Bringing Your Car into Hong Kong

If you wish to bring your car into Hong Kong , there is no import duty. However, if you want to use it in Hong Kong , you have to register and license the vehicle. All motor vehicles for use on the roads of Hong Kong are subject to a First Registration Tax under the Motor Vehicles (First Registration Tax) Ordinance (Cap. 330, Laws of Hong Kong). The tax is administered by the Transport Department on the basis of the published retail price.

Generally when you buy a car in Hong Kong it has already been registered, so the price includes this tax, but if you bring one in from overseas, you have to pay this tax, which is substantial, before you can use it. The tax will be assessed on the purchase price plus insurance and freight fees and any brokerage or agency fee related to the purchase and importation of the parts of the motor vehicle as declared by the importer with reference to the market value of the motor vehicle concerned.

Item

Class of Motor Vehicle

Rate of Tax(%)

1.

Private cars -

(a)

on the first $150,000

35

(b)

on the next $150,000

65

(c)

on the next $200,000

85

(d)

on the remainder

100

2.

Taxis

3.7

3.

Public light buses and private light buses

3.7

4.

Public buses, except buses which are to be used solely in connection with operating a public bus service under the Public Bus Services Ordinance (Cap. 230) or under the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation Ordinance (Cap. 372) within the North-west Transit Service Area as defined in that Ordinance

3.7

5.

Private buses, except buses which are to be used solely in connection with the training of drivers for the purposes of operating a public bus service under the Public Bus Services Ordinance (Cap. 230) or within the North-west Transit Service Area under the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation Ordinance (Cap. 372)

3.7

6.

Motor cycles

35

7.

Motor tricycles

35

8.

(a)

Goods vehicles, other than van-type light goods vehicles

15

(b)

Van-type light goods vehicle not exceeding 1.9 tonnes permitted gross vehicle weight-

(i)

on the first $ 150,000

35

(ii)

on the next $ 150,000

65

(iii)

on the remainder

85

(c)

Van-type light goods vehicle exceeding 1.9 tonnes permitted gross vehicle weight

17

9.

Special purpose vehicles

3.7