Pickup trucks are increasingly popular in Vietnam, meeting both freight transport and personal/family travel needs. However, a key concern for many owners is how many years of lifespan a pickup truck has and related regulations. This article from Xe Tải Mỹ Đình experts provides detailed and updated information on pickup truck lifespan, helping you understand the law and use your vehicle with peace of mind.
1. How is a Pickup Truck Defined, and is it Considered a Car?
To understand the lifespan of a pickup truck, we first need to know how it is legally defined. According to the National Technical Regulation QCVN 41:2019/BGTVT, pickup trucks (also known as pickups) and VAN trucks are defined as vehicles with a permissible freight transport mass of less than 950 kg.
Notably, in traffic organization, pickup trucks with the above characteristics are considered cars. This means that pickup trucks will comply with many traffic regulations similar to cars; however, lifespan regulations have some notable differences.
2. Current Regulations on Pickup Truck Lifespan
So, what is the lifespan of a pickup truck? According to Decree 95/2009/ND-CP regulating the lifespan of cargo trucks and passenger cars, the lifespan of automobiles is calculated as follows:
- Cargo trucks: No more than 25 years
- Passenger cars: No more than 20 years
Since pickup trucks have a cargo box at the rear, they are essentially classified as cargo trucks when considering lifespan. Thus, according to current regulations, the lifespan of a pickup truck is 25 years.
However, it should be noted that determining whether a pickup truck is a cargo truck or a passenger car can sometimes be controversial in specific cases. To ensure compliance, owners should carefully refer to registration and vehicle documents to accurately determine their vehicle type.
3. When Does the Pickup Truck Lifespan Start?
Another important factor to understand is when the pickup truck lifespan is calculated from. Decree 95/2009/ND-CP clearly stipulates that the lifespan of automobiles is calculated starting from the year the vehicle was manufactured.
For example, if your pickup truck was manufactured in 2020, its lifespan will end in 2045 (25 years after the year of manufacture). This means that whether you buy a new or used car, the time of calculating the lifespan is always based on the year of manufacture recorded on the vehicle documents.
In some special cases, the lifespan can be calculated from the year the car was first registered, but this only happens when permitted by the Prime Minister. However, in reality, calculating the lifespan from the year of manufacture is a common and widely applied regulation.
4. Important Notes for Pickup Truck Users
In addition to the lifespan issue, pickup truck drivers must also strictly comply with the Law on Road Traffic, especially when participating in traffic on highways. The 2008 Law on Road Traffic clearly stipulates what drivers must comply with on highways, including:
- When entering a lane: You must signal to enter and give way to vehicles traveling in the main lane. Only enter the highway lane when it is safe to do so.
- When exiting a lane: Gradually switch to the right lane; if there is a deceleration lane, you must enter the deceleration lane before exiting the highway.
- Do not drive in the emergency stopping lane or on the shoulder of the road.
- Comply with the maximum and minimum speeds indicated on signs and road markings.
- Maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front according to traffic signs.
- Only stop or park in designated places. In case of emergency stopping or parking in the wrong place, the vehicle must be moved out of the traffic lane and signal to other vehicles.
Conclusion:
Understanding the regulations on the lifespan of pickup trucks is extremely important for owners to use their vehicles legally and safely. According to current regulations, the lifespan of a pickup truck is 25 years, calculated from the year of manufacture. In addition, complying with the Law on Road Traffic when driving a pickup truck, especially on highways, is also the responsibility of every driver. Hope this article has provided you with useful and necessary information. If you have any questions, please contact Xe Tải Mỹ Đình for more detailed advice.
