How Many Years Should a Car Be Driven Before Scrapping?
2 Answers
Automobiles are categorized into private cars and commercial vehicles, and the number of years before scrapping depends on the type of vehicle, as detailed below: Regulations for scrapping private cars: For 5-seat family sedans and 7-seat SUVs, as well as non-commercial small and mini vehicles, there is no usage lifespan limit. However, when the normal driving mileage reaches 600,000 kilometers, the state will guide the scrapping process. In addition to the above vehicles, small and mini non-commercial passenger cars, large non-commercial sedans, and wheeled special-purpose machinery vehicles also have no usage lifespan restrictions. Common regulations for scrapping commercial vehicles: Small and mini taxi passenger cars have a scrapping lifespan of 8 years, medium-sized taxi passenger cars 10 years, and large taxi passenger cars 12 years. Public transport passenger cars have a scrapping lifespan of 13 years, while other small and mini commercial passenger cars have a scrapping lifespan of 10 years, and large and medium-sized commercial passenger cars 15 years. Mini commercial trucks have a scrapping lifespan of 8 years, while light and large commercial trucks have a scrapping lifespan of 10 years. The vehicle scrapping process is as follows: The car owner applying for scrapping and renewal must fill out and submit one copy of the "Motor Vehicle Change, Transfer, Modification, Suspension, and Scrapping Approval Application Form," stamped with the owner's seal; Apply at the registration and acceptance counter. For vehicles that have reached the scrapping lifespan, a "Vehicle Scrapping Notice" will be issued. For vehicles that have not reached the scrapping lifespan, the motor vehicle inspection counter will determine whether they meet the scrapping standards and issue a "Vehicle Scrapping Notice" if applicable; The owner can choose a qualified recycling company to dismantle the vehicle by 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 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 counter for verification and signature. The license plates and certificates will be reclaimed, and the scrapping registration will be processed according to regulations after approval.
I've been driving for 20 years, and as an ordinary car owner, my experience is that a car should be considered for scrapping after about 15 years of use. The first few years are fine, but after 10 years, frequent breakdowns start to occur. Last year, I spent 8,000 yuan repairing the transmission, and minor issues keep cropping up. The brakes have become soft, raising safety concerns. Maintenance costs increase year by year, sometimes even exceeding the monthly payments for a new car. Chinese regulations do not impose a mandatory scrapping age for small private cars, but it is recommended to retire them after reaching 600,000 kilometers. If the emissions fail to meet standards or the annual inspection is not passed, insurance companies are also reluctant to cover old cars. Replacing the car in a timely manner saves money and hassle, and you can also opt for new models with lower fuel consumption to protect the environment.
