I first visited China in 1984 by taking a train from Hong Kong to what was then called Canton, now called Guangzhou, and stayed at the famous White Swan Hotel. What an adventure that was!
It wasn’t until twenty years later that I visited China again, and this time it was to fly to Shanghai from Hong Kong once or twice a month for about 12 months.
Fast forward again to 2008, when my visits ramped up. I used various forms of transport during my travels, but mainly buses between Diamond Hill and Shunde. I always wanted to discover more of China by driving about, but it was out of reach.
That was until something came along called The Northbound Travel Scheme.
Northbound Travel Scheme
Under the Northbound Travel Scheme, eligible Hong Kong private-car owners may drive into Guangdong via the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge (HZMB), subject to approval and advance booking. The scheme enables Hong Kong-registered vehicles to travel by road from Hong Kong to Zhuhai and, where permitted, Macao.
However, drivers must satisfy the relevant vehicle, licence, insurance and permit requirements before using the route.
Because much of the bridge-and-tunnel link passes through Mainland Chinese waters, a Hong Kong driving licence alone is not sufficient for a northbound self-drive journey into Guangdong, and a Chinese driving licence is required. But here is where Hong Kong driving licence holders have a huge advantage.
What you need before driving across the HZMB
Driving from Hong Kong to Zhuhai using the HZMB means having:
• A valid Hong Kong driving licence and the required Mainland China driving licence for the driver.
• An approved and eligible Hong Kong-registered private car.
• The relevant Northbound Travel Scheme approval and a confirmed travel booking.
• A Temporary Electronic Vehicle Licence or other required Mainland vehicle authorisation.
• Qualifying Mainland vehicle insurance, including the compulsory traffic-accident liability cover.
• Any required taxes, electronic tags, permits, and approval documents.
I have digital copies saved, plus the paper copies of my permits, approval letters, vehicle documents, driving licences and insurance certificates. If any one of these has expired, a booking may be rejected. Or you’ll get fined, which happened to me.
After crossing from Zhuhai, it turned out our bridge permit had expired, although the renewal had been approved; the notice had not been issued. We were stopped on the Hong Kong side and were directed to the customs office, who then called the police. We were fined for using the bridge without a permit. Don’t let it happen to you!
Hong Kong driving licence direct issue for overseas licence holders
The genuine beauty of the Northbound Travel Scheme is, as I mentioned before, that it gives an enormous advantage to Hong Kong driving licence holders.
For an overseas resident living in Hong Kong, a Hong Kong driving licence direct issue may be the simplest way to get a full Hong Kong licence without taking the local practical test.
Generally, applicants must be at least 18, hold a full (not learner, probationary or International Driving Permit) licence from a recognised country or place, and apply for the corresponding Hong Kong vehicle class. The licence must normally be current or have expired within the permitted period, and it must have been obtained by passing the relevant driving test.
Applicants must also satisfy one of the applicable residence or nationality conditions. For example, they may have lived in the issuing country or place for at least six months when the licence was issued, held the licence for the required continuous period, or hold a passport or equivalent travel document from the same country or place.
How to get a Mainland China driving licence from Hong Kong
The next stage is the Mainland driving licence application. For eligible Hong Kong licence holders, the China driving test requirements for Hong Kong licence holders generally involve a medical or eyesight examination and a computer-based multiple-choice theory test. You don’t need to take any driving lessons or pass a physical test.
Photo Caption: One of the first places I drove to after getting my Chinese driving licence and our HZMB permit. Qingyuan. Wonderful place.
From Reddit, I found an app called Laowai that has a pool of 1,000 questions and tests you on 100 random questions for preparation. Be warned, though: some questions require you to understand signs only in Chinese.
The test takes place in a large room with desktop computers on desks separated by partitions, and it is in multiple languages. Fail once and you get another go there and then. Fail a second time and you can only retake it three months later. It should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: mobile phones or digital anything are not allowed in the exam room.
If you pass, you sign your name digitally on a kiosk at the back, go downstairs to take an oath, and then you get your driving licence and away you go!
All petrol stations in China have pump attendants, and most of the stations have English on the pumps, so it's easy to tell what you need for your car. Often, the service stations on the highways have electric chargers too. I know this is a very Hong Kong thing, but there's so much space! You fill up and then go inside to pay.
Notes:
- I found an agent on WeChat to help me with the paperwork in China, and this saved considerable time. If you don’t speak Chinese, the English translation on WeChat is excellent.
- Always check with your agent or the government website for information.
Insurance and vehicle documents
You're almost there now. The heavy lifting is over. The insurance required for the Northbound Travel Scheme includes qualifying Mainland motor-vehicle traffic-accident liability insurance. Depending on the arrangement, this may include compulsory cover or unilateral-recognition cover.
The vehicle may also need a temporary electronic vehicle licence, an electronic tag, and other authorisations.
Check that the vehicle approval, licence, insurance and scheme registration all match the vehicle and driver details used in the booking. Keep the relevant documents available in case they are requested at an inspection point.
Next: HZMB booking rules, penalties, and FAQs
Once you have the correct licences, insurance, vehicle documents and approvals, the next step is making sure that you book and use your Northbound Travel slot correctly.
Continue with Part 2: Northbound Travel Booking and HZMB Booking Rules.
Information source and disclaimer
Information source: HZMB booking and Northbound Travel guidance, https://qfs1.td.gov.hk/hzmbz/. Requirements and penalties should be verified against the latest official notices before publication or travel. Also check the HK Transport Department at https://www.hzmbqfs.gov.hk/en/.
I base my posts on information from HK Government sites, sometimes third-party websites, and personal experience.
About Ivan Theodoulou
I am the founder of Eight PR, an international and independent PR agency in Hong Kong. I first visited China in 1987 by train from Hong Kong to Guangzhou and have since travelled extensively on the mainland and in the Greater Bay Area (GBA). I passed his China driving test in March 2024.
Places visited in China (by car, plane, train, high speed train, ferry, coach, bus) include: Beijing, Beijou, Chengdu, Dali, Daya Bay, Dongguan, Ganzhou, Gaoming, Guangzhou, Hainan, Hailing Island, Heishan, Huizhou, Junan, Kunming, Lijang, Longjiang, Nanhai, Shanghai, Shanwei, Shenzhen, Shilin Yi, Shunde, Wuzhou, Xiamen, Xiqaio, Yingde, Yinghe, Zhuhai, and Zhaoqing.
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Before traveling, please verify the official requirements, deadlines, and penalties.
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