Time frame and distance traveled
A regular car can operate stably for about 10-15 years or after traveling 200,000-250,000km. After this milestone, although the vehicle can still operate, maintenance costs and technical risks are starting to increase.
Components such as engines, gearboxes, braking systems, suspension, steering... began to deteriorate, even with unexpected errors even though they were still operating normally before.
Vehicles that have passed the 10-year mark often have the risk of damaging important parts that the driver cannot observe with the naked eye. Even with regular maintenance, safety efficiency is still not as good as new vehicles or vehicles with few years of use.
Technical status and repair frequency
One of the most obvious indicators for changing a vehicle is when the vehicle is constantly having problems or needs major repairs. If a vehicle has to enter the garage more than 3 times a year for items related to engine, gearbox, electrical system, brakes or air conditioning, it is a sign that the vehicle is no longer stable.
In addition, manifestations such as the vehicle having difficulty starting in the morning, unusual fuel consumption, continuous brightness of warning lights, vibration when accelerating or reducing brakes are also signs that the operating system has significantly degraded. These errors not only cause inconvenience but also pose a potential risk of insecurity when traveling.
Maintenance costs exceed the value of the vehicle
Another practical criterion for deciding to replace a vehicle is to compare maintenance and repair costs with the current market value of the vehicle. If each year, you have to spend more than 20-30% of the vehicle's value to repair and replace spare parts, it is no longer reasonable to continue using it.
In this case, switching to a new car will be more economical in the long run, not to mention enjoying modern safety and comfort technologies.
Emission standards and legal policies
In many countries, regulations on emission inspection are increasingly tightened. If used vehicles do not meet standards, they will not be in circulation or will have to spend a lot of money to renovate to meet requirements. That is also an important reason why users should consider changing cars when the car is too old, especially cars manufactured before 2010.
Note
Replacing a vehicle is not only a matter of upgrading the vehicle but also an investment in safety and stability when moving.
When your vehicle is over 10 years old, reaching a milestone of more than 200,000km, often breaking down or having high repair costs, that is the time when you should seriously consider replacing a new vehicle.
