Transport Department Regulations

Driver Testing

• 1. I have just passed my driving test. What do I need to do to apply for a full driving licence?
  Once you have passed your driving tests, you have 3 years from the date of passing the driving test to apply for a full driving licence. You may complete a form TD557 to apply for a full driving licence for the respective driving entitlement(s). Upon submission of your application, your identity document, Test Form and Learner's Driving Licence have to be produced and you have to pay the appropriate licence fee. If you already hold a valid full driving licence and have passed driving test of an additional entitlement, please complete the form TD557 to apply for an extension of your driving licence to cover additional driving entitlement(s). Your identity document, Test Form and Driving Licence have to be submitted together with the form TD557. A new full driving licence will then be issued to you free of charge.
• 2. When can I apply for a driving licence after passing the driving test?
  Learner drivers can go to Licensing Offices of the Transport Department to apply for a Probationary Driving Licence 7 working days (excluding Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays) after passing the driving test.
• 3. What is the validity period of written test and road test?
  Candidates' "pass" result of written test can be retained forever. According to current legislations, if a candidate passes all parts of the driving test of a particular type of vehicle, including Part B and Part C, he/she should apply for the driving licence of that type of vehicle within three years after his/her pass. Otherwise, his/her pass result of Part B and Part C will be invalidated. Besides, if a person does not renew his/her driving licence within three years after the expiry of the licence, his/her pass result of Part B and Part C will also be invalidated. On the other hand, if a candidate passes part of a driving test, the pass result of that part of test will be retained. For example, if a candidate only passes Part B in the combined test of Private Car, his/her pass result of Part B can be retained. The candidate can, at any time, apply for a Part C test.
• 4. If the appointment date of my driving test is beyond the expiry date of my learner driving licence, do I need to apply for a new learner driving licence?
  In accordance with Road Traffic Ordinance, Cap 374, learner drivers should bring along with their valid leaner driving licence when they receive training. Candidates can still attend the driving tests even though their learner driving licences are expired.

Driver Licensing and Others

• 1. My driving licence is due to expire shortly. What do I need to do?
  You may apply for a renewal of driving licence within 4 months prior to the date of expiry or within 3 years as from the date of expiry. Please complete the form TD557 and submit it together with your identity document (a photocopy is acceptable), your driving licence (a photocopy is acceptable) and the licence fee to any one of the Transport Department Licensing Offices or by mail to P.O. Box 68115, Kwun Tong Post Office, Hong Kong.
• 2. If I apply for renewal of a driving licence after the date of its expiry, would there be any additional charges?
  There is not any additional charge for an application for driving licence renewal, which is made after the date of expiry. However, renewal of driving licence must be applied for during the four months before its expiry, or within three years after its expiry. Driving licences, which have expired over three years, are NOT renewable. In such circumstances, you will be required to obtain a learner's driving licence and to undergo a new driving test.
• 3. I have lost my driving licence. How can I apply for a duplicate licence?
  If your driving licence has been lost or defaced, you may apply for a duplicate licence using the form TD106 and submit it with your identity document (a photocopy is acceptable) and the appropriate fee (together with the defaced licence, if applicable) to any one of the Transport Department Licensing Offices or by mail to P.O. Box 68115, Kwun Tong Post Office, Hong Kong. In case the lost or defaced driving licence will expire within 4 months, you may apply for a renewal of licence (form TD557) instead of obtaining a new one.
• 4. I have changed my address. What do I need to do?
  A driving licence holder should notify the Transport Department in writing of any change in the name, address or identity document within 72 hours after such change. Upon the change in your address, please notify the Transport Department in writing or complete the form TD559 stating the new address and submit it to any one of the Transport Department Licensing Offices or mail to P.O. Box 68115, Kwun Tong Post Office, Hong Kong. The Transport Department will then update the computer records accordingly. For any change of address, all vehicle/driving licence records under the same I.D. Card No./Limited Co. Certificate of Incorporation No. will also be changed.
• 5. I have changed my name. What do I need to do?
  A driving licence holder should notify the Transport Department in writing of any change in the name, address or identity document within 72 hours after such change. Upon the change in your name, please notify the Transport Department in writing or complete the form TD559 stating the new name and submit it together with the original of your identity document, the original driving licence / vehicle registration document and original and photocopy of a deed of poll from solicitor to any one of the Transport Department Licensing Offices. The Transport Department will then issue a new driving licence / vehicle registration document licence free of charge and update our computer records accordingly.
• 6. I have recently developed a medical condition. What do I need to do? 
  Under the Road Traffic (Driving Licences) Regulations 9 (2A), during the validity of your driving licence, once you become aware that you suffer from any disease or physical disability that may affect your driving of a vehicle of any such class as authorized by your driving licence to drive, you must immediately give notice in writing to the Commissioner for Transport.
• 7. If I hold an International Driving Permit, can I drive in Hong Kong with the Permit? 
  According to the legislation, the holder of an International Driving Permit cannot drive with the permit in the issuing country of such a permit. Therefore, a holder cannot drive in Hong Kong with an International Driving Permit issued in Hong Kong, he shall drive with his valid full Hong Kong Driving Licence in Hong Kong.
• 8. If a person holds an International Driving Permit issued outside Hong Kong, can he/she drive in Hong Kong? 
  A visitor to Hong Kong, as a holder of a valid International Driving Permit issued outside Hong Kong, can drive in Hong Kong the class of motor vehicle authorized by his/her valid International Driving Permit issued outside Hong Kong for 12 months starting from the date of his/her arrival in Hong Kong provided that he/she satisfies the legal age requirement - 18 year old for private car, light goods vehicle, motor cycle and motor tricycle; 21 years old for other types of motor vehicles.
• 9. How does an applicant for direct issue of full Hong Kong Driving Licence prove that his/her driving licence was originally issued on any date during a period of residence of not less than 6 months in the issuing country or place?
  The applicant should provide the following documents:
  
  (1) the entry chops on the passport:
  
  A passport with an entry stamp and a departure stamp which makes a period of six months or more.
  
  The driving licence must be issued on any date during this period of residence.
  
  (2) the documents to prove studentship:
  
  Transcript 
  
  School letter
  
  (3) The documents to prove employment: 
  
  salary statement 
  
  employment letter
  
  Remark: 
  
  For items (2) and (3) above-mentioned, these are supporting documents. Applicant is still required to provide passport or equivalent travel document for arrival and departure records during the residence period in which his / her driving licence was issued.
• 10. Is there any restriction on the residence period of the applicant in Hong Kong for the application for direct issue of full Hong Kong Driving Licence without test on the strength of an overseas driving licence?
  There is no restriction on the residence period of the applicant in Hong Kong for such application.
• 11. Can a holder of a valid driving licence issued in a country or place other than those in the Schedule 4 of Road Traffic (Driving Licences) Regulations apply for a Temporary Driving Licence if he/she has been in Hong Kong for more than three months?
  An applicant for a Temporary Driving Licence should hold a valid driving licence issued in a country or place other than those in Schedule 4. He/she should have applied for a driving test within 3 months after the date of his / her arrival in Hong Kong to take up residence. If he/she is not eligible for applying temporary driving licence, he/she then has to obtain a learner's driving licence and take the driving test in order to obtain a full Hong Kong Driving Licence. An application for a Full Hong Kong Driving Licence can be submitted upon his/her passing the appropriate driving tests.