What is the Scrapping Period for Vehicles?
2 Answers
Vehicles are divided into private cars and commercial vehicles, and their normal scrapping periods are as follows: Scrapping regulations for private cars: For 5-seat family cars and 7-seat SUVs, non-commercial small and mini vehicles have no usage period limit. When the normal mileage reaches 600,000 kilometers, the state will guide the scrapping. Apart from the above-mentioned vehicles, small and mini non-commercial passenger cars, large non-commercial cars, and wheeled special machinery vehicles also have no usage period limit. Scrapping regulations for common commercial vehicles: Small and mini taxi passenger vehicles have a scrapping period of 8 years, medium-sized taxi passenger vehicles 10 years, and large taxi passenger vehicles 12 years. Public bus passenger vehicles have a scrapping period of 13 years, other small and mini commercial passenger vehicles 10 years, and large and medium-sized commercial passenger vehicles 15 years; mini commercial trucks have a scrapping period of 8 years, light and large commercial trucks 10 years. The vehicle scrapping process is as follows: The owner of the vehicle applying for scrapping and renewal should fill out and stamp an "Application Form for Vehicle Modification, Transfer, Alteration, Suspension, or Scrapping"; Apply at the registration acceptance counter, where a "Vehicle Scrapping Notice" will be issued for vehicles that have reached the scrapping period. For vehicles that have not reached the scrapping period but are deemed to meet the scrapping standards after inspection, a "Vehicle Scrapping Notice" will be issued; The owner should choose a qualified recycling company to dismantle the vehicle with the "Notice"; After verifying the "Notice", the recycling company will dismantle the vehicle and take photos, requiring the engine to be separated from the vehicle, the engine block to be broken, and the frame (chassis) to be cut; The owner should submit the "Modification Form", "XX Province Updated Vehicle Technical Appraisal Form", "Scrapped Vehicle Recycling Certificate", and photos of the dismantled vehicle to the vehicle inspection counter for verification and signature, then surrender the license plates, and proceed with the scrapping registration as per regulations.
I've driven quite a few cars and found that vehicle retirement isn't based on a fixed age. China used to have a mandatory 15-year scrapping policy, but since 2013, it's been improved—small passenger cars no longer have an age limit. Instead, they follow mileage standards, like being retired after 600,000 kilometers. The key is that if a car fails its annual inspection or poses significant safety risks, it gets scrapped. My neighbor, Lao Zhang, kept his car running for 15 years, but it kept failing inspections due to brake and emission issues, so he had to retire it eventually. Older cars have higher maintenance costs—replacing parts can be expensive, and they're more prone to accidents. I recommend staying updated on local regulations, getting regular check-ups, and not pushing a car to the point of danger. With the rise of electric vehicles, older gasoline cars are being phased out faster, which is great for both the environment and safety—it's a positive trend.
