[Complete Guide to Guangdong Vehicles Traveling South to Hong Kong] Application process for entry and non-entry to Hong Kong, driver qualifications, vehicle inspection, required documents and insurance information

‘Guangdong vehicles heading south’ allows qualified and approved private cars from Guangdong (粤车) to travel to Hong Kong via the Zhuhai Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge. It is divided into two parts : 

Part 1 (Vehicles not entering Hong Kong): Guangdong vehicles proceeding to the automated parking lot on the artificial island at the Hong Kong border.Drivers and passengers can Hong Kong International Airport (Hong Kong Airport) connecting to a flight, or entering Hong Kong and connecting to local transportation to visit Hong Kong.

Part Two (Vehicle Entry into Urban Area): Without needing to obtain a regular quota, individuals may enter Hong Kong directly via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge and drive into the urban area of Hong Kong. Hong Kong Transport Department This means that the current number of applications accepted is 100 per working day, and inbound vehicles can stay for a maximum of three days.

Currently, both parts of the ‘Guangdong vehicles going south’ program are open to applications from four cities in Guangdong Province (namely Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Zhongshan, and Jiangmen), with plans to gradually extend the program to other cities in Guangdong Province within six months.

Vehicles not allowed to enter Hong KongApplications are now being accepted, and the road will officially open to traffic on November 15, 2025.Please refer to the following for details: Application Procedures for Vehicles Not Entering Hong Kong）

Vehicles entering Hong KongRegistration for the first round of December lotteries is open from now until November 20th, with a total of 1,700 slots available. Successful applicants will begin accepting applications at 9:00 AM on December 9th, 2025, and will be officially allowed to travel on December 23rd, 2025.

Applicants must be mainland residents aged 18 or above, holding a valid People's Republic of China resident identity card, and must be the applicant.private carsThe registered vehicle owner.

• The vehicle must be registered in Guangdong Province and have a valid license plate.

• Non-commercial small passenger vehicles with a length of less than 6 meters and no more than 8 seats (including the driver's seat).

Note: Vehicles that already hold a ‘Guangdong-Hong Kong Regular Quota’ are not eligible to apply for "Guangdong Vehicles Southbound".

Each applicant may designate no more than two drivers for their private vehicle (the applicant may be one of the drivers). Designated drivers must:

• For mainland residents holding a valid People's Republic of China resident identity card

• Holders of valid travel permits to and from Hong Kong and Macao or official travel permits to and from the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions, as well as valid entry and exit documents such as valid endorsements for Hong Kong.

• Holds a People's Republic of China motor vehicle driver's license

• PossessHong Kong full driving licenseThe permitted vehicle types must include private cars.

Let's first understand the application process for ‘Guangdong vehicles traveling south’ :

Step 1: Submit the application

Qualifications Applicants must first submit an application and supporting documents for ‘Guangdong vehicles traveling south’ (entry into urban areas) to the mainland authorities.Applicants must provide a valid email address when submitting their application to receive emails from the Guangdong and Hong Kong governments regarding application procedures, progress, approval results, and transportation arrangements.

After the mainland authorities conduct a preliminary review of the application materials and supporting documents, they will forward the application to the Transport Department for processing. The Transport Department will notify the applicant of the review status and the necessary procedures in stages via the email address provided in the application.

Step 2: Vehicle Inspection

Applicants for ‘Guangdong vehicles traveling south’ do not need to go to Hong Kong for vehicle inspection.After receiving the email notification from the Transport Department, the applicant must complete the process within the email address provided.Arrange for the vehicle to undergo and pass vehicle inspection at a Mainland vehicle inspection centre (“Vehicle Inspection Centre”) designated by the Transport Department before the specified deadline.The maximum fee for each vehicle inspection service is 450 RMB.

Step 3: Review the qualifications of the applicant and the designated driver

After the vehicle passes inspection, the Transport Department will review the eligibility of the applicant and the designated driver, and notify the applicant of their Hong Kong application number and subsequent approval process via email.

