The Role of Ride-hailing Vehicles

Ride-hailing Vehicles provide personalised point-to-point public transport services. With advancements in technology and changing travel patterns, booking and providing point-to-point services through online channels have become an international trend. To provide convenience to members of the public in travelling, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region introduces a regulatory regime for ride-hailing services providing the public with more options of diverse, safe and compliant point-to-point services.

Platforms, vehicles, and drivers providing ride-hailing services must obtain appropriate licences or permits in order to safeguard public's safety and rights. Compliant ride-hailing services must fulfill the following three conditions, including:

1. the private car that provides the service must hold a valid ride-hailing vehicle permit;
2. the driver driving or using the concerned private car in providing services is a holder of ride-hailing vehicle driving permit; and
3. the service is booked through a platform that holds a valid ride-hailing service licence.

Ride-hailing Platforms

Any electronic or telecommunications platform providing ride-hailing platform service must hold a valid ride-hailing service licence.

Applicant for ride-hailing service licence must be a company registered in Hong Kong. When deciding whether to grant or refuse an application for a ride-hailing service licence, the Commissioner for Transport may consider the following matters, including the applicant's experience in operating a ride-hailing platform, financial capacity, intended investments in Hong Kong for operating a platform, qualifications of the company's directors as well as the proposed standard of the ride-hailing services to be provided. Ride-hailing service licence holders must conduct due diligence to ensure that all vehicles and drivers providing ride-hailing passenger transport services through their platforms hold valid permits. Licensed platforms are also responsible for ensuring that drivers providing ride-hailing passenger transport services are the registered owners of the vehicles they drive or use (i.e. in compliance with the owner-driver requirement).

Fees

• Application fee for ride-hailing service licence: $16,250
• Ride-hailing service licence fee: $1.2 million per year
• Application fee for a duplicate ride-hailing service licence: $1,510

Application Arrangement

TD expects to invite applications for ride-hailing service licence in August 2026. Details will be announced later.

Ride-hailing Vehicles

All private cars providing ride-hailing passenger transport service must hold a valid ride-hailing vehicle permit.

Application for ride-hailing vehicle permit must fulfill the following conditions for TD's approval:—

1. the applicant is a ride-hailing vehicle driving permit holder;
2. the applicant is the registered owner of the private car concerned;
3. a vehicle licence is in force in respect of the private car;
4. the private car was manufactured less than 12 years before the date of the application;
5. if the private car was manufactured not less than 6 years before the date of the application—a certificate of roadworthiness (as defined by section 88A of the Road Traffic Ordinance) (Cap. 374) has been issued in respect of the private car within 1 year before the date of the application;
6. there is in force in relation to the use of the private car for providing ride-hailing passenger transport service a policy of insurance or security in respect of third party risks that complies with the Motor Vehicles Insurance (Third Party Risks) Ordinance (Cap. 272);
7. if a hire car permit is in force in respect of the private car—the applicant has given written consent that the hire car permit is to be cancelled on the issue of the ride-hailing vehicle permit;
8. if the applicant has held a ride-hailing vehicle permit within 3 years before the date of the application—the permit was not cancelled under section 55V(2)(a) of the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374) during that period; and
9. the applicant has paid any fee prescribed in the Road Traffic (Ride-hailing Service) Regulation (Cap. 374AB) for the application for, and the issue of, the ride-hailing vehicle permit.

Vehicle Certificate

A ride-hailing vehicle that is in the course of providing ride-hailing passenger transport service must display a ride-hailing vehicle certificate ("vehicle certificate"). Details regarding application for the ride-hailing vehicle certificate as well as the position and manner for displaying the relevant certificate, will be announced later.

Fees

^{Note: The validity period of a vehicle permit is subject to the expiry date of the vehicle licence of the vehicle concerned.}

Application Arrangement

TD expects to invite applications for ride-hailing vehicle permit in the fourth quarter of 2026. Details will be announced later.

Drivers of Ride-hailing Vehicles

All drivers driving ride-hailing vehicles for providing ride-hailing passenger transport services must hold a valid ride-hailing vehicle driving permit.

Application for ride-hailing vehicle driving permit must fulfill the following conditions for TD's approval—

1. the applicant is aged 21 or above;
2. the applicant is the holder of a valid full driving licence to drive a private car or light goods vehicle and has held the licence for at least 1 year before the date of the application;
3. the applicant has, within 3 years before the date of the application, passed the Taxi and Ride-hailing Vehicle Combined Written Test;
4. the applicant has, within 1 year before the date of the application, completed a pre-service course in respect of ride-hailing vehicles;
5. the applicant has not, within 5 years before the date of the application, been convicted of an offence under section 36, 36A, 39, 39A, 39B, 39C, 39J, 39K, 39L, 39O(1) or 39S of the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374);
6. the applicant—
   1. is the holder of a permanent identity card; or
   2. is the holder of an identity card (other than a permanent identity card) and is not subject to any condition of stay other than a limit of stay as defined by section 2(1) of the Immigration Ordinance (Cap. 115);
7. if the applicant was disqualified from driving a private car or taxi under the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374), the Road Traffic (Driving-offence Points) Ordinance (Cap. 375) or the Taxi-Driver-Offence Points Ordinance (Cap. 647)—the period of disqualification has expired on or before the date of the application;
8. the applicant meets the physical fitness requirements specified in regulation 10(3) of the Road Traffic (Driving Licences) Regulations (Cap. 374B);
9. if the applicant has held a ride-hailing vehicle driving permit within 3 years before the date of the application—the permit was not cancelled under section 55Z(2)(a) of the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374) during that period; and
10. the applicant has paid any fee prescribed in the Road Traffic (Ride-hailing Service) Regulation (Cap. 374AB) for the application for, and the issue of, the ride-hailing vehicle driving permit.

The above conditions no. 3 regarding the written test and no. 4 regarding the completion of a pre-service course for ride-hailing vehicles are not applicable to an applicant who holds a valid full driving licence to drive a taxi.

Fees

• Ride-hailing Vehicle Driving Permit Fee: $82^Note per year

^Note: A period less than one year shall be counted as one year. The validity period of a driving permit is subject to the expiry date of the applicant's full driving licence to drive a private car or light goods vehicle, and at most five years.

Application Arrangement

Taxi and Ride-hailing Vehicle Combined Written Test and Pre-Service Course for ride-hailing vehicle drivers

• Taxi and Ride-hailing Vehicle Combined Written Test
  Taxi and Ride-hailing Vehicle Combined Written Test will be opened for application starting from 3 August 2026. TD will distribute the "Guide to Taxi and Ride-hailing Vehicle Combined Written Test" and the "Taxi and Ride-hailing Vehicle Operation Booklet" to candidates when they apply for the test, which will be conducted starting from mid-September 2026.
• Details regarding Pre-Service Course for ride-hailing vehicle drivers will be announced later.

Relevant Documents

• Road Traffic (Amendment) (Ride-hailing Service) Ordinance 2025
• Road Traffic (Ride-hailing Service) Regulation 
• Road Traffic (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulation 2026
• Road Traffic (Limit on Number of Ride-hailing Vehicle Permits) Notice 
• Road Traffic (Amendment) (Ride-hailing Service) Ordinance 2025 (Commencement) Notice)
• Legislative Council Brief – Regulatory Details for Ride-hailing Services