Those things about renewing license plates! You can apply without the line!

May 12, 2022

All prospective car owners must do one thing before driving on the road - renew their car license! However, when the license expires, many existing car owners may be unfamiliar with the renewal process and preparations in advance, resulting in many difficulties on the road to license renewal! The following article will introduce relevant knowledge to you to ensure that everyone can apply smoothly.

Attention car owners! The license fee has increased by nearly 30%!

The Hong Kong government announced in February 2021 an increase in the annual license fee for vehicle licenses for private cars and electric buses. The adjusted annual license fee includes the levy of the Traffic Accident Victims Assistance Fund (the levy fee is HK$114 for 1 year; 4 months The fee is HK$38). Taking the 1500cc license fee as an example, the current one-year license fee is HK$5,074.

In addition, from December 30, 2020 to December 29, 2021, each commercial vehicle can be exempted from vehicle license fees for up to 12 months, but still must pay traffic accident casualty assistance, or be unlicensed Additional fees payable within the period. Commercial vehicles include goods vehicles, special purpose vehicles, trailers, taxis, non-franchised public buses, private buses, public light buses and private light buses, hire cars, etc.

Private license plate fee

Electric license plate fee

Passenger and truck license plate fee

Goods and Special Purpose Vehicles

Private bus/minibus/taxi license fee

other license fees

Source: Transport Department

Renewal is easy! Available online or in person!

Owners can choose to renew their license for 4 months or 1 year depending on their needs. Vehicles should make an appointment through GovHK 4 months before the expiry date and within 2 years after the expiry date, or go through the license renewal procedures in person at the Licensing Office.

The owner needs to prepare the following documents:

Complete the Application for Renewal of Vehicle Licence (TD558)
Identity document of the registered owner (original or copy)
Original vehicle registration document (plate book) (original)
Valid three-guarantee/temporary policy Cover note (original or copy)
Proof of address within 3 months

If it is a vehicle that needs to be inspected, the owner must additionally submit the "Certificate of Vehicle Suitability for Road Use" (commonly known as vehicle inspection paper or Pass paper) obtained after the vehicle inspection when renewing the license. So which vehicles need to be inspected? If the renewed vehicle is not of the following categories, the vehicle must be inspected before renewing the vehicle license:

Motorcycle
motor tricycle
forklift
Private cars (including electric private cars) manufactured in or after 2014 - Applicable to application for renewal of driving licence valid on or before 31 December 2020
Private cars (including electric private cars) manufactured in or after 2015 - Applicable to application for renewal of driving licence valid on or after 1 January 2021

Private cars and light goods vehicles with a total weight of not more than 1.9 tons need to go to the private car and light goods vehicle inspection centres designated by the Transport Department for vehicle inspection. Other vehicles can be inspected at designated government vehicle inspection centres .

If you go to the Licensing Office of the Transport Department, the license will generally be issued on the same day; if you submit the application by other methods, the license will be issued within 10 working days after the application is received by the Transport Department.

Source: 1823.gov.hk

Do I have to pay an extra fee when it is overdue? Remember to update the license plate regularly!

If an application for renewal of a driving licence is made after the expiry date, an additional late renewal surcharge will be required. If the driving license expires for 2 years or more, the vehicle registration will be cancelled, and the owner will have to go through the registration procedures again.

Overdue license fee = (amount of license fee for 1 year - casualty assistance HK$114) X 0.33% X number of days the driving license expires*

*Number of days the vehicle license expires = the number of days from the day after the original license expires to the day before the new license becomes effective

Assuming that the vehicle is a 1,500 cc private car (gasoline) and the number of days the license expires is 10 days, the overdue license fee is:

(HK$5,074 - HK$114)*0.33% X 10 = HK$163.68

If the vehicle is not used on the road after the validity period of the driving license expires, the owner can apply for a waiver of the overdue license fee. Vehicle owners are required to fill in a declaration on page 2 of the Application for Renewal of Driving Licence Form TD558 “Declaration of Application for Exemption of Vehicle Surcharge after Expiration of Vehicle Licence”, stating that the vehicle will not be used after the licence has expired. It is recommended that car owners go to the licensing office to apply in person to avoid errors due to postage delays.

Source: 1823.gov.hk