life of 10 years, while large-sized taxis have a service life of 12 years. 2. For example, if a vehicle is used as a taxi for 3 years before being converted to an off-line vehicle, it can still be used for another 5 years, and so on, but the total service life must not exceed 8 years. Any registered operational vehicle must comply with the above regulations.
I'm all too familiar with retired fleet vehicles—they're basically used cars phased out by taxi companies or ride-hailing platforms. These cars usually have hundreds of thousands of kilometers on the odometer. Take Old Zhang in our neighborhood, for example: last year, he bought a retired Jetta for 20,000 yuan, only to spend 8,000 yuan on repairs within three months. Minor issues like sagging seats and leaking AC refrigerant are practically standard. But the prices are undeniably tempting, often just 30-40% of market value. The catch? Severe chassis wear—shock absorbers are usually shot, and the steering wheel play could fit a fist. Before buying, it’s best to bring a mechanic to inspect the car, focusing on engine overhaul records and transmission fluid color.
