How to Calculate Vehicle Age?
3 Answers
Calculate from the registration date on the vehicle license by subtracting the registration date from the current date. Below is additional information about vehicle age: Definition: Vehicle age refers to the duration of vehicle use. Currently, household vehicles can be used for 15 years. After reaching 15 years, the vehicle must undergo inspection every six months. If the vehicle's emission standards pass the inspection, it can continue to be used. If it fails the inspection, the vehicle will be mandatorily scrapped. Regulations: According to Article 8 of the "Regulations on the Recycling of Scrapped Motor Vehicles," no unit or individual may require the owner of a motor vehicle to sell a scrapped motor vehicle to a designated scrapped motor vehicle recycling enterprise. Article 9 states that the scrapped motor vehicle recycling enterprise shall issue a "Scrapped Motor Vehicle Recycling Certificate" to the motor vehicle owner for the recycled scrapped motor vehicle, retrieve the motor vehicle registration certificate, license plate, and vehicle license, and promptly complete the cancellation registration with the traffic management department of the public security authority in accordance with national regulations, then transfer the cancellation certificate to the motor vehicle owner.
I usually calculate a car's age by checking its first registration date. I remember when I sold my last car, I pulled out the vehicle registration certificate, which clearly stated it was registered in March 2020. Now in 2024, that makes it four years old. This method is the most accurate, avoiding confusion with some stock vehicles that weren't sold immediately after manufacture. As a car ages, depreciation accelerates, with the first year often seeing the steepest drop—for example, a new car worth 200,000 might only be worth 150,000 after a year. In the used car market, I always advise buyers not to focus solely on mileage; the year is also a crucial factor since older cars are more prone to minor issues like tire wear or brake disc aging. Regular maintenance checks can help extend its lifespan, and checking tire pressure and oil condition weekly saves money and gives peace of mind. Anyway, with the documents in hand, everything is clear.
In our line of work dealing with used cars, calculating the vehicle age is fundamental and directly affects pricing. My method is to subtract the current year from the first registration year. For example, a car registered in 2021 would be considered three years old in 2024. Vehicle age has a significant impact—new cars depreciate rapidly in the first three years, then stabilize. However, if a car is over ten years old, its value plummets sharply. Occasionally, I encounter display cars with delayed registration, and I always stick to the registration date to avoid misleading customers. Experience has taught me that older cars require more frequent maintenance—checking the cooling system and suspension every six months can prevent major repairs. Of course, market demand also plays a role; younger cars are more popular, especially in cities with license plate restrictions, where older cars sell faster. Overall, honesty is key to keeping transactions transparent.
