The queue ticketing system for driving licensing-related services will be implemented at the four Licensing Offices of the Transport Department starting from 13 March 2024 (Please click here for details). For driving licensing services and driving test applications processing over the counter, if no prior appointment has been made online or by phone, applicants are required to obtain a same-day queue ticket on-site before using the counter services.


4.   General Information on Driving Licence

4.1 Renewal of Driving Licence

Information icon 4.1.1 Full Driving Licence for Non-commercial Vehicles
 
  • A full driving licence may be renewed at any time during the 4 months before its expiry. However, a driving licence that has expired for a period exceeding 3 years is not renewable. In such circumstances, if you wish to re-obtain a full driving licence, you will be required to take a new road test again and complete the probationary driving period (for motor cycle, motor tricycle, private car and light goods vehicle). In this regard, you will be exempted from taking the written test.
   
Information icon 4.1.1.1 What to bring?
 
  • Either completed application form TD557 together with photocopy of Hong Kong Identity Card or completed application form TD578 (it is a reminder-cum-application form sent by us to a driving licence holder by mail at around 3 months before its expiry) or completed application form TD601 (it is a reminder-cum-application form sent by us to a driving licence holder by mail at around 3 months before the deadline for its renewal, i.e. 3 years after its expiry);
 
 
  • Valid Government driving permit (GF8) or documentary proof issued by Government department (only for applicants with driving licence for Government vehicles);
 
  • Medical examination report form TD256 duly completed by a registered medical practitioner (only for applicants aged 70 or above); and
 
  • Required fee (you may make enquiries at the enquiry counters of licensing offices or through 1823 Call Centre, refer to the licence fees table (TD341) at the licensing offices, or visit Transport Department's website for information).
Information icon 4.1.2 Probationary Driving Licence
 
  • The probationary driving licence can be renewed for 6 months. For renewal of the probationary driving licence due to extension of the probationary driving period, you may submit an application at any time within 15 days before its expiry or not more than 3 years after its expiry.
Information icon 4.1.2.1 What to bring?
 
  • Completed application form TD590;
 
  • Hong Kong Identity Card (photocopy);
 
 
  • Medical examination report form TD256 duly completed by a registered medical practitioner (only for applicants aged 70 or above); and
 
  • Required fee (you may make enquiries at the enquiry counters of licensing offices or through 1823 Call Centre, refer to the licence fees table (TD341) at the licensing offices, or visit Transport Department's website for information).
Information icon 4.1.3 Full driving licence with commercial vehicle class(es)
  4.1.3.1 Commercial vehicle class(es)
 
  • Private Light Bus (class code 04), Public Light Bus (class code 05), Taxi (class code 06), Private Bus (class code 09), Public Bus (class code 10), Public Bus - Franchised (class code 17), Medium Goods Vehicle (class code 18), Heavy Goods Vehicle (class code 19), Articulated Vehicle (class code 20) and Special Purpose Vehicle (class code 21) are vehicles requiring Commercial Driving Licences.
 
  • A driving licence that has expired for a period exceeding 3 years is not renewable. In such circumstances, if you wish to re-obtain a full driving licence with commercial class(es), you will be required to re-apply it vide sub-section 2.7 or FAQ for details.
Information icon  4.1.3.2 What to bring?
 
  • Completed application form TD557;
 
  • Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card (photocopy) for Hong Kong permanent resident, while Hong Kong Identity Card (photocopy) together with his valid travel document (original and photocopy) for a holder of Hong Kong Identity Card (other than a Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card) who is not subject to any condition of stay other than a limit of stay as defined in section 2(1) of the Immigration Ordinance (Cap. 115);
 
 
  • Medical examination report form TD256 duly completed by a registered medical practitioner (only for applicants aged 70 or above); and
 
  • Required fee (you may make enquiries at the enquiry counters of licensing offices or through 1823 Call Centre, refer to the licence fees table (TD341) at the licensing offices, or visit Transport Department's website for information).

 

4.2 Validity Period of Driving Licences

 
Licence Validity
Full Driving Licence
  • Aged 60 or below
 10 years
  • Aged above 60 but below 70
 Up to the day before the applicant reaches the age of 70 or 3 years, whichever is longer
  • Aged 70 or above
 1-year or 3-year (depending on the applicant's choice)
Learner's Driving Licence 12 months from the date of issue
Temporary Driving Licence 12 months from the date of arrival in Hong Kong or until the expiry of the overseas driving licence, whichever occurs first
Probationary Driving Licence 12 months initially and 6 months if extension is required

 

4.3 Cancellation of Driving Licence

  • If you do not fulfill the conditions and requirements necessary for the issue of driving licence or are suffering from any disease or physical disability specified in the First Schedule of the Road Traffic (Driving Licences) Regulations (see Appendix A for details), your driving licence will be cancelled.
  • If you are suffering from any disease or physical disability other than those specified in the First Schedule of the Road Traffic (Driving Licences) Regulations and it is found that your driving will endanger the public owing to such disease or physical disability after an enquiry conducted by the Commissioner for Transport, your driving licence will also be cancelled.

