How Long Until a Car is Mandatorily Scrapped?
2 Answers
For household 5-seat sedans 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 vehicle to be scrapped. In addition to the above vehicles, small and mini non-commercial passenger vehicles, large non-commercial sedans, and wheeled special machinery vehicles also have no usage period limit. Commercial vehicles have scrapping time limits, as follows: Small and mini taxi passenger vehicles have a scrapping period of 8 years, medium-sized taxi passenger vehicles have a scrapping period of 10 years, and large taxi passenger vehicles have a scrapping period of 12 years. Public transport passenger vehicles have a scrapping period of 13 years, other small and mini commercial passenger vehicles have a scrapping period of 10 years, and large and medium commercial passenger vehicles have a scrapping period of 15 years. Mini commercial trucks have a scrapping period of 8 years, light and large commercial trucks have a scrapping period of 10 years. The vehicle scrapping process is as follows: The car owner applying for scrapping and renewal must fill out one copy of the "Motor Vehicle Change, Transfer, Modification, Suspension, Scrapping Approval Application Form" and stamp the owner's seal. The registration office accepts the application and issues a "Vehicle Scrapping Notice" for vehicles that have reached the scrapping period. For vehicles that have not reached the scrapping period, after inspection and confirmation by the motor vehicle inspection office that they meet the scrapping standards, a "Vehicle Scrapping Notice" is issued. The owner chooses a qualified recycling company to dismantle the vehicle with the "Notice". The recycling company dismantles the vehicle and takes 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 submits the "Change Form", "XX Province Vehicle Renewal Technical Appraisal Form", "Scrapped Vehicle Recycling Certificate", and vehicle dismantling photos to the motor vehicle inspection office for verification and signature. The license plates are then recycled, and the scrapping registration is processed according to regulations. Special Notes: According to Article 30 of the "Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations", if the vehicle is damaged and cannot be driven back to the registration location, the owner can sell the scrapped vehicle to a local motor vehicle recycling company. Commercial vehicles converted to non-commercial use must be scrapped according to the original commercial vehicle scrapping time limit. According to Article 43 of the "Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations", after completing the transfer or cancellation of motor vehicle registration, the original owner can apply to use the original license plate number for a newly purchased vehicle when registering. The application must meet the following conditions: (1) The application is submitted within six months after the transfer or cancellation; (2) The owner must have owned the original vehicle for more than three years.
Speaking of when small cars are mandatorily scrapped, I've been driving for over 20 years and found the current policy quite user-friendly. There's no fixed mandatory scrapping age for private cars now, unlike the previous one-size-fits-all approach; as long as your vehicle passes the annual inspection each year. The inspection mainly checks safety items like brakes, lighting, and exhaust emissions. If it fails the test and can't be repaired, it must be scrapped. It's generally recommended to consider replacing the car after about 15 years or when it reaches 600,000 kilometers, as older cars are prone to problems and have higher maintenance costs. I've personally experienced scrapping an old car and learned that good daily maintenance can extend its use, but safety comes first—don't delay too long. Keep an eye on the latest notices from your local vehicle management office for policy changes to avoid unexpected scrapping.
