Is it mandatory to scrap motorcycles after 10 years?
3 Answers
Not mandatory. According to new national regulations, the service life of two-wheeled motorcycles is 10 years, which can be extended by 3 years. However, during the extended 3-year period, semi-annual inspections are required, and the extension is only permitted after passing the inspection. After reaching 13 years, mandatory scrapping must be implemented. Below is an introduction about scrapped vehicles: 1. Definition: Scrapped vehicles refer to those that have reached a certain service life, or have suffered severe damage or poor technical conditions due to other reasons, cannot be repaired, have fuel consumption exceeding 50% of the national standard, and must be mandatorily scrapped as per government regulations. 2. Overview: When a vehicle reaches a certain age, most components of its various systems have completed their service life, and maintenance and repairs can no longer ensure safe driving. It should be scrapped and replaced in a timely manner.
Speaking of motorcycle scrappage policies, the new regulations introduced at the end of last year have indeed been relaxed. Previously, there was a uniform 13-year mandatory scrappage rule, but now the removal of the age limit is truly a blessing! However, policy relaxation doesn’t mean you can ride indefinitely. My 15-year-old motorcycle failed the annual inspection three times last year: rusted-through welding points on the frame, excessive exhaust emissions, and insufficient headlight illumination. Keeping an old bike running requires a hefty investment in refurbishment—I calculated that the cost was nearly half the price of a new bike. The key factor is how strictly local vehicle management offices enforce the rules. Some regions are particularly stringent on emissions, so for bikes over ten years old, it’s advisable to first check the local inspection requirements before deciding whether to keep it on the road.
Last time I was chatting with the mechanic at the repair shop about this, he pointed to a 2014 Kawasaki in the yard and said, ‘See how well this bike is maintained? But last year it failed the inspection because the emissions were just 0.01 over the limit.’ Although the new regulations don’t specify a specific scrapping age, in practice, motorcycles over 10 years old face particularly strict annual inspections, especially regarding light intensity and braking distance. A few veteran riders in our club did a comparison, and the pass rate for bikes over 10 years old in one inspection is less than 30%. Also, it’s important to note that if a bike has been involved in a major accident or has records of illegal modifications, it will likely be scrutinized more closely once it reaches 8 years.