4.4 Disqualification

  • If, pursuant to the order of a court, you are disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence, you should deposit any driving licence held by you with the court and cease driving immediately until the expiry of the period of disqualification.

4.5 Notice of Change of Personal Particulars

  • If you are a driving licence holder/registered owner, you should notify the Commissioner for Transport in writing or by submitting the completed Transport Department Form TD559 of any change in the name, address or identity document within 72 hours after such change. If there is any change on the driving restrictions such as the requirement on wearing corrective lenses or hearing aids, you should also notify the Commissioner for Transport immediately by submitting the completed Transport Department Form TD559 so that we would update your driving licence records accordingly. Transport Department Form TD559 is available in any licensing office and at the Transport Department's website.
  • For notification of change of address, original or photocopy of proof of present address (residential address and correspondence address).
  • Any person who fails to comply with the above requirements would be liable to a fine of $2,000.

4.6 Duplicate Driving Licence

  • If your driving licence is defaced, damaged or lost, you should report to any licensing office by completing application form TD106, together with the required fee, to obtain a duplicate driving licence.
  • Required fee (you may make enquiries at the enquiry counters of licensing offices or through 1823 Call Centre, refer to the licence fees table (TD341) at the licensing offices, or visit Transport Department's website for information).

4.7 Concessions to Disabled Drivers

  • If you have proved your fitness to drive a private car and produced to the Commissioner for Transport a certificate, signed by or on behalf of the Hospital Authority, stating that you are suffering from a permanent disease or physical disability that causes you considerable difficulty in walking, you may apply for exemption from payment of the fees required for a driving test and the issue or renewal of a driving licence for private car. However, you are still required to pay the levy for the Traffic Accident Victims Assistance Scheme. Please note that the exemption is applicable to private car only.

4.8 Traffic Accident Victims Assistance Scheme

  • On the first issue and renewal of driving and vehicle licences, appropriate contribution has to be made to the Traffic Accident Victims Assistance Scheme to assist accident victims and dependents.

4.9 Driving Abroad with International Driving Permit

  • If you are holding a valid Hong Kong identity card and a Hong Kong full driving licence which is still valid or has not expired for more than 3 years, you may apply for issue of an International Driving Permit (IDP).
  • IDP is valid for one year from the date of issue.
  • IDP is issued in accordance with the 1949 Convention. The permit should be valid for driving in the territory of all the Contracting States (please refer to the website of the United Nation for the most up-to-date list). But there may be differences or changes in the policy or conditions of using an IDP to drive in the contracting countries/places concerned, and some countries/places may require IDP holder to use the IDP together with his/her Hong Kong full driving licence, applicants are suggested to make enquiries to the Consulates or resident offices of the countries/places concerned for details before making application for an IDP or before driving in the countries/place concerned.
  • Reference Table for the Corresponding Class of Vehicle of Hong Kong Full Driving Licence and International Driving Permit：
Class of Vehicle which the Licence Holder is Permitted to Drive under Hong Kong Full Driving Licence Class of Vehicle for Application of International Driving Permit

3. Motor Cycle; or

22. Motor Tricycle

A. Motor Cycle

1. Private Car; or

2. Light Goods Vehicle

B. Private Car

18. Medium Goods Vehicle; or

19. Heavy Goods Vehicle

C. Medium/Heavy Goods Vehicle

4. Private Light Bus;

5. Public Light Bus;

9. Private Bus; or

10. Public Bus

D. Private/Public Bus

20. Articulated Vehicle

E. Articulated Vehicle

  • If you would like to apply for an IDP, please submit a duly completed and originally signed TD51 application form together with required documents and fees to the Transport Department according to listed methods.
  • If you wish to submit your application over the counter at Licensing Office, you may make an appointment in advance either online via GovHK's website or by phone (Tel: 3763 8080) to reduce waiting time. If no prior appointment has been made online or by phone, applicants are required to obtain a same-day queue ticket on-site before using counter service. Please click here for more information on the queue ticketing system and daily ticket quotas. For applications submitted over the counter, the IDP will be issued on the spot.
  • You may also apply for an IDP online if you have an "iAM Smart+" account with digital signing function of a valid personal digital certificate. Please refer to relevant GovHK's website for more details.
  • For postal and online applications, upon receipt of a duly completed application, the successfully issued permit will be mailed to you by registered post within 10 working days. If you have not received the permit within 4 weeks from the date of submission, please contact the Transport Department at 2804 2600 for follow-up action.
  • For enquiry about the required fee, you may make enquiries at the enquiry counters of licensing offices or through 1823 Call Centre, refer to the licence fees table (TD341) at the licensing offices, or visit Transport Department's website for information.

