Beijing second-hand car market booms on tax cut

The period after the Chinese Lunar New Year is traditionally an off season for second-hand auto sales. But this year in Beijing, the situation is a little different.

The recently launched policy which halves the purchase tax for vehicles with engine capacity below 1.6 liters has boosted second-hand auto sales.

One second-hand auto dealer said "We sold around 30 cars on the day following the Spring Festival. Low-emission vehicles even sold out."

Many people who previously owned cars with large engine capacity have changed to low-emission vehicles.

One consumer said "Most families can afford a low-emission car. The cars consume less gas, so they are more environmentally-friendly."

As demand for low-emission cars increases, it's a good time to buy a second hand vehicle.

Wang Meng, from Beijing Second-hand Motor Vehicle Market said "We suggest that people who want to buy low-emission cars wait for a while, and car owners who want to sell their vehicles be quick."

But second-hand auto buyers should be cautious when choosing a car. They should carefully check vehicles' maintenance logs and make sure they transfer the insurance policy.