Hong Kong’s long-awaited ‘Yue Che Nan Xia’ (粵車南下, Guangdong-cars-southbound) scheme – which from 23 December will allow quota-controlled mainland-registered private cars to drive beyond the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and into Hong Kong’s urban road network – recorded more than 100 completed applications on its very first processing day, according to the Transport Department.
Under the pilot, 1 700 lottery winners from Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Jiangmen and Zhongshan may submit e-applications for a single-plate permit and an electronic entry approval letter. Officials told local media that the first-day quota for 23 December is already “fully subscribed”, signalling robust demand among Greater Bay Area motorists for point-to-point access to Hong Kong business districts and shopping zones. Vehicle inspections are taking place at a network of 13 designated centres in Guangdong; managers said a full 15-point road-worthiness check – including the 70 % windscreen-light-transmission standard unique to Hong Kong – can be completed in as little as 25 minutes.
Successful applicants must pre-book a crossing slot and carry Hong Kong third-party insurance; vehicles longer than 6 m or with more than eight seats remain ineligible. The Transport Department also announced that, to reduce red tape, the validity of Closed-Road Permits for cross-border vehicles will be expanded from one year to up to five years from 1 January 2026, and most fees will fall over a multi-year term.
![First-day rush for ‘Yue Che Nan Xia’ permits as over 100 Guangdong private cars apply to enter Hong Kong urban areas]()
If the paperwork around cross-border motoring feels daunting, VisaHQ’s Hong Kong team can simplify the process by coordinating entry permits, visa formalities and the required insurance certificates in a single online submission—ideal for both individual drivers and corporate fleet managers. Details are available at https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/.
For corporate mobility managers, the southbound scheme opens a new self-drive option for mainland executives visiting Hong Kong headquarters or catching international flights. However, the daily urban quota is capped at 100 vehicles during the initial phase, so companies should factor booking lead-times into trip-planning tools. Travel-risk teams should also brief drivers on left-hand traffic rules, speed cameras and the upcoming Central Congestion Charging pilot.
From a policy standpoint, ‘Yue Che Nan Xia’ complements the ‘Hong Kong-cars-northbound’ and ‘Macau-cars-northbound’ programmes launched earlier in the decade and underlines Beijing’s determination to knit the Greater Bay Area into a seamless 100-million-resident mega-city. If smooth, Guangdong authorities say eligibility could expand to the province’s remaining 17 municipalities within six months, potentially reshaping cross-border commuting patterns.
Under the pilot, 1 700 lottery winners from Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Jiangmen and Zhongshan may submit e-applications for a single-plate permit and an electronic entry approval letter. Officials told local media that the first-day quota for 23 December is already “fully subscribed”, signalling robust demand among Greater Bay Area motorists for point-to-point access to Hong Kong business districts and shopping zones. Vehicle inspections are taking place at a network of 13 designated centres in Guangdong; managers said a full 15-point road-worthiness check – including the 70 % windscreen-light-transmission standard unique to Hong Kong – can be completed in as little as 25 minutes.
Successful applicants must pre-book a crossing slot and carry Hong Kong third-party insurance; vehicles longer than 6 m or with more than eight seats remain ineligible. The Transport Department also announced that, to reduce red tape, the validity of Closed-Road Permits for cross-border vehicles will be expanded from one year to up to five years from 1 January 2026, and most fees will fall over a multi-year term.
If the paperwork around cross-border motoring feels daunting, VisaHQ’s Hong Kong team can simplify the process by coordinating entry permits, visa formalities and the required insurance certificates in a single online submission—ideal for both individual drivers and corporate fleet managers. Details are available at https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/.
For corporate mobility managers, the southbound scheme opens a new self-drive option for mainland executives visiting Hong Kong headquarters or catching international flights. However, the daily urban quota is capped at 100 vehicles during the initial phase, so companies should factor booking lead-times into trip-planning tools. Travel-risk teams should also brief drivers on left-hand traffic rules, speed cameras and the upcoming Central Congestion Charging pilot.
From a policy standpoint, ‘Yue Che Nan Xia’ complements the ‘Hong Kong-cars-northbound’ and ‘Macau-cars-northbound’ programmes launched earlier in the decade and underlines Beijing’s determination to knit the Greater Bay Area into a seamless 100-million-resident mega-city. If smooth, Guangdong authorities say eligibility could expand to the province’s remaining 17 municipalities within six months, potentially reshaping cross-border commuting patterns.
