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Owning a Car in Hong Kong

There are a specific group of people that simply can't live without a car. For some Americans, life without a car is the equivalent of a return to the stone age. However, when coming to Hong Kong, there are some realities about car ownership you should be aware of.

Disadvantages

The decision to run a car or rely on public transport is a key lifestyle choice and this is particularly true in Hong Kong. Public transport is quite simply outstanding and is made even more effective by the compact size of the Hong Kong territory. Furthermore, the ease with which the transport network can be navigated leaves many new arrivals wondering why people bother with a car in the first place. People that are used to seeing graffiti stained trains in New York, or chewing gum on the seats on the London Underground are pleasantly surprised by the cleanliness of the Hong Kong buses and trains.

Despite this, you are adamant you want a car of your own. Many expats change their mind at the point they realise how expensive it would be to run a vehicle. For starters, Hong Kong is very short on space... where are you going to park the car? Even if you can park it, it's going to cost you a lot of money (thousands of HK$ per month). Parking really is a big problem. High road tax, high gasoline prices... many people find it's actually cheaper to use a taxi to get around after all is considered.

Advantages

What? You still want a car?!

OK, admittedly there are some advantages, especially if you're living in the New Territories. Even though many parts of the public transport network run around the clock, you have much more freedom to set your own schedule and assuming there is no traffic jam, a car can save you time. Some of you may even be lucky enough to be allocated a parking space at your workplace.

If you live right in the city, you can get out to the more rural open spaces with ease... and this is especially true if you have a bicycle and want to exercise on the surprisingly quiet roads out of town. If you like hiking, you can get to the good places without too much planning.

To summarise, if you're living somewhere like the Mid-Levels, you can walk everywhere... but if you're a way out of town and have a family, you would probably want to try and absorb the cost of having a car.

See also: Vehicle Leasing | Getting a Hong Kong Driver's License

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