Are Cars Scrapped After Ten Years?

[SanGenesis]

Cars are not necessarily scrapped after ten years. Vehicles are categorized into private cars and commercial vehicles, with their respective normal scrapping periods as follows: Regulations for scrapping private cars: For 5-seat family cars and 7-seat SUVs, as well as non-commercial small and mini vehicles, there is no usage period limit. When the normal mileage reaches 600,000 kilometers, the state will guide the scrapping process. Apart from the aforementioned vehicles, small and mini non-commercial passenger cars, large non-commercial cars, and wheeled special machinery vehicles also have no usage period limit. Common regulations for scrapping commercial vehicles: Small and mini taxi passenger vehicles have a scrapping period of 8 years, medium-sized taxi passenger vehicles 10 years, and large taxi passenger vehicles 12 years. Public transport passenger vehicles have a scrapping period of 13 years, while other small and mini commercial passenger vehicles have a scrapping period of 10 years, and large and medium-sized commercial passenger vehicles 15 years. Mini commercial trucks have a scrapping period of 8 years, while light and large commercial trucks have a scrapping period of 10 years.

[DiJohnny]

I remember when I first started learning to drive, I also thought cars had to be scrapped after ten years. But actually, the policy changed long ago. Now there's no mandatory scrapping age for private cars—as long as they pass the annual inspection, they can keep running. Last year during an inspection, I came across a 16-year-old Jetta that passed the emissions test in one go. The owner said the key was regular annual maintenance. However, emission standards are getting stricter—many places restrict the use of National III vehicles, and transferring ownership of National IV vehicles is also difficult. Insurance costs and maintenance expenses do increase with the car's age, so if you plan to drive it for over ten years, you need to be mentally prepared, especially when it comes to maintaining the three major components (engine, transmission, and chassis)—you can't cut corners.

[Cassidy]

Last time I took my friend's decade-old car on a road trip to the northwest, I had it thoroughly inspected before departure. All the suspension bushings were replaced, along with the timing belt and water pump. It performed flawlessly throughout the 5,000-kilometer journey. Ten years is really not a hurdle for modern cars - my Japanese car has covered 250,000 kilometers without major engine repairs. The key is maintaining complete service records and timely replacement of wear parts. Note that older cars' electronic components are prone to failure, like ABS sensors and window regulators. Vehicle inspections now include OBD testing, which aged wiring might fail due to circuit deterioration.

[LeKingston]

When conducting used car evaluations, it's found that a ten-year-old vehicle is a watershed. Japanese cars may retain about 30% of their value, while German cars might only have 20% left. It's not that the cars can't run, but the cost-effectiveness of repairs deteriorates. We've encountered domestic cars with rusted-through chassis and American cars needing major transmission overhauls. Currently, transferring ownership in China VI emission standard regions requires attention, as many older vehicles cannot be re-registered. The new inspection regulations include chassis checks, and older vehicles' suspension systems often fail to meet standards. It's advisable to set aside a budget for refurbishment, such as renewing chassis rubber components, which may cost two to three thousand yuan.

[LeGraham]

The company's business vehicle had only 80,000 kilometers on it when it reached ten years, but its residual value was just 20% of the invoice price. The maintenance advisor said the timing system needs replacement, all four shock absorbers are leaking oil, and a full fluid change would cost 5,000. The engine is actually in good condition, but it might not meet the new emission standards. Nowadays, inspection stations have remote OBD diagnostics, and older cars tend to have more electrical fault codes. The company ultimately opted for a trade-in, as business reception requires considering image. Personal vehicles are different—I've seen an 18-year-old Santana still running.

[SanAngelo]

In the repair shop, we deal with cars over ten years old every day. The most common issues are aging rubber components in the chassis, causing squeaks when going over bumps; oxidized circuits leading to false sensor readings; and water pump leaks requiring complete replacement. However, as long as the three major components (engine, transmission, and chassis) haven't been in an accident, the car can continue to run smoothly after proper maintenance. Last week, we serviced a 2004 Camry, replacing all fluids, chassis bushings, and brake discs and pads. It cost over 6,000 yuan but can now run for another five years. We recommend focusing on checking the cooling system, as radiators and hoses in ten-year-old cars are prone to problems. Also, note that annual inspections now include reading fault codes, and aged circuits can easily trigger warning lights.