How long can a car go without inspection before being scrapped?
4 Answers
A car that has not been inspected for 3 years will be forcibly scrapped. The criteria for compulsory scrapping are: Reaching the prescribed service life; After repair and adjustment, it still does not meet the national standards for in-use vehicle safety technical requirements; After repair and adjustment or the adoption of control technology, the emissions of pollutants or noise into the atmosphere still do not meet the national standards for in-use vehicle requirements; Failing to obtain the motor vehicle inspection qualification mark for three consecutive inspection cycles after the expiration of the inspection validity period. Motor vehicle scrapping process: The car owner applying for scrapping and renewal must fill out the "Motor Vehicle Change, Transfer, Modification, Suspension, Scrapping Approval Application Form" in duplicate and affix the owner's seal. Apply at the registration acceptance counter. For vehicles that have reached the scrapping age, the "Vehicle Scrapping Notice" will be issued. For vehicles that have not reached the scrapping age, after verification by the motor vehicle inspection counter and confirmation that they meet the scrapping standards, the "Vehicle Scrapping Notice" will be issued. The owner can choose a qualified recycling company to dismantle the vehicle with the "Notice". The recycling company will dismantle the vehicle and take photos after verifying the "Notice". The engine must be separated from the vehicle, the engine block must be broken, and the frame (chassis) must be cut. The owner must submit the "Change Form", "XX Province Updated Vehicle Technical Appraisal Form", "Scrapped Vehicle Recycling Certificate", and photos of the dismantled vehicle to the motor vehicle inspection counter for verification and signature. The license plates will be reclaimed, and the case will be submitted for approval according to regulations to complete the scrapping registration.
A friend of mine had this happen last year—his car was scrapped directly after being overdue for inspection for a year and a half. According to regulations, if a passenger car skips three consecutive inspection cycles, it will be forcibly scrapped. The length of these cycles depends on the vehicle's age. For new cars within the first six years, inspections are required every two years—missing three inspections (equivalent to six years without one) means the car is scrapped. For cars over ten years old, inspections are every six months—just three consecutive missed inspections (a year and a half) leads to scrapping. Once, while handling business at the DMV, I saw many owners queuing up for scrapping procedures, all because they forgot the inspection deadlines. Remember to set reminders in the Traffic Management 12123 app—don’t skimp on the inspection fee. Once scrapped, even the license plate gets revoked, and reapplying is a huge hassle.
All the veteran drivers in our fleet know that if a vehicle misses its inspection beyond the allowed period, it's as good as scrap. Simply put, failing to attend the annual inspection three times in a row, regardless of the reason, leads to this outcome. With twenty years of driving experience, I've seen cases where a new car forgot to get inspected in its sixth year, delayed until the eighth year, and was then forcibly scrapped. Older vehicles are at even greater risk—those over ten years old require inspections every six months. Missing just a year and a half can spell disaster. Last time, a friend borrowed a car for a trip out of town, and upon returning, got caught up in the pandemic, missing the inspection deadline. The car was dragged straight to the scrapyard. It's best to check the inspection date every New Year's Day and visit the testing station a month early to avoid peak queues.
I checked the traffic regulations, and if a passenger car hasn't undergone annual inspection for three years, it will be scrapped. Note that it's not three consecutive years without inspection, but three consecutive inspection cycles. For example, new cars require inspection every two years for the first six years, so missing three cycles would mean six years; for older cars requiring annual inspection, missing three years means scrapping. Once when I was transferring a used car, I found the previous owner had missed two inspections due to being abroad, and the third overdue directly put the car on the scrapping list. I recommend installing a traffic management app that automatically reminds you when it's due, and booking an inspection takes just half an hour. Never wait until the last day, as long queues can easily cause delays.
