How Many Years Can a Car Be Driven Before Scrapping?

[LeRosalie]

Non-commercial vehicles and commercial vehicles have different scrapping periods, as detailed below: Scrapping regulations for non-commercial vehicles: For household 5-seat sedans and 7-seat SUVs, as well as small and micro non-commercial vehicles, there is no usage period limit. When the normal mileage reaches 600,000 kilometers, the state will guide the scrapping process. In addition to the above vehicles, small and micro non-commercial passenger cars, large non-commercial sedans, and wheeled special machinery vehicles also have no usage period limit. Common scrapping regulations for commercial vehicles: Small and micro 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 micro commercial passenger vehicles have a scrapping period of 10 years, and large and medium-sized commercial passenger vehicles have a scrapping period of 15 years. Micro 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 owner of the vehicle applying for scrapping and renewal must fill out the "Application Form for Vehicle Modification, Transfer, Alteration, Suspension, or Scrapping" in duplicate and affix the owner's seal. The registration office will accept the application and issue a "Vehicle Scrapping Notice" for vehicles that have reached the scrapping period. For vehicles that have not reached the scrapping period, the vehicle inspection office will determine whether they meet the scrapping standards and issue a "Vehicle Scrapping Notice" if they do. The vehicle 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 chassis must be cut. The vehicle owner must submit the "Modification Form", "XX Province Vehicle Renewal Technical Appraisal Form", "Scrapped Vehicle Recycling Certificate", and photos of the dismantled vehicle to the vehicle inspection office for verification and signature. The license plates and certificates will be reclaimed, and the scrapping registration will be 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 deliver the scrapped vehicle to a local motor vehicle recycling company. If a commercial vehicle is converted to a non-commercial vehicle, it must be scrapped according to the original commercial vehicle's scrapping period. According to Article 43 of the "Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations", after completing the transfer or cancellation of the motor vehicle registration, the original owner can apply to the vehicle management office to use the original license plate number when registering a newly purchased vehicle. The application to use the original license plate number must meet the following conditions: (1) The application must be submitted within six months after the transfer or cancellation of registration; (2) The owner must have owned the original vehicle for more than three years.

[VonPaul]

The old sedan I've been driving is almost 20 years old and still running strong on the road. I feel it can last a few more years! The key is proper maintenance—I check the engine oil, tires, and brake system every month and replace parts regularly. Chinese regulations are no longer like the old days with a mandatory 15-year scrapping policy. Now, they focus more on vehicle safety conditions. As long as the car passes the annual inspection and meets emission standards, it can keep running. But honestly, older engines are prone to issues, and repairing severely worn parts can be expensive and troublesome. A friend of mine had to abandon his old car because the chassis corrosion couldn't be fixed properly. My advice is to assess the vehicle's actual condition—safety first, don't risk driving a car with hidden dangers.

[SanKiara]

My used car is only a little over 4 years old. I've heard that the lifespan before scrapping isn't fixed—it depends entirely on the vehicle's condition and policy directions. For instance, in cities, emission standards are a key factor, and older cars that fail to meet exhaust requirements face immediate traffic restrictions or even road bans. In terms of maintenance, I regularly replace filters and batteries. Theoretically, private cars can last over 15 years, but when repair costs get too high, it's time to consider a replacement. From an economic standpoint, I've done the math: maintenance is cheap for the first 5 years, but after 10 years, annual repair costs can exceed tens of thousands, even more expensive than a new car loan. In the long run, technological advancements are making electric vehicles more appealing, and phasing out old cars is also a form of progress.

[DeJeremiah]

From a practical standpoint, the older cars I've handled tend to develop more issues after 10 years, with severe engine and transmission wear potentially leading to failure. With proper maintenance like regular carbon deposit cleaning, a car can last up to 15 years without being scrapped. The key is to pay attention to emission and safety tests during each annual inspection, as failure results in mandatory retirement. Overall, with good maintenance, the lifespan can be extended.