What does a yellow-label vehicle mean?
2 Answers
A yellow-label vehicle refers to gasoline vehicles whose emission levels at the time of new vehicle type approval were below the National I emission standard and diesel vehicles below the National III emission standard. These vehicles typically have high levels of tailpipe emissions, high concentrations of pollutants, and poor emission stability. They are called yellow-label vehicles because they are affixed with a yellow environmental label. In terms of emission limits, the emissions from one yellow-label vehicle are equivalent to those from 5 National I vehicles, 7 National II vehicles, 14 National III vehicles, or more than 20 National IV gasoline vehicles. Such vehicles can be driven on the road if they pass the periodic environmental inspection and meet the relevant vehicle emission standards, receiving a yellow environmental inspection compliance label. Due to their high individual emissions, yellow-label vehicles should be prioritized for control and phase-out.
As a veteran driver with twenty years of experience, I know exactly what a 'yellow-label vehicle' is. It refers to those outdated, high-emission vehicles that fail to meet even the National I emission standards, like the common models from the 1980s and 1990s. Back then, these smoke-belching cars were everywhere on the roads, causing severe pollution. Nowadays, to improve air quality, the government marks them with yellow environmental labels, restricting their access to urban centers while offering subsidies to encourage scrappage. Many owners, including myself, have chosen to phase them out in favor of cleaner new energy vehicles. Times have changed—from gas-guzzling speed demons to low-carbon commuting. As cars evolve, so must we. Though this shift means saying goodbye to some nostalgia, breathing clean air matters more. Reducing PM2.5 benefits everyone, and I’ve helped friends with scrapping procedures—it’s quite hassle-free.
