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What's the easiest way to tell if a car has been a private hire taxi (assuming someone is trying to hide the fact)? I'm thinking of something like a Carina or Avensis.
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Lots of miles in a relatively short time ? Check older MOTs.
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The faint waft of vomit in the back see is a good indicator.
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Drive any diesel estate car in any town at one in the morning and everyone thinks you're a taxi...
Knackered boot trim, screw holes for meters etc in front dash, sunken seats in the back (and front for that matter).
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Look for any fixings or markings on rear bumper/hatch where the taxi licence plate would go. Would the V5 indicate anything-possibly a taxi firm bought it to lend out to drivers etc
Also, don't know if tax class is any different on a taxi?
Pedal rubbers could be very worn with town/city driving, or if new ones on think suspicious.
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'No Smoking' stickers on the dash or doors (or where they've been removed), worn rear door locks, sagging or threadbare rear seats, rectangular patches of darker paint on the doors where the taxi company signs used to be. Black and yellow paint scheme is a dead giveaway.
From bangernomics.tripod.com/highmile.htm
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ring marks on roof or bootlid from mag-mount aerial , two sets of scratches on back bumper where it meets the car body scratches usually about 5 or 6 inches apart many cabbies hang the licence over the bumper (no tell tale mounting holes but it does still leave marks) mounting holes on kick panels in footwells as they must by law carry a fire extinguisher and this is a popular position , missing rear ashtrays, drivers seatbelt like new when others are worn as cabbies are exempt from seatbelts when carrying passengers but most of them never wear belts at anytime. (only guides mind)
cheers...keo.
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'as cabbies are exempt from seatbelts when carrying passengers'
I cannot work out whether you're being sarcastic here?
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'as cabbies are exempt from seatbelts when carrying passengers' I cannot work out whether you're being sarcastic here?
No sarcasm required as its perfectly true!!
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'as cabbies are exempt from seatbelts when carrying passengers' I cannot work out whether you're being sarcastic here?
it's for safety reasons ... honest ... you try to defend yourself from a taxi mugging while wearing a seatbelt
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>> 'as cabbies are exempt from seatbelts when carrying passengers' >>
it's also to prevent a rear seat passenger pulling seat belt around drivers neck and trying to strangle him (or her) i should know i'm a part time hackney carriage driver (a proper taxi)
yes all the posts above are a good guide don't forget a shiny steering wheel too.
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'No Smoking' stickers on the dash or doors (or where they've been removed), worn rear door locks, sagging or threadbare rear seats, rectangular patches of darker paint on the doors where the taxi company signs used to be. Black and yellow paint scheme is a dead giveaway. From bangernomics.tripod.com/highmile.htm
100% correct.... and holes for two way radio.
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The aerials that clip on the edge of the boot lid, leave an feint etched 'footprint', on the one I saw, it was a square U shape, where vibration and dust had taken the gloss of the paint, VERY hard to sport unless you ARE looking for it.
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Second and fourth gears are unused...
Usually quite premium spec meddle sized cars, if a taxi drivers sitting in his 'office' for 8hours it may as well be a leather office, etc.
Possibly seat coverings, or them beaded driver's seat things which are good for you/his back.
Instrument bulbs may have blown, they do lots of work at night and are fiddly to replace.
When you ask for a test drive, he'll ask you to sit in the back and tell you about when he had David Beckham in the back... ;-)
Kev
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The condition of the glove compartment and drivers sun visor is often a good guide.
If it is in a state inside you know they have been used much more than a regular car. In the case of a taxi, the driver will have kept most of his paperwork in these places.
In addition, these areas are probably not high on the seller's list to remove evidence from.
H
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