'Had to Scrap My Well-Kept Car, Unfair to Expect Senior Citizens to Buy New One'

The 15-year 'end-of-life' rule for petrol cars in Delhi is a torture for people like me, writes Tejinder Singh Bedi.

Tejinder Singh Bedi told The Quint he had no option but to sell his car under distress after it crossed the 15-year mark.

(Photo: Namita Chauhan)

(Last week, the Delhi government urged the Centre’s Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to pause the fuel ban on 'end-of-life' vehicles in the capital, which was set to be implemented from 1 July. The following My Report, voicing the concerns of a senior citizen, has been republished in light of the ongoing debate whether well-maintained vehicles beyond their age limit should even be scrapped. It was originally published on 21 January 2023.)

I'm a 69-year-old retired technocrat based in New Delhi. I owned a Maruti Suzuki SX4 car—a petrol variant—which was initially registered in 2008. As it completed 15 years in 2023, I had no option but to sell it under distress.

Post-retirement, I had made a second-hand purchase of the car which was very well-maintained. I thought it would last me my lifetime. But I had no choice as the current rules prohibit petrol vehicles over 15 years and diesel ones over 10 years from operating on Delhi roads.

But to expect a senior citizen to buy a new car post-retirement is torture. It's just not fair.

Investing in a New Vehicle Post-Retirement

At my age, buying a brand-new car isn’t a choice most would make. But I was forced to scrap my well-maintained car, which had clocked just 78,000 km.

It left a dent on my savings. Plus, I had to seek help from my son to make the purchase.

I also ended up selling my old car for a much lesser value. I had paid the car insurance as well as the road tax to the state government for 15 years, both of which were no use to me.

In effect, I never got the car's actual value.

But when you know it will be scrapped, you are forced to sell it, and you don't have much bargaining power either. How is that viable for a senior citizen?

Exempt Senior Citizens From This Rule

It is an established fact that individuals over 60 are rarely offered any gainful employment, and as such, their need to commute for employment-related work gets almost eliminated.

Most trips are limited to essential errands, medical visits, or places of worship. As a result, average vehicle mileage drops to negligible levels, often prolonging the car’s life cycle—if not the owner's.

My message to the government is while climate and pollution control are crucial, policies must be crafted with empathy—ensuring that citizens aren't burdened unnecessarily. Some categories, such as senior citizens, deserve thoughtful exemptions.

To bring about a change, I have also started a petition on Change.org. I hope the voices of those affected will be heard, and common sense and compassion will prevail.

Screenshot of the petition started by Tejinder Singh Bedi.

(Image courtesy: Screenshot/Change.org)

(Tejinder Singh Bedi is a retired HR & CSR professional and former dean/professor of management).

All 'My Report' branded stories are submitted by citizen journalists to The Quint. Though The Quint inquires into the claims/allegations from all parties before publishing, the report and the views expressed above are the citizen journalist's own. The Quint neither endorses, nor is responsible for the same.)