Is there a mandatory retirement age for passenger cars?

[DelRuby]

For household 5-seat sedans and 7-seat SUVs, non-commercial small and mini vehicles have no usage lifespan limit. When the normal mileage reaches 600,000 kilometers, the state will guide the retirement process. In addition to the above vehicles, small and mini non-commercial passenger vehicles, large non-commercial sedans, and wheeled special machinery vehicles also have no usage lifespan restrictions. Commercial vehicles have retirement age limits as follows: Small and mini taxi passenger vehicles have a retirement age of 8 years, medium taxi passenger vehicles 10 years, and large taxi passenger vehicles 12 years. Public transport passenger vehicles have a retirement age of 13 years, other small and mini commercial passenger vehicles 10 years, and large and medium commercial passenger vehicles 15 years. Mini commercial trucks have a retirement age of 8 years, light and large commercial trucks 10 years. The vehicle retirement process is as follows: The vehicle owner applying for retirement renewal must fill out an "Application Form for Vehicle Modification, Transfer, Alteration, Suspension, or Retirement" and stamp it with the owner's seal. The registration office will accept the application and issue a "Vehicle Retirement Notice" for vehicles that have reached the retirement age. For vehicles not yet at retirement age, after inspection and confirmation by the vehicle inspection office that they meet retirement standards, a "Vehicle Retirement 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 "Modification Form", "XX Province Vehicle Renewal Technical Appraisal Form", "Retired Vehicle Recycling Certificate", and vehicle dismantling photos to the vehicle inspection office for verification and signature. The license plates will be reclaimed, and the retirement registration will be processed according to regulations. Special Notes: According to Article 30 of the "Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations", if a vehicle cannot be driven back to its registered location due to damage, the owner can sell the vehicle for retirement to a local recycling company. Commercial vehicles converted to non-commercial use must still be retired according to the original commercial vehicle retirement timeline. According to Article 43 of the "Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations", after completing vehicle transfer or cancellation registration, the original owner can apply to reuse the original license plate number when registering a new vehicle. The application must meet the following conditions: (1) submitted within six months of transfer or cancellation registration; (2) the owner must have owned the original vehicle for at least three years.

[McMariana]

I've been driving a small car for almost ten years, and I feel like there's no mandatory scrapping age for small cars. Remember my old car from before? It could still run even after more than ten years, all because it was well-maintained. China's policy doesn't mandate scrapping for passenger cars; it only requires regular annual inspections. If emissions exceed limits or safety issues arise, the car might be forcibly retired. I check tire pressure and change the oil every month and go for an annual inspection at a certified shop—never failed once. Some friends worry that cars will be scrapped if driven for too long, but in reality, as long as the car is in good condition, you can drive it for twenty years. The key is not to slack on maintenance—like my neighbor’s car, which got scrapped due to an overheated engine. What a shame! In short, scrapping a small car isn’t about age but how well you take care of it. Regular maintenance saves money, ensures safety, and avoids unexpected repair costs—totally worth it!