Mandatory Vehicle Scrappage Standard Regulations

The Provisions on the Criteria for Mandatory Scrappage of Motor Vehicles is a statutory regulation jointly formulated and issued by the Ministry of Commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Public Security, and the Ministry of Environmental Protection. Designed to safeguard road safety, encourage technological advancement, and accelerate the development of a resource-conserving and environmentally friendly society, this policy came into force on 1 May 2013. It superseded the previously fragmented vehicle and motorcycle scrappage standards, establishing a unified and standardised regulatory framework for mandatory vehicle scrappage.

Four Scenarios for Mandatory Scrappage

Under the regulations, registered motor vehicles must be compulsorily scrapped under any of the following circumstances. Vehicle owners are required to send the vehicle to an authorised end-of-life vehicle (ELV) recycling and dismantling facility and complete the official deregistration process:

Reaching the statutory service life limit. Different vehicle categories are subject to specific lifespan caps based on their intended use and classification; once this limit is reached, the vehicle must be scrapped.

Failing to meet roadworthiness safety standards even after repairs and adjustments. The vehicle fails to satisfy safety requirements for in-use vehicles under national standards, such as the "Items and Methods for Safety Technical Inspection of Motor Vehicles" (GB 38900), even after rectification.

Failing to meet national emission or noise standards despite repairs, adjustments, or retrofitted control technologies. The vehicle fails exhaust emission or noise tests and cannot be brought into compliance through maintenance or technological remediation.

Failing to obtain a valid inspection certificate for three consecutive inspection cycles. Vehicles that miss or fail periodic roadworthiness inspections for three consecutive testing cycles following the expiry of their inspection validity will be subjected to mandatory scrappage.

Prescribed Service Life by Vehicle Category

The regulation sets differentiated operational lifespan limits depending on vehicle classification and usage profile:

• Taxis: 8 years for small and mini passenger cars, 10 years for medium-sized, and 12 years for large passenger vehicles

• Rental passenger vehicles: 15 years

• Driving school vehicles: 10 years for small passenger cars, 12 years for medium-sized, and 15 years for large passenger vehicles

• Public stage buses: 13 years

• Other commercial passenger vehicles: 10 years for small and mini passenger vehicles, 15 years for medium and large vehicles

• Dedicated school buses: 15 years

• Private/Non-commercial passenger vehicles: 20 years for medium and large passenger vehicles; no service life limit for small and mini passenger cars (private cars)

• Goods vehicles/Lorries: 12 years for mini lorries, 15 years for other goods vehicles (including prime movers/semi-trailer tractors), and 10 years for hazardous materials transport vehicles

• Special purpose vehicles: 15 years for models with cargo-carrying capacity, 30 years for non-cargo-carrying variants

• Semi-trailers: 20 years for container chassis semi-trailers, 10 years for hazardous goods semi-trailers, and 15 years for general cargo semi-trailers

• Motorcycles: 12 years for three-wheelers, 13 years for standard two-wheelers and other types

Small and mini non-commercial passenger cars, large non-commercial saloons, and wheeled specialised machinery vehicles carry no statutory service life limit.

Recommended Scrappage and the 600,000 km Benchmark for Private Cars

The regulation also introduces an advisory scrappage mechanism, encouraging (without legally compelling) owners to retire and scrap vehicles once they reach a designated operational mileage.

For small and mini non-commercial passenger cars (private cars) and large non-commercial saloons, the advisory scrappage threshold is set at 600,000 km. This means that upon reaching 600,000 km, scrappage is strongly recommended by authorities rather than mandatory. As long as the vehicle continues to pass statutory safety roadworthiness and exhaust emission inspections, it remains road-legal. This regulatory framework strikes a balance between public road safety and vehicle ownership rights.

Scrappage Procedures and Legal Penalties

Once a vehicle hits the mandatory scrappage criteria, the registered owner must hand it over to an authorised ELV recycling facility, surrendering the vehicle registration certificate (grant), registration plates, and vehicle licence. Upon verification and vehicle dismantling, the facility will lodge a formal deregistration application with the traffic management authority.

Operating a vehicle that has reached the mandatory scrappage standard on public roads will result in vehicle impoundment and compulsory scrappage by the traffic police. The driver faces a fine ranging from 200 yuan to 2,000 yuan, alongside the mandatory revocation of their driving licence. Furthermore, selling a vehicle that has reached mandatory scrappage criteria will lead to the confiscation of all illegal proceeds, alongside a statutory fine equivalent to the transaction value.