
Non-commercial vehicles and commercial vehicles have different mandatory scrapping periods, as detailed below: Scrapping regulations for non-commercial vehicles: For household 5-seat cars and 7-seat SUVs, there is no usage period limit for non-commercial small and micro vehicles. 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 vehicles, large non-commercial cars, 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 10 years, and large taxi passenger vehicles 12 years. Public transport passenger vehicles have a scrapping period of 13 years, other small and micro commercial passenger vehicles 10 years, and large and medium-sized commercial passenger vehicles 15 years. Micro commercial trucks have a scrapping period of 8 years, while light and large commercial trucks have a scrapping period of 10 years. The vehicle scrapping process is as follows: The vehicle owner applying for scrapping and renewal must fill out and submit one copy of the "Motor Vehicle Change, Transfer, Modification, Suspension, or Scrapping Approval Application Form" with 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 motor vehicle inspection office will determine if they meet the scrapping standards and issue a "Vehicle Scrapping Notice" if applicable. The vehicle owner can choose a qualified recycling company to dismantle the vehicle with the "Notice." After verifying the "Notice," the recycling company will dismantle the vehicle and take photos. The engine must be separated from the vehicle, the engine block must be broken, and the frame (chassis) must be cut. The vehicle owner must submit the "Change Form," "XX Province Vehicle Renewal Technical Appraisal Form," "Scrapped Vehicle Recycling Certificate," and photos of the dismantled vehicle to the motor vehicle inspection office for verification and signature. The license plates 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 a vehicle cannot be driven back to its registration location due to damage, the owner may submit the vehicle for scrapping to a local motor vehicle recycling company. Commercial vehicles converted to non-commercial use must still be scrapped according to the original commercial vehicle scrapping period. According to Article 43 of the "Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations," after completing the transfer or deregistration of a motor vehicle, the original owner may apply to use the original license plate number for a newly purchased vehicle when registering. The application must meet the following conditions: (1) submitted within six months of the transfer or deregistration; (2) the owner must have owned the original vehicle for more than three years.

As a veteran driver with over 20 years of experience, I believe vehicle scrapping isn't just about age. While national regulations don't set mandatory retirement timelines for private cars, older vehicles become more accident-prone, primarily due to emission tests and safety inspections. My old Jetta, for instance, has been running for 18 years now, and every annual inspection is nerve-wracking. If it fails emission standards or has brake issues, it could be forcibly scrapped. Current policies increasingly emphasize updated environmental standards, gradually phasing out non-compliant older vehicles. My advice: perform regular maintenance—don't wait until failing inspections brings regret, bigger losses, and a heap of troubles.

From an environmental perspective, the key to vehicle scrapping isn't about how many years it must be, but rather driven by emission standards. I've been concerned about air quality for a long time. Older vehicles emit excessive particulate matter and nitrogen oxides, which is why the government introduced policies to guide scrapping. For example, light and mini trucks have a mandatory scrapping period of 10 years, and buses 8 years, all aimed at reducing pollution sources. As for private cars, although there's no fixed number of years, vehicles older than 15 years struggle to pass strict inspections, especially under current regional traffic restriction policies, making old cars a hot potato. Everyone should plan early to switch to new cars, which is both environmentally friendly and hassle-free.

For commercial vehicles, there is a clear mandatory scrappage age limit. Taxis, buses, and heavy trucks typically must be scrapped after 8 years, which is an ironclad rule with no room for negotiation. From what I've learned from some driver friends, the policy enforcement is quite strict—once the time is up, the vehicle is directly deregistered and can no longer be driven on the road. Private cars are different; there is no age limit, but there is a mileage restriction that guides scrappage. Exceeding 600,000 kilometers or failing inspections puts the vehicle at risk. Safety always comes first—don't take chances by driving an old car.