4.10 How to Obtain Application Forms

  • The latest version of application forms for driving and vehicle licences are available at all licensing offices of the Transport Department, various District Offices' public enquiry service centres and the post offices. Application forms can also be obtained by facsimile through the Transport Department's customer service hotline 2804 2600 or 1823 Call Centre or downloaded from the Transport Department's website.

4.11 Means of Submission of Application

  In person / By agent
      
  • Unless otherwise specified, driving licence-related applications (including International Driving Permit) can be submitted in person or through agent over the counter at Transport Department's licensing offices. If the application is submitted through an agent, the agent should produce photocopy of the applicant's identity document and original of his/her own identity document. The addresses of all licensing offices are shown can be found at Appendix D.
  • To reduce waiting time, you may make an appointment for counter service in advance either online via GovHK's website or by phone (Tel: 3763 8080). If no prior appointment has been made online or by phone, applicants are required to obtain a same-day queue ticket on-site before using counter service. Please click here for more information on the queue ticketing system and daily ticket quotas.
  • Unless otherwise specified, for applications received over the counter, the successfully applied licence/ permit will normally be issued on the spot.
 
       Online via GovHK's websites
  • You may submit the following applications online through GovHK's website:
  • Renewal of Full Driving Licence
  • Notification of Change of Address
  • New Issue and Addition of Full Driving Licence
  • First application, Re-application and Addition of Learner's Driving Licence
  • New Issue, Renewal and Addition of Probationary Driving Licence
  • New Issue, Renewal and Addition of Driving Instructor's Licence
  • Duplicate of Driving Licence / Driving Instructor's Licence (only applicable to lost / destroyed licence)
  • International Driving Permit


 
  • For online applications, upon receipt of a duly completed application, the successfully issued licence/permit will be mailed to you by registered post within 10 working days. If you have not received the permit within 4 weeks from the date of submission, please contact the Transport Department at 2804 2600 for follow-up action.
        
By post
      
  • Applications (other than application for learner's driving licence for private car, light goods vehicle, motor cycle & motor tricycle, learner's driving licence for commercial vehicles, driving test appointment, direct issue of Hong Kong full driving licence and temporary driving licence) may be submitted by post to the Kwun Tong Licensing Office at P.O. Box 68115, Kowloon East Post Office, Kowloon. Application for learner's driving licence and driving test for private car, light goods vehicle, motor cycle & motor tricycle may be submitted by post to the Kowloon Licensing Office at 2/F., Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon. Upon receipt of a duly completed application, the successfully issued licence/permit/test appointment will be mailed to you by registered post within 10 working days. If you have not received the licence/permit/test appointment within 4 weeks from the date of submission, please contact the Transport Department at 2804 2600 for follow-up action.
      
  • If you apply for learner's driving licence and driving test for commercial vehicles, please submit your applications by post to the Transport Department P. O. Box No. 79, Shatin Central Post Office. Upon receipt of a duly completed application, the successfully issued licence and test appointment will be mailed to you by registered post within 15 working days. If you have not received the licence and test appointment within 4 weeks from the date of submission, please contact the Transport Department at 2804 2600 for follow-up action.
      
  • The relevant application forms should be duly completed, originally signed and submitted with the required fee and documents. Cash and original identity document should not be sent by post. Crossed cheque should be made payable to either "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region" or "The Government of the HKSAR". Photocopies of Hong Kong Identity Card (or other alternative identity document, if applicable) are acceptable for verification.
 
  • For proper delivery of your mail items to this department, and to avoid unnecessary delivery delay or unsuccessful delivery, please ensure your mail items bear sufficient postage before posting [Please note the latest details about postage rates by Hongkong Post]. This department will not receive any underpaid mail items. Any underpaid mail items will be handled by the Hongkong Post., which actions including but not limited to levying a surcharge on the sender for mail item that bears a sender's address.
   
        
Via drop-in box
      
  • Applications (unless otherwise specified) may also be submitted through drop-in boxes at all Transport Department's licensing offices (please see Appendix D for their addresses). The relevant application forms should be duly completed, originally signed and submitted with the required fee and documents. Cash and original identity document should not be sent via drop-in boxes. Payment should be made by crossed cheque and payable to either "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region" or "The Government of the HKSAR". Photocopies of Hong Kong Identity Card (or other alternative identity document, if applicable) are acceptable for verification.
 
      
  • Upon receipt of a duly completed application, the successfully issued licence/permit will be mailed to you by registered post within 10 working days. For application for learner's driving licences for commercial vehicles submitted together with application for driving test for commercial vehicles, the new learner's driving licence and the details of the test appointment will be mailed to you by registered post within 15 working days. If you have not received the licence/permit/test appointment within 4 weeks from the date of submission, please contact the Transport Department at 2804 2600 for follow-up action.

4.12 Enquiries

  • Enquiries can be made to the Transport Department through Transport Department's 24-hour hotline 2804 2600, 1823 Call Centre or by e-mail: licensing@td.gov.hk.
  • For information on Transport Department's licensing services, you may also visit the Transport Department's website: http://www.td.gov.hk/.