Hong Kong cars heading north | 9 things Hong Kong car owners should know

The border between Hong Kong and the Mainland will open in January 2023. In the coming year, will car owners have the opportunity to drive their beloved vehicles directly to Guangdong Province? Earlier, the State Council announced that the "Hong Kong cars going north" program will be implemented by the Mainland Railway in 2023, meaning people can drive to Guangdong Province via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge for business, visiting relatives, or tourism.

Are you eligible? What impact will this plan have on car owners and the Hong Kong automotive industry? Let's take a closer look at the "Hong Kong cars going north" program.

No quota! Up to 450,000 car owners are eligible

Hong Kong private cars (eight seats or less) no longer need to obtain regular quotas to travel between Hong Kong and Guangdong Province via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge for short-term business, family visits, or tourism. Currently, there are as many as 450,000 private cars and owners in Hong Kong who qualify. In the future, traveling to the mainland will no longer be a struggle on the Lo Wu Bridge, but rather a traffic jam on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge!

You can stay for a maximum of 30 days before returning to Hong Kong

According to the preliminary plan, applicants' vehicles can stay in the mainland for no more than 30 consecutive days each time they enter the mainland, and the cumulative stay in the mainland each year cannot exceed 180 days. "Exploring" the entire Guangdong province is no problem

Must hold a private car driver's license from both Hong Kong and Mainland China

Does that mean I need to take a test for a mainland license plate? No, in fact, car owners with Hong Kong license plates can apply for mainland license plates without taking a test. The procedure is simply to "get a stamp," and there is no need for a separate test

You need to purchase separate insurance and undergo vehicle inspection

Applicants must comply with insurance regulations in both Hong Kong and Mainland China, including purchasing Mainland China's "Compulsory Liability Insurance for Motor Vehicles". Additionally, the vehicle can be inspected at China Inspection Company Limited in Hong Kong without needing to travel to Mainland China for inspection

Duty exemption and guarantee processing

On November 25, 2022, the State Council announced the customs exemption policy for Hong Kong private cars under the "Hong Kong Cars to the Mainland" scheme. Hong Kong private cars participating in the scheme and meeting the conditions are not required to pay customs duties or go through the guarantee arrangements with the Mainland customs

Safety hazards of Hong Kong vehicles traveling north?

As mentioned above, car owners with Hong Kong license plates can apply for mainland license plates without taking a test. However, Hong Kong drivers are accustomed to driving on the right, and the road design is "left-to-right" (left onto, right off). Mainland China uses left-to-right vehicles and follows a "right-to-left" system. Combined with regional customs such as the different positions of slow and fast lanes and the fact that right turns in mainland China do not require checking traffic lights, the driving risks for Hong Kong drivers are increased. In this situation, will the government have corresponding measures to ensure that car owners have sufficient knowledge of mainland traffic rules? Further details are pending

Will Hong Kong-China license plates become "crab products"?

Currently, Hong Kong private cars traveling between Hong Kong and Guangdong Province generally need to obtain a Guangdong-Hong Kong cross-border private car regular quota, commonly known as a "China-Hong Kong license plate." Due to the limited number, China-Hong Kong license plates have always been in high demand and low prices. It is said that purchasing a Huanggang China-Hong Kong license plate from an agency costs 600,000 yuan, and a Shenzhen Bay China-Hong Kong license plate starts at 300,000 yuan. With the news of "Hong Kong cars going north," many netizens pointed out that China-Hong Kong license plates will become worthless! 

The "Hong Kong cars going north" plan will not affect the current Guangdong-Hong Kong cross-border private car regular quota system; the two systems will operate in parallel. Compared to "Hong Kong cars going north," China-Hong Kong license plates are not subject to day limits and can be used via other border crossings besides the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, seemingly still having advantages.

Is Hong Kong's garage industry facing its end?

Many netizens expressed their frustration and considered getting their cars painted and coated at mainland garages, as labor and material costs at Hong Kong garages are higher than in the mainland. Therefore, it's expected that many car owners will drive to Zhuhai, Shenzhen, and other cities for car maintenance and repairs. However, some netizens also pointed out their unfamiliarity with mainland garage operations and concerns about inconsistent maintenance quality. Whether the business environment for Hong Kong garages will be affected by the "Hong Kong cars going north" remains to be seen until the plan is implemented

Is the next step "Northbound trains moving south"?

With the "Hong Kong-bound vehicles traveling north" policy confirmed for 2023, some netizens believe this is paving the way for "northbound vehicles traveling south." It's believed that in the near future, mainland vehicles will also be able to travel directly to Hong Kong. How will the government handle the different traffic laws between the two places? Will the already congested roads be able to handle even more traffic? These uncertainties have caused some concern among netizens