Pickup Truck Lifespan: Vietnam Regulations & Guide [2024]

Pickup trucks are increasingly popular in Vietnam, not only for their robust and versatile appearance but also for their flexible transportation capabilities. However, a common question among those interested in this vehicle type is: “Do pickup trucks have a lifespan?”. This is a crucial question directly affecting the rights and obligations of vehicle users. This article from Xe Tải Mỹ Đình will provide detailed and accurate information about the regulations regarding the lifespan of pickup trucks in Vietnam, based on current legal documents.

Pickup Trucks and Vietnamese Legal Regulations

To understand the lifespan of pickup trucks, it is essential first to define this vehicle type within the Vietnamese legal system. According to the National Technical Regulation QCVN 41:2019/BGTVT, a pickup truck is classified as a passenger car if its permitted cargo weight for traffic participation is under 950 kg. This means that, legally and in terms of traffic organization, many pickup trucks are considered similar to passenger cars, but are subject to lifespan regulations intended for cargo vehicles.

The main legal documents regulating the lifespan of automobiles, including pickup trucks, are Decree 95/2009/ND-CP and Circular 21/2010/TT-BGTVT guiding the implementation of this Decree. We will delve into these regulations to clarify the issue of pickup truck lifespan.

What is the Lifespan of a Pickup Truck?

The short answer to the question “Do pickup trucks have a lifespan?” is Yes. According to Article 4 of Decree 95/2009/ND-CP, cargo vehicles, and pickup trucks are categorized in this group, have a lifespan of no more than 25 years. This means that, from the year of manufacture, your pickup truck is only allowed to legally operate for a maximum of 25 years.

The starting point for calculating the lifespan is clearly defined in Article 5 of Decree 95/2009/ND-CP, which is the year of manufacture of the vehicle. Thus, to know how long your pickup truck is allowed to operate, you need to determine the year of manufacture and calculate from that year to the present.

However, the law also anticipates some special cases. According to Clause 2, Article 5 of Decree 95/2009/ND-CP, in special cases permitted by the Prime Minister, the lifespan may be calculated from the year of first registration of the vehicle. However, this case is very rare and not a common regulation applicable to ordinary pickup trucks.

Ford Ranger pickup truck, a popular model in Vietnam.

How to Determine the Lifespan of a Pickup Truck

To accurately determine the year of manufacture and remaining lifespan of a pickup truck, you can rely on various sources of information, prioritized in the following order, as stipulated in Article 7 of Circular 21/2010/TT-BGTVT:

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): This is a unique sequence identifying the vehicle, usually stamped on the chassis or attached in an easily visible location. The VIN contains information about the manufacturer, year of manufacture, and other technical specifications.
Chassis Number: Similar to the VIN, the chassis number is also an important code to determine the origin and year of manufacture of the vehicle.
Vehicle Technical Documents: Catalogs, technical specification manuals, identification software, or information from the manufacturer are reliable sources of data about the vehicle’s year of manufacture.
Manufacturer’s Labels: Information on labels attached or stamped directly on the vehicle also contains data about the year of manufacture.
Archived Records: Documents such as the Certificate of Quality, Factory Quality Inspection Certificate (for domestically manufactured vehicles), Inspection or Acceptance Records, Certificate of Quality of Modified Motor Vehicles (for modified vehicles), original records managed by the police authority, and Import Documents are also valuable sources of reference.

If your pickup truck does not have at least one of these documents, records, or bases to determine the year of manufacture, the vehicle will be considered to have exceeded its lifespan. This emphasizes the importance of keeping vehicle papers and related documents complete.

What Happens When a Pickup Truck Reaches the End of its Lifespan?

When a pickup truck has reached the end of its lifespan (i.e., more than 25 years from the year of manufacture), this vehicle is no longer allowed to participate in road traffic. Operating a vehicle that has exceeded its lifespan is a violation of the law and may be penalized according to regulations.

Specifically, according to Decree 100/2019/ND-CP on penalties for administrative violations in the field of road and rail traffic, drivers of automobiles that have exceeded their lifespan participating in traffic will be fined, and may also have their Driving License revoked and the vehicle confiscated.

Therefore, pickup truck owners need to pay special attention to the lifespan of their vehicles to ensure compliance with the law and avoid unnecessary legal risks. Understanding the regulations on pickup truck lifespan not only helps you use your vehicle legally but also ensures traffic safety, contributing to the protection of the environment and personal property.

Role of the Vietnam Register

The Vietnam Register plays an important role in state management of the lifespan of automobiles, including pickup trucks. According to Article 8 of Circular 21/2010/TT-BGTVT, the Vietnam Register has the following main responsibilities:

Organize information, propaganda, and dissemination of Decree 95/2009/ND-CP and related regulations on vehicle lifespan.
Guide, direct, and inspect motor vehicle registration units nationwide in determining the year of manufacture, compiling lists of vehicles that have expired, reporting, and publicly announcing lists of vehicles that have expired.
Periodically, annually, compile a list of automobiles that have and are about to expire and notify the Road and Railway Traffic Police Department for coordination in monitoring, inspection, and management.
Resolve and handle cases of questions, complaints, and denunciations related to vehicle lifespan according to current regulations.
Periodically, annually, summarize and report to the Ministry of Transport on the implementation of Decree 95/2009/ND-CP and propose necessary solutions.

Through these activities, the Vietnam Register ensures that the enforcement of laws on the lifespan of automobiles is effective, transparent, and fair, contributing to maintaining traffic order and safety and protecting the rights of citizens.

Conclusion

Thus, the answer to the question “do pickup trucks have a lifespan?” is yes. Pickup trucks, similar to other types of cargo vehicles, have a maximum lifespan of 25 years from the year of manufacture. Understanding and complying with this regulation is the responsibility of every vehicle owner, helping to ensure safety when participating in traffic and avoiding legal violations. Hopefully, this article from Xe Tải Mỹ Đình has provided readers with useful and necessary information about the lifespan of pickup trucks in Vietnam.

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