Applicants can check their application progress and complete the required procedures at any time through the Transport Department's ‘Guangdong Vehicles Southbound’ (Urban Area Entry) Application System (‘Application System’) (to be launched later). Upon login, applicants must enter the following information as shown in the notification email: Hong Kong or Mainland application number, Mainland vehicle license plate number, applicant's identity document number, and email address.

Step 4: Submit proof of address and verify ‘electronic contact information’

After successfully passing the vehicle inspection, in order to apply for the ‘Designated Driver 1’ international travel permit, the applicant must submit the ‘Designated Driver 1’ document. Hong Kong address proof and assist ‘Designated Driver 1’ in verifying their ‘electronic contact information’.

If the applicant is one of the designated drivers who will drive to Hong Kong, he/she will become ‘Designated Driver 1’ and apply for the permit in his/her name. If the applicant will not drive to Hong Kong, ‘Designated Driver 1’ will be the first driver listed by the applicant when submitting the application to the Mainland, and the permit will be applied for in that person's name.

Regarding the verification of electronic contact information, when the ‘Designated Driver 1’ (i.e., the license applicant) applies to or renews a license with the Transport Department, he/she must provide a frequently used Hong Kong mobile phone number or email address that can be contacted via SMS or email as the ‘electronic contact information’. After submitting the Hong Kong address proof of the ‘Designated Driver 1’, the applicant must assist the ‘Designated Driver 1’ in verifying the ‘electronic contact information’ in the application system.

Step 5: Submit vehicle insurance certificate

After the Transport Department completes its review of the Hong Kong address verification, it will notify the applicant by email to submit the vehicle's Hong Kong third-party liability insurance information and upload a copy of the insurance policy before the specified deadline.Applicants must purchase Hong Kong third-party liability insurance as instructed in the email.Please log in to the application system and upload a copy of the relevant insurance policy. The copy of the insurance policy must clearly show the following information:

• Mainland Registration Mark

• Vehicle chassis number (VIN number)

• Engine number

• Effective and end dates of the insurance policy (Period of insurance)

Step 6: Issue the electronic ‘International Travel Permit’ and approval letter

If the review is approved, the Transport Department will notify the applicant of the approval result by email and issue an electronic version of the license and approval letter in ‘Portable Document Format’ (PDF). Applicants must log in to the application system to download the electronic version of the license and approval letter. At the same time, the Transport Department will assign Hong Kong vehicle license plates to Guangdong vehicles that have been granted licenses. Applicants must arrange for the production of documents that comply with Hong Kong law. Hong Kong vehicle license plates Vehicles on display to enter Hong Kong。

Step 7: Top up your ‘HKeToll’ account

The applicant must be a Guangdong vehicle owner. HKeToll account top-up is required to pay for Hong Kong toll tunnel fees upon arrival in Hong Kong. Applicants who have been issued an 'International Pass' and approval letter will receive an email from the 'eToll' toll service provider or an SMS from #HKeToll within 3 days, containing 'eToll' account login credentials (account number and default password). Please log in to the 'eToll' official website or mobile application as soon as possible after receiving the credentials to top up your account for toll payment."

Guangdong vehicles can proceed to the automated car park on the artificial island at the Hong Kong border (vehicles do not enter Hong Kong). Drivers and passengers can then transfer to flights or enter Hong Kong via Hong Kong International Airport (Hong Kong Airport) and then take local Hong Kong transportation to visit Hong Kong. Guangdong vehicles do not need to apply for Hong Kong license plates, closed road permits, or vehicle inspections; they only need to go through [the relevant procedures]. Hong Kong International Airport Automated Parking Online Reservation PlatformYou can make a reservation and drive across the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge.

Required files:

• Identity documents - Mainland Resident Identity Card, Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao (Two-way Permit)

• Mainland motor vehicle driver's license

• Mainland motor vehicle registration certificate

• Mainland Motor Vehicle Registration Certificate

• Vehicle photos (front 45 degrees, rear 45 degrees)