The Hong Kong government requires all vehicles to hold a valid vehicle license (commonly known as a 'driving permit') to operate on public roads. How much does it cost to renew the licenses for private cars, vans, and motorcycles? Are there differences in calculating the license fees for electric vehicles? What are the procedures and required documents for renewing the licenses of new and used vehicles? How long is a vehicle license valid for? What should you do if it expires? Kwiksure is here to answer all these questions.
The law requires all vehicles to be registered and licensed before legally driving on roads. Generally, a vehicle only needs to be registered once, but the owner must renew the vehicle's license within four months before the existing license expires. If your vehicle license is set to expire in the next four months or has already expired but less than two years ago, you must provide and verify an electronic contact method before renewing.
From November 18, 2024, applicants must provide and verify a Hong Kong mobile number or email address for electronic contact to process any of the 21 types of licensing or renewal services, including vehicle licenses and driving licenses. This prepares for electronic traffic law enforcement in 2025, allowing the Transport Department and Hong Kong Police to send notifications via the provided electronic contact method.
Important Notes:
If submitting the "license application" online, a one-time password will be used for immediate verification during the application process. If submitting a paper "license application," you must first verify your "electronic contact method" using a one-time password on the designated online platform of the Transport Department, then fill in the same verified "electronic contact method" on the form, and submit the application form within three months of verification.
To apply for a license renewal, vehicle owners must make a free appointment through GovHK service between 4 months before the current license (commonly known as the "vehicle registration") expires and within 2 years after its expiration. Alternatively, you can call the 24-hour appointment hotline at 3763 8080 to schedule a visit to the Licensing Office and choose a time slot, with the maximum appointment period being 10 weeks.
After completing the appointment, you can either go in person or arrange for an agent (who must bring their original identification document for record purposes) to visit the chosen Licensing Office during the scheduled time. Bring along the required documents to renew your vehicle license, and you can receive the new license on the same day. (Starting from December 30, 2024, all newly issued vehicle licenses will no longer display an expiration date.) For each renewal, you can choose to renew for either four months or one year, depending on your needs.
To apply for a vehicle license by mail, you can follow these steps:
Sources：Transportation Department
If vehicle owners apply for license renewal after the license expiration date, it is considered a late renewal. In such cases, owners may need to pay an additional late renewal surcharge (commonly referred to as the "late license fee") on top of the standard license fee. However, this fee may be waived if sufficient evidence is provided to prove that the vehicle was not used on the road during the entire unlicensed period. For details, please refer to the section below, "How to Apply for a Waiver of the Late Renewal Surcharge."
Late Renewal Surcharge = Annual License Fee (excluding HK$114 Traffic Accident Victims Assistance Fund) × 0.33% × Number of Days Past Expiration
(The number of days is calculated from the day after the original license expiration date to the day before the new license becomes effective.)
Additionally, if the vehicle license has been expired for two years or more, the vehicle registration will be canceled. The owner will then need to go through the re-registration process before applying for a new vehicle license.
If the vehicle was not used on the road after the license expiration date, the owner can apply for a waiver of the late renewal surcharge. Owners must complete the "Declaration for Exemption from Additional Fee for Using Vehicle Without License After Expiry" section on page 2 of the TD558 Vehicle License Renewal Application Form, stating the entire period during which the vehicle was not in use.
If applying by post, the end date of the non-use period will be determined based on the postal date (postmark). As the application date received by the Transport Department may be later than the postmark date, resulting in additional late renewal fees, it is recommended to submit the application in person at a Licensing Office to avoid such charges.
Regardless of whether the late renewal surcharge is paid, the effective date of the new vehicle license will be the date of issuance.
All private vehicles in Hong Kong that have been licensed for six years or more (currently those manufactured in 2018 or earlier) must pass an annual vehicle examination and be issued a Certificate of Roadworthiness (vehicle examination certificate) to renew their license. The certificate is valid for license renewal within four months from its issuance date. However, the certificate must still be valid on the effective date of the new license; otherwise, a new vehicle examination is required.
Example: If the vehicle examination certificate is issued on January 1, it can only be used for licenses that take effect on or before April 30. If the new license takes effect in May or later, even if the renewal application is submitted before April 30, the original certificate will not be accepted, and the owner must undergo another vehicle examination.
