Is it common for family cars to be driven for over 10 years?
4 Answers
It is relatively common for family cars to be driven for over 10 years. With the improved quality of modern vehicles compared to the past, most family cars can easily last more than a decade. Here are some details about family car scrappage: 1. Service life: Generally, 15 years is a threshold. Current traffic regulations have introduced new rules regarding vehicle service life. For non-commercial vehicles, if the car has been in use for over 15 years, the owner must undergo a bi-annual inspection at the vehicle management office. 2. Mileage: The regulation states that if a passenger car's mileage reaches 600,000 kilometers, it must be mandatorily scrapped.
Actually, quite a few of my friends drive family cars that are over ten years old. There are several older Corollas and Lavidas running around in our neighborhood. Many owners, like me, believe that as long as regular maintenance is done, the car can easily reach 150,000 kilometers without any issues. Nowadays, many car engines are quite durable, and transmissions don’t have major problems either. It’s just the rubber bushings in the chassis and the shock absorbers that age and need regular replacement. Last time I went to the repair shop, the mechanic said it’s common to see Japanese and German cars running for over fifteen years, as long as you change the oil and the three filters on time and don’t let minor issues turn into major faults. My neighbor’s old Tiguan is in its eleventh year now, and it’s still in great shape.
The used car market data clearly shows that the transaction volume of household cars over ten years old is actually quite substantial. From my research, many people choose to hold onto their cars long-term because modern automotive manufacturing has improved significantly. Unlike older cars that would rust all over after just eight years, today's engines can typically run up to 200,000 kilometers without major overhauls, and automatic transmissions rarely fail as long as the fluid is changed regularly. However, it's important to note that rubber components do deteriorate over time, especially in humid southern regions—door seals and suspension bushings tend to crack after about a decade and need replacement. While maintenance costs may increase in the later years, they're still more economical compared to the depreciation hit of buying a new car.
I've always been fascinated by these statistics. The average retirement age for domestic passenger vehicles is actually around 12 years. Take our old Focus for example - it's been running for 13 years with only two shock absorber replacements and everything else working fine. Technological advancements are remarkable these days - full synthetic oils have significantly reduced engine wear, and electronic control systems rarely fail. The key is paying attention to rubber component aging cycles - engine mount bushings typically crack after eight years, and generator belts need regular inspection. As long as you don't mind dated interiors, modern vehicles' mechanical components can easily last fifteen years.
