Trip.com Featured partner
Car hire in Hong Kong
Search live prices
Driving in Hong Kong on an Australian licence
International Driving Permit rules and car hire for Australians.
Yes - Australians need an International Driving Permit for Hong Kong.
An International Driving Permit is required to drive in Hong Kong, though almost no visitor does - the transport network is one of the best in the world and parking is close to impossible.
Drives on the leftSame as Australia
Minimum age 18For most hire companies
$90-$180Typical daily hire
IDP required1949 Geneva Convention
Is hiring a car in Hong Kong worth it?
Skip it entirely. There is no itinerary in Hong Kong that a car improves.
Typical daily hire runs $90-$180.
Where to hire a car in Hong Kong
Prices are indicative, shown in AUD and refreshed from provider APIs where available. Always confirm the final price on the provider's site - it is the price that applies. We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never changes what you pay. A row labelled "Featured partner" holds a paid position at the top of the table. Partners are listed before providers who pay us nothing, as our terms set out; sorting by price ignores all of that and orders on the number alone. How we make money.
What Australian drivers need to know in Hong Kong
- Hong Kong drives on the left, like Australia.
- Driving here is genuinely not worth it - the MTR, trams, ferries and buses reach everywhere.
- Parking in Central runs to HKD $50 an hour and up.
- Cross-border driving into mainland China requires separate permits that a tourist will not have.
Driving without the permit here means driving uninsured. Australian policies exclude claims from driving without a valid licence for that vehicle in that country, and in Hong Kong the International Driving Permit is part of being validly licensed.
You can only get an International Driving Permit in Australia, before you fly - the state motoring clubs issue them for about $49 and it takes a fortnight to be safe. How to get one, and where it works.
More Hong Kong essentials
Hong Kong visa and entry rules
Passport, visa, arrival cards and customs rules for Australian passport holders.
Flights to Hong Kong
Search fares from Australia, then sort the rest of the trip.
Hong Kong eSIM plans
Instant data, no physical SIM required.
Hong Kong travel insurance
Medical, cancellation and luggage cover for Australian travellers.
Hong Kong money and cards
Cards, cash and FX fees for Australian travellers.
Hong Kong airport transfers
Trains, buses, private transfers and taxis compared.
Hong Kong travel essentials
Adapters, plugs, tap water, tipping and health basics.
Things to do in Hong Kong
Attractions, tours and passes worth booking ahead.
Further reading: International Driving Permit: which countries Australians need one for
How these comparisons are made
Licence and permit rules come from the destination's road authority and the Australian motoring clubs that issue International Driving Permits, and each page states whether an IDