How Many Years of Use Qualify a Car as Scrap?
2 Answers
For domestic 5-seat sedans and 7-seat SUVs, as well as non-commercial small and mini vehicles, there is no mandatory scrapping age. However, when the mileage reaches 600,000 kilometers, the state will guide the vehicle to be scrapped. In addition to the above-mentioned vehicles, small and mini non-commercial passenger vehicles, large non-commercial sedans, and wheeled special machinery vehicles also have no usage age limit. Common scrapping regulations for commercial vehicles: Small and mini taxi passenger vehicles have a scrapping age of 8 years, medium-sized taxi passenger vehicles have a scrapping age of 10 years, and large taxi passenger vehicles have a scrapping age of 12 years. Public bus passenger vehicles have a scrapping age of 13 years, other small and mini commercial passenger vehicles have a scrapping age of 10 years, and large and medium-sized commercial passenger vehicles have a scrapping age of 15 years. Mini commercial trucks have a scrapping age of 8 years, while light and large commercial trucks have a scrapping age of 10 years. Vehicle scrapping process: The vehicle owner applying for scrapping and renewal must fill out one copy of the "Application Form for Vehicle Modification, Transfer, Alteration, Suspension, or Scrapping" and affix the owner's seal. Apply at the registration acceptance counter, where a "Vehicle Scrapping Notice" will be issued for vehicles that have reached the scrapping age. For vehicles that have not reached the scrapping age, the vehicle inspection counter will determine if they meet the scrapping standards and issue a "Vehicle Scrapping Notice" if applicable. The vehicle owner can then choose a qualified recycling company to dismantle the vehicle, presenting 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 frame (chassis) must be cut. The vehicle owner must submit the "Modification Form", "XX Province Vehicle Renewal Technical Appraisal Form", "Scrap Vehicle Recycling Certificate", and photos of the dismantled vehicle to the vehicle inspection counter for verification and signature. The license plates and certificates will be reclaimed, and the scrapping registration will be processed according to regulations.
I find this topic quite interesting. Many people think cars have a fixed retirement age, but in fact, there is no unified retirement year regulation for private cars in China. However, there are standards based on mileage and safety. Generally, new cars have a 6-year exemption from inspections, after which they must pass an annual or biennial inspection. Once the mileage exceeds 600,000 kilometers or the emissions test fails, the car must be retired. I've driven for over twenty years and never encountered a case where a car was retired solely due to age. The key lies in maintenance and inspection performance. Car owners should pay attention to local environmental policy changes, such as the current strict emission requirements for older vehicles. Cars over 15 years old must undergo an annual inspection, and failure can easily lead to mandatory retirement. So, it's not a matter of time but the condition of the car itself that decides.
