Are taxis only allowed to be scrapped after 6 years?

[DavidMarie]

6 years of exemption from inspection, annual inspection once for 6-15 years, and twice a year for over 15 years. As long as the annual inspection is passed, the vehicle can continue to be driven on the road. Taxis and ride-hailing vehicles are mandatorily scrapped after 8 years. The relevant regulations are as follows: 1. SUV: 5-seat family cars and 7-seat SUVs, non-operational small and micro cars have no usage limit. When the normal mileage reaches 600,000 kilometers, the state will guide the scrapping. After 15 years, it must be inspected twice a year. If the inspection is not passed, it will be mandatorily scrapped. 2. Taxi: The usage limit for taxis is 8 years. The usage limit for medium-sized passenger taxis is 10 years. 3. Trucks: The usage limit for heavy, medium, and light trucks is 15 years. The usage limit for semi-trailer tractors is 15 years. The usage limit for mini trucks is 12 years.

[LilahLee]

This question reminds me of a recent experience helping a friend with a taxi issue. According to national regulations, the mandatory retirement age for taxis is 8 years, not 6 years, so retiring at 6 years is definitely not mandatory. However, taxis are driven extensively every day, and many vehicles reach 600,000 kilometers in just 6 years, at which point they must be retired. Some local policies are even stricter, requiring taxis to exit operation after 6 years. Exiting operation doesn’t mean scrapping the vehicle; it can still be converted to non-commercial use and continue to be driven, but the necessary procedures must be completed. Additionally, if the vehicle condition is too poor and fails the annual inspection, it may need to be retired early. I recommend that taxi drivers pay more attention to local policies and vehicle conditions rather than focusing solely on the age limit.

[Gwen]

Having been a taxi driver for ten years, I've changed three cars. The 6-year scrapping rule for taxis isn't absolute—it depends. First, mileage matters: 600,000 kilometers is the hard limit. Those working night shifts daily might hit it in just three years. Second, policies vary: Shenzhen, for example, mandates that pure electric taxis must be scrapped after 6 years. Third, consider repair costs: if an engine overhaul costs 20,000, it might be better to scrap the car and claim subsidies. Some in our fleet even convert retired taxis into private cars for continued use, as long as the vehicle condition meets legal standards. The key is to check with the local vehicle administration for specific policies—don't rely on hearsay.

[DiElizabeth]

I just went to the DMV to ask about this a couple of days ago. Taxi scrapping depends on three conditions: 8 years of use, 600,000 kilometers driven, or failing annual inspections for 3 consecutive years. So scrapping after only 6 years happens only under special circumstances, such as the vehicle being involved in a major accident that renders it unsafe. I've seen some taxis scrapped after just 4 years, all because they were forcibly scrapped for unauthorized modifications to natural gas equipment without filing. Actually, taxis that have been used for 6 years can be converted to private vehicles for continued use, but they require additional inspections and a change in usage classification, costing about 800 yuan.