How Many Years Can a Car Be Used Before Scrapping?
3 Answers
Non-commercial small and mini vehicles have no usage lifespan limit. The specific details are as follows: Elimination of the driving age limit for non-commercial cars: The latest 2020 vehicle scrapping regulations abolished the driving age limit for non-commercial cars, while setting the private car scrapping mileage limit at 600,000 kilometers. Implementation of mandatory scrapping: Previously, the scrapping age was 15 years. Currently, when the mileage reaches 600,000 kilometers, the state will guide the scrapping process. For vehicles older than 15 years, inspections are required every 6 months. If the vehicle fails the inspection, it will be mandatorily scrapped.
Regarding how long a car can last before being scrapped, I personally think it's quite complicated. My old car, which I drove for over ten years, was fine at first, but later it started having frequent issues like engine noise and transmission jerks. Every trip to the repair shop cost a fortune. Plus, with increasingly strict annual inspections and the emission standards upgraded to China VI, older cars struggle to pass. In the end, it couldn’t even reach 600,000 kilometers before being scrapped. For regular family cars, if they’re heavily used and poorly maintained, they might start struggling after about ten years. With good maintenance, they can last up to fifteen years, but the expensive parts can be a headache. Sometimes, buying a new one is more cost-effective and saves fuel and hassle.
From my perspective, the key factors for vehicle retirement are technology and regulations. Core components like car engines and chassis typically have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years. Beyond that, severe wear occurs, and repair costs may exceed the vehicle's value. In China, non-commercial passenger vehicles have no mandatory retirement age, but they must be scrapped if they reach 600,000 kilometers or exceed emission standards. I've seen many older cars with 200,000-300,000 kilometers where the probability of issues increases significantly, posing higher safety risks. Regular maintenance can extend lifespan, but overall, it's recommended to conduct more frequent inspections for vehicles over 10 years old to avoid accidents.
