What’s the worst decision you can make when buying a car? According to Consumer Reports, one of the biggest mistakes is focusing too much on getting a good deal instead of making sure the car itself is good.

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If you’re looking for a used vehicle, you’re probably looking for a bargain. In many cases, you can find a good car at a fair price. However, not all used cars are worth the deal. One particular type of car you should be wary of is one that was previously owned by an Uber or Lyft driver.

You might be thinking, “Isn’t this just another used car?” but the truth is that the profession of the former driver makes a big difference. You need to understand the challenges associated with these cars and why, in many cases, it’s best to stay away from them. So without further ado, let’s take a look at why buying a former Uber or Lyft car can be more trouble than it’s worth.

Uber and Lyft drivers rely on their cars to make a living, which means those vehicles are constantly on the road, shuttling passengers from one place to another. The longer they’re on the road, the more money they can make.

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A recent Gridwise study shows just how demanding that can be. They found that a full-time driver would have to work more than 50 hours and make more than 100 trips per week to earn $1,000. That’s a lot of time spent behind the wheel, week after week.

Those long hours can push drivers to their limits. While some ride-hailing apps notify drivers to take a break after a certain number of hours, many drivers simply switch to another app to continue working. On the other hand, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that driver fatigue contributes to 100,000 crashes reported to police each year. Given these statistics, it’s easy to see why cars used to transport passengers might be more likely to be involved in accidents.

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Even without accidents, these vehicles are subject to much more wear and tear than passenger cars. The AAA Foundation for Highway Safety reports that most people make only about three trips a day, spending less than 4 hours on the road. Passenger cars, on the other hand, are used more often.

Constant use with minimal breaks has a significant impact on the physical condition of passenger vehicles. For example, door handles and hinges can loosen, seats can start to sag, and upholstery can wrinkle, tear, and fray. This wear and tear isn’t just cosmetic. Sure, your car can start to look worn, but it can also start to feel less comfortable and ultimately become less reliable.

On a busy week, a full-time Uber driver can easily drive 600 to 900 miles, sometimes more. By comparison, the average American drives about 300 miles per week, according to the Federal Highway Administration. That means that while a passenger car might travel about 15,000 miles per year, an Uber or Lyft driver can drive two to three times that many miles in their vehicle during the same period.

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It’s important to understand that the numbers on the odometer matter—a lot. A car’s mileage directly affects its value and reliability, and here’s why: Like any machine, a car is made up of components that have a finite lifespan. The more miles a car has, the more wear and tear its parts get.

Parts like spark plugs, filters, and air conditioning systems wear out faster in high-mileage cars. This can cause your car to squeak, run less smoothly, or even stall. These minor issues can add up over time, potentially making high-mileage cars more expensive to maintain. Simply put, a car with high mileage is closer to the end of its life.

Of course, it all depends on factors like the age of the car and how well it has been maintained. But even with proper care, insurance companies consider high-mileage cars to be riskier, which is why they often charge higher premiums for vehicles with more miles on the clock.

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For Uber and Lyft drivers, time is money. The faster they finish a ride, the faster they can pick up another passenger. However, constant aggressive driving, extended idling, and frequent short trips require the car’s engine to work. Over time, this can strain the engine. When this happens, it starts to use more fuel, operate less efficiently, and can even start to break down randomly.

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An overworked engine also has symptoms like rough idling, vibration, or overheating. It also suggests that other components, such as the brakes, tires, and transmission, may be having problems. In this case, you may start to notice oil leaks, deal with flat tires, and experience slipping gears or rough shifting.

Additionally, some drivers, in an attempt to save fuel, may adopt driving habits that further strain the engine and damage the transmission. When considering a vehicle that has been used for work at Uber or Lyft, it’s important to understand that the engine and other internal components may be on the verge of failure, as it has likely endured much greater stresses than a typical passenger vehicle.

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When buying a used car, many people rely on vehicle history reports from services like Carfax to get important details like previous accidents, ownership history, and title issues. However, when it comes to passenger vehicles, these reports can be misleading because they are often incomplete.

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Take taxis and limousines, for example. By law, these vehicles must be designated as commercial on their history reports so that potential buyers are aware of the heavy use they have been subjected to. Interestingly, while Uber and Lyft cars function as modern-day taxis, there is no law requiring them to be classified as commercial vehicles on their history reports.

“Because these vehicles are privately owned and registered as personal vehicles, there’s nothing on the records that would indicate they were used as passenger vehicles,” Dan Blinn, a consumer defense attorney with Consumer Law Group, told Consumer Reports. That means that outside of certain places, like New York City, where passenger vehicles are required to be registered like taxis, it’s unlikely you’ll get a full history of a car just by looking at its report.

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This lack of transparency says nothing about the countless passengers who rode in the car, the frequent short trips it took throughout the day, or the stress the vehicle was put through over time. So when you buy a former Uber or Lyft vehicle, you could be paying 35 percent more than the car is actually worth, simply because its history as a ride-hailing vehicle has been omitted.

When considering buying a used car, have an independent mechanic look at it before you commit. A professional can spot issues that may not be obvious to you. Be sure to check the mileage, see if the car is still under warranty, and confirm how many miles are covered by the warranty.

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When a car has really high mileage, getting a warranty on it can be difficult and expensive. Plus, these cars tend to depreciate faster, meaning they may not be worth as much when you decide to sell them later.

But not every former Uber or Lyft car is a bad deal. While some drivers rack up serious mileage while working full-time, others may use Uber or Lyft for less than 10 hours a week. That kind of occasional driving doesn’t wear out the car as quickly.

In addition to mileage, take a close look at the seats, doors, and body panels for signs of wear, dents, or scratches. Check the windshields for any glue residue where Uber, Lyft, or airport permit stickers may have been affixed. These little clues can tell you more about a car’s history.

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Finally, be sure to check the vehicle’s maintenance records. If the car has been serviced more often than usual, that’s a red flag. While regular, thorough maintenance is generally a good sign, too many trips to the garage suggest that the car may simply be unreliable. So, no matter how good a deal it seems, weigh all these factors carefully and consider whether it’s worth the risk to buy the vehicle. That way, you can avoid making a purchase that you’ll regret for a long time.