How Many Kilometers Before a Car is Scrapped?
5 Answers
Cars are required to be scrapped after reaching 600,000 kilometers. Before scrapping, any traffic violations must be handled; otherwise, it may affect the owner's credit score and cause inconvenience in future life. Consequences of not scrapping the car on time include: 1. Impacting the renewal or annual inspection of the driver's license; 2. Driving a car that has not undergone inspection may result in fines and revocation of the driver's license; 3. The car will be forcibly scrapped, with the owner bearing the cost. The car scrapping process is as follows: 1. The owner fills out an application form; 2. The application is registered and reviewed, and a scrapping notice is issued. For vehicles that have not reached the scrapping age limit, a notice will be issued after inspection confirms they meet the scrapping standards; 3. The owner takes the scrapping notice to a qualified recycling company to deliver the vehicle; 4. The company dismantles the car and takes photos after inspection; 5. The owner checks and signs the form, the license plate is reclaimed, and the scrapping registration is processed according to regulations.
I remember private cars used to be mandatorily scrapped after 15 years, but now the policy has been relaxed, shifting to a guided scrappage system. Generally, when a car reaches around 600,000 kilometers, it's recommended for scrapping. However, the actual condition of the car matters more. My neighbor's old Jetta has already clocked 700,000 kilometers, and with regular replacement of wear-prone parts, it still runs fine. The key factors are the exhaust emissions and annual inspection results. If the catalytic converter is worn out and fails emission standards, or if the chassis is severely rusted, the car might need to be scrapped early even before hitting 600,000 kilometers. My advice is not to focus solely on the odometer; regular maintenance is crucial. The condition of the chassis, transmission, and engine is far more important.
As a seasoned driver who has owned over a dozen cars, I believe 600,000 kilometers is a critical milestone. National regulations recommend scrapping vehicles exceeding this mileage, but taxis and ride-hailing vehicles face stricter rules—mandatory scrapping at 8 years or 600,000 kilometers. Private cars are more flexible. For instance, my friend’s SUV clocked 650,000 kilometers but passed the annual inspection after a thorough overhaul. Pay close attention to whether the engine burns oil, if the transmission shifts roughly, or if the body frame shows rust—these are more practical indicators than mileage alone. Last month, while helping someone inspect a car, I found one with 300,000 kilometers had a completely rotted chassis, while another with 500,000 kilometers was in excellent condition thanks to proper maintenance.
When I bought the new car, I also checked the scrapping standards. Now the mandatory age limit has been abolished, and it mainly depends on the mileage. Taxis must be scrapped after running 600,000 kilometers, while our private cars exceeding this number will be recommended for scrapping. However, when I sold my old car at 540,000 kilometers, the dealer said it could still run for two more years without problems. The key is to keep up with maintenance, use fully synthetic engine oil, regularly inspect the chassis rubber bushings, and pay special attention to emission standards. Cars below China IV emission standards are already restricted in some major cities. Rather than waiting for scrapping, it's better to replace them with new energy vehicles in advance.
Last time when I got my car repaired, the mechanic mentioned the scrapping standards. Nowadays, regular family cars have to be sent to the scrapyard after reaching 600,000 kilometers. But this number is quite hard to achieve - even if an average person drives 20,000 kilometers a year, it would take 30 years. The most extreme case I've seen is a pickup truck used at construction sites that racked up 400,000 kilometers in just 3 years. Actually, most cars get replaced before hitting 200,000 kilometers these days. The ones that truly reach 600,000 kilometers are either commercial vehicles or vintage cars treated as family heirlooms. My suggestion is to consider the overall vehicle condition - things like major transmission overhauls or frame deformations deserve more attention than just mileage.
