Impact of Not Scrapping Zombie Cars on Owners?
3 Answers
When a motor vehicle meets certain conditions, it needs to undergo scrapping. Here are the details: 1. Consequences of Not Scrapping: If a car meets the scrapping standards but continues to be driven on the road, the traffic management department will confiscate it and enforce mandatory scrapping. Additionally, you may face a fine ranging from 200 to 2,000 yuan, and your motor vehicle driving license will be revoked. If your license is revoked, you will not be allowed to reapply for a motor vehicle driving license for two years. 2. Scrapping Standards: Starting from May 1, 2013, the new regulations for scrapping old vehicles came into effect. The scrapping age limit for private cars was abolished, and a maximum mileage of 600,000 kilometers was set for mandatory scrapping. According to the regulations, small and micro non-operational passenger vehicles, large non-operational cars, and wheeled special-purpose machinery vehicles have no usage age limit. As announced on the Ministry of Commerce website, the Ministry of Commerce, National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Public Security, and Ministry of Environmental Protection jointly issued the 'Regulations on Compulsory Scrapping Standards for Motor Vehicles.' Under these regulations, small private cars have no usage age limit, but they will be guided to scrap after reaching 600,000 kilometers.
The most direct impact of abandoning a 'zombie car' without scrapping it is the occupation of public resources. I've seen cases where a zombie car occupied a parking spot in a residential area for years, causing daily parking headaches for other car owners. Eventually, the residents collectively complained to the property management, and the car owner not only had the vehicle forcibly towed but also had to pay a fine. More importantly, when a car turns into scrap metal, leaking engine oil and battery fluid can contaminate the soil, and it may even spontaneously combust in hot weather. If the city conducts an environmental cleanup, the car could be towed away and scrapped without the owner receiving any subsidy. Some cities now have new regulations that restrict the registration of new vehicles if there's an overdue scrappage under the owner's name, making it a clear case of 'the game not being worth the candle.'
I think car owners should dispose of abandoned vehicles as early as possible, as delaying it can easily lead to trouble. Last time, I heard from the neighborhood committee staff that during a street sanitation inspection, a rat nest was found in an abandoned car. In the end, not only did the owner have to pay for pest control, but they were also fined for environmental governance. What's worse, after prolonged exposure to the elements, the license plate was used by someone else for illegal activities, and all the violations were attributed to the original owner when the traffic police checked the records. Moreover, when the vehicle identification number rusts and becomes illegible, proving ownership becomes difficult, and the process for scrapping subsidies becomes particularly troublesome. So don't think about cutting corners—disposing of the vehicle early can at least get you some recycling fees to buy a pack of cigarettes.