For more details about vehicle examinations, refer to Used Car and License Renewal Vehicle Examination: Private Car Inspection Fees, Online Appointment Process, and Inspection Center List 2024.
The license fee for private cars and light goods vehicles is determined by engine displacement, such as 1,500 cc – 2,500 cc. For light goods vehicles and electric vehicles, the license fee is calculated based on the vehicle's weight, with additional charges for exceeding certain weight limits.
| Private Car (Petrol) License Fees | ||
| Engine Displacement | Annual Fee* | Four-Month Fee* |
| Up to 1,500 cc | $5,074 | $1,804 |
| 1,500 cc – 2,500 cc | $7,498 | $2,653 |
| 2,500 cc – 3,500 cc | $9,929 | $3,504 |
| 3,500 cc – 4,500 cc | $12,360 | $4,355 |
| Over 4,500 cc | $14,694 | $5,171 |
| *Includes the Traffic Accident Victims Assistance Fund levy of HK$114 annually or HK$38 for four months. | ||
|
Private Car (Light Diesel) License Fees |
||
|
Engine Displacement |
Annual Fee* |
Four-Month Fee* |
|
Up to 1,500 cc |
$6,972 |
$2,469 |
|
1,500 cc – 2,500 cc |
$9,396 |
$3,317 |
|
2,500 cc – 3,500 cc |
$11,827 |
$4,168 |
|
3,500 cc – 4,500 cc |
$14,258 |
$5,019 |
|
Over 4,500 cc |
$16,592 |
$5,836 |
| For private cars using light diesel fuel as defined under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109), Section 69, an additional fee of HK$1,898 applies. | ||
-
|
Annual Fee |
Four-Month Fee |
|
$1,314 |
$488 |
|
Permitted Gross Weight |
Annual Fee |
Four-Month Fee |
|
Up to 1.9 tons |
$2,229 |
$809 |
|
Over 1.9 tons |
$4,254 |
$1,517 |
|
Permitted Gross Weight |
Annual Fee |
Four-Month Fee |
|
Net weight not exceeding 1 ton |
$572 |
30% + 35% of annual license fee
|
|
Additional fee for every 250 kg of net weight (rounded up if less than 250 kg) |
$124 |
|
|
The Traffic Accident Victims Assistance Fund levy for each bus or electric bus is $114 annually and $38 for four months. |
||
|
Permitted Gross Weight |
Annual Fee |
Four-Month Fee |
|
Driver; and |
$25 |
30% + 35% of annual license fee
|
|
Additional fee per passenger seat |
$50 |
|
|
The Traffic Accident Victims Assistance Fund levy for each bus or electric bus is $114 annually and $38 for four months. |
||
|
Permitted Gross Weight |
Annual Fee |
Four-Month Fee |
|
Driver; and |
$25 |
30% + 35% of annual license fee
|
|
Additional fee per passenger seat |
$45 |
|
|
The Traffic Accident Victims Assistance Fund levy for each bus or electric bus is $114 annually and $38 for four months. |
||
|
Annual Fee |
Four-Month Fee |
|
$3,159 |
$1,134 |
|
Annual Fee |
Four-Month Fee |
|
$8,429 |
$2,979 |
|
Annual Fee |
Four-Month Fee |
|
$2,749 |
$991 |
If all required documents are complete, the Transport Department will send the new license to your correspondence address via registered mail within 10 working days. If you do not receive the new license after this period, please call 1823 for inquiries.
Yes, license renewal applications can be submitted up to 4 months before the license expiry date.
For online applications, verification can be completed instantly using a one-time password during the application process. For paper applications, electronic contact information must be pre-verified on the Transport Department's designated online platform using a one-time password. The verified contact information must then be provided on the application form and submitted within three months of verification.
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The above information is for reference only. Kwiksure takes no responsibility for the accuracy and timeliness of the information. For the coverage, mode of compensation, benefit limit and premium levels of any specific insurance plan, please refer to the relevant policy terms.
Eric is a content creator for Kwiksure, responsible for writing articles on various topics such as cars, travel, domestic helpers, etc., striving to provide readers with detailed and practical information.
With over 20 years of experience in the media industry and driving, Eric has worked for several newspapers, magazines, and online media outlets. Apart from his passion for writing, he also enjoys the pleasure that driving brings. On average, he drives over 40,000 kilometers per year.
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