Buying a used car requires special attention when the complete history of the vehicle is not known. A car that has been used as a TVDE (such as Uber or Bolt) for several years may show different wear compared to a private vehicle of the same age, accumulated kilometres and intensive-use maintenance. Currently, there is no public platform in Portugal where you can enter the licence plate and confirm whether a car was previously used as a TVDE.
Mileage is one of the first elements to analyse, but it should be evaluated together with the age and documentation of the vehicle. Service intervals very close together or frequent replacements of tyres, brakes and other components may be consistent with intensive use. Inspection dates are also revealing: a TVDE vehicle must be submitted for technical inspection every year, starting one year after the first registration, while a private vehicle only undergoes its first inspection after four years.
In addition to documents, there are physical signs that may reveal former professional use. In a TVDE car, the rear seats also show intense wear, unlike what happens in a private vehicle. Marks from phone mounts, cameras or other accessories on the dashboard or windscreen, as well as traces of glue or differences in glass tint, may indicate identifying stickers that have been removed.
Having been a TVDE does not automatically mean the car is broken. A vehicle with many kilometres but with rigorous and documented maintenance may be in better condition than another with private use and neglected maintenance. Before closing the deal, the recommendation is to ask the seller for the inspection records, service invoices and maintenance book, and take the car to an independent mechanic for an assessment of its actual condition.
