How Many Years Until a Car is Scrapped?
2 Answers
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. However, when the mileage reaches 600,000 kilometers, the state will guide the vehicle to be scrapped. In addition to the above vehicles, small and micro non-commercial passenger vehicles, 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 car owner applying for scrapping and renewal must fill out the "Motor Vehicle Change, Transfer, Modification, Suspension, Scrapping Approval Application Form" 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, if they meet the scrapping standards after inspection by the motor vehicle inspection office, a "Vehicle Scrapping Notice" will be issued. The 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 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 office for verification and signature. The license plates will be reclaimed, and the approval will be processed according to regulations to complete the scrapping registration. 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 hand over 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 registration of a motor vehicle, the original owner can apply to use the original license plate number when registering a newly purchased motor vehicle. The application must meet the following conditions: (1) The application must be submitted within six months after the transfer or cancellation registration; (2) The owner must have owned the original vehicle for more than three years.
I've driven several cars, and generally speaking, there's no fixed scrapping age for vehicles—it depends more on how well you maintain them. My own car has been in use for nearly 20 years because I regularly change the oil and check the brakes and tires. As long as the car is in good condition, there's no problem. In China, private small passenger vehicles don't have a mandatory scrapping age, but they may be required to be scrapped after exceeding 600,000 kilometers. This also relates to driving conditions—for example, driving on mountain roads daily can accelerate wear and tear. I recommend getting an annual inspection, especially for older cars, to address minor issues and extend their lifespan. Replacing a new part is much cheaper than buying a new car. Remember, safety comes first—brake failure would be disastrous.
