How Long Until a Vehicle is Scrapped?
3 Answers
Here are the specific details about vehicle scrapping; Passenger vehicles: Non-commercial, small-sized vehicles have no mandatory usage period. However, when the mileage reaches 600,000 kilometers, the vehicle management office will guide these vehicles to be scrapped. If a vehicle has been in use for more than 15 years, the annual inspection interval changes to semi-annual inspections, and if it fails the final inspection, it will be declared scrapped. Pickup trucks and light, medium, heavy-duty trucks: The mandatory usage period must not exceed 15 years. Mini trucks: The mandatory usage period must not exceed 12 years. Medium-sized taxis: The mandatory usage period must not exceed 10 years. Taxis: Taxis can only be used for 8 years.
There's no fixed age for car scrapping; it's all about usage and maintenance. A car can easily last 10 years or 150,000 kilometers as long as you stick to regular maintenance and don't slack off—like changing the oil and checking brake pads. If the car's in good condition, there's no rush to scrap it. My own old car has been running smoothly for 12 years now. Some policies, like China's requirement for biannual inspections after 15 years, might nudge owners toward scrapping, but this mainly targets heavily polluting or safety-noncompliant vehicles. Overall, with proper maintenance and avoiding accidents, a car could run for 20 years—don't be misled into thinking it must be scrapped after a decade.
Based on personal experience, scrapping often occurs when repair costs skyrocket. Around the 15-year mark, cars are prone to major breakdowns, with repairs costing thousands or even tens of thousands, far exceeding the car's value. I've been in this situation myself—my 16-year-old classic car's engine failed, and the repair cost was so high that scrapping was the only option. Policy impacts are significant too; failing emissions tests or annual inspections can force owners to abandon their vehicles. Regular maintenance can delay scrapping, but there comes a point when it's more economical to just buy a new car.
