🇭🇰 Hong Kong Guides
Buying a Car in HK: The Parking RealityFirst Registration Tax Explained for ExpatsCar Insurance for Hong Kong ExpatsConverting Your Driving Licence in HKSelling Your Car When Leaving Hong Kong🇸🇬 SG Guides →Hong Kong Car Guides for Expats
FRT, tunnel tolls, EV concessions and more — plain-English guides written by expats who've navigated it. Get the free PDF guide.
First Registration Tax (FRT) Rates — Feb 2024
First HK$150,000
46%
e.g. $150k car → $69k FRT
Next HK$150,000
86%
Cumulative from $150k–$300k
Next HK$200,000
115%
Cumulative from $300k–$500k
Remainder
132%
Everything above $500k
EV Concession: Full EV concession: First HK$97,500 exempt; 46% on next HK$97,500; standard rates above.
Getting Started
GUIDE 01
Should I Get a Car?
HK has world-class public transport — but a car still makes sense for some expats. Here's how to decide.
GUIDE 02
Buying Guide
FRT, first registration, and the full process of buying a car in Hong Kong.
GUIDE 03
Leasing Guide
Corporate leasing vs personal lease — pros, cons, and what actually works for expats.
Costs & Finance
Ownership & Lifestyle
GUIDE 06
EV Guide
EV incentives, charging infrastructure, and the best EV choices in Hong Kong.
GUIDE 07
Licence Conversion
Convert your foreign driving licence to a Hong Kong one — who qualifies and how.
GUIDE 08
MOT & Maintenance
Statutory inspection schedule, trusted workshops, and keeping maintenance costs down.
GUIDE 09
Selling Your Car
Leaving HK? A six-week countdown for selling your car — dealer vs private, TD forms, and timing.
Tools & Services
In-Depth Articles
▸Buying a Car in HK: The Parking RealityRead →▸First Registration Tax Explained for ExpatsRead →▸Car Insurance for Hong Kong ExpatsRead →▸Converting Your Driving Licence in HKRead →▸Selling Your Car When Leaving Hong KongRead →
Your Guide
Patrick — Expat Car Adviser, Hong Kong
Patrick is the voice of the expat experience in Hong Kong — navigating FRT, buying, leasing and everything the official resources never explain clearly. His guides capture what expats wish they’d known from day one.
Patrick's Top Tips for Hong Kong
FRT is the killer cost — on a HK$600,000 car, you'll pay well over HK$500,000 in FRT alone. Factor this in from day one.
The EV FRT concession is significant: the first HK$97,500 is exempt. On a Tesla Model 3, that's a real saving — but the breakeven vs a petrol car is still 3–4 years.
Tunnel tolls add up fast if you cross between HK Island and Kowloon daily. Budget HK$2,000–3,000/month if you do this regularly.
Parking in Central or Wan Chai can hit HK$6,000–8,000/month. If your office is in the CBD, seriously reconsider whether you need the car on weekdays at all.