Commercial feature – The difference between buying a used taxi and buying a used car is that a second-hand cab is a vehicle you are going to be dependant upon every day as your means of income. It’s vital that you don’t rush into purchasing the first one you see or test drive, and that you take expert advice before making such an important decision.
Like purchasing any type of second-hand car, buying a used taxi can be a precarious business. You could be shelling out thousands of pounds, and your livelihood could depend almost completely on your used cab’s reliability and motoring performance. There are important questions to ask and checks to make before buying.
Many people who have lost their jobs, perhaps through being laid off in tough economic times, or who simply fancy a change of job, see taxi driving as an attractive idea. In fact, more and more people across the UK are taking up taxiing or mini-cab driving as full or part-time employment.
The appeal of being your own boss, of not being cooped up in an office all day, or standing for hours on end at a factory assembly line, means cabbying offers not only a new source of income, but a new way of life. If you’re prepared to put in the hours, the money can be great. And you also get to meet people from all walks of life.
You can’t be a taxi driver without having a suitable vehicle, of course. What’s more, the price of a brand-new cab can be astronomical, far beyond the means of most budding cabbies. The solution, of course, is to purchase a used taxi. And so where are the best places to look to find the vehicle you need?
Used taxis for sale are advertised in all manner of places: online and in motoring magazines (by private sellers and traders), in local papers, on boards in supermarkets (and in shop windows), and, of course, through taxi and mini-cab firms where drivers are looking to sell their current vehicle in order to buy new.
If you come across a second-hand taxi you like the look of, carry out a thorough inspection of the vehicle before road testing. Things to look for are rust, minor dents, oil leaks around the gear box and engine, holes in the exhaust pipe, chips in the windscreen, and rips in the seats and upholstery.
Also, when purchasing a used taxi, it is essential to find out how many owners it has had, the mileage, the reason for selling, when the cab was last serviced, if it has any outstanding finance, and if there is anything wrong with it. Research thoroughly to see if there is anything at all that should be brought to your attention before purchasing.
Knowing the right places to look for a decent used taxi – and what questions to ask when purchasing – is vital, as buying a second-hand cab differs from buying a car for general use, insofar as your livelihood may completely depend on it being reliable after purchasing.
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