Spanish Used Taxis Find New Life in Morocco and Eastern Europe

The sale of worn-out taxis abroad is a viable solution to get rid of these vehicles. "It’s very difficult for an individual to buy it from you," explains Manuel to El Periodico de Espana, however, specifying that he has sold two to Moroccans who are engaged in buying and selling and exporting. "Here in Spain, many taxis are bought to be sold abroad," says José Miguel Funez, communication manager of the Professional Federation of Taxis of Madrid.

According to several sources in the sector, the export activity is in the hands of Spanish and Moroccan individuals. "There are Moroccans who come to see you when you are waiting for your load or at the station, and from your license plate, they can see if you are about to renew or not, and if they see that you are interested, they leave you 500 euros as a deposit with their card so that you can call them," explains Manuel.

The taxi driver issues a receipt "legally," and the buyer is assured of being a priority on the vehicle when the owner decides to remove the Spanish registration. "From my experience, I can tell you that the Moroccans are more legal than the Spaniards. They take care of all the paperwork and make it easier for you," assures Manuel, specifying that he has sold a five-year-old taxi with 200,000 kilometers for 3,200 euros, and others with 400,000 kilometers for 900 euros.

"They take them by boat to Morocco, and there, since the mechanics are cheaper, they repair them. They will earn between 500 and a thousand euros from each car," he estimates. "Most of the taxis bought in other countries must continue to operate as taxis. There is a lot of demand from Bulgaria and Senegal, especially, but also from Romania, Portugal, France..." explains a Moroccan intermediary who places ads on the Milanuncios portal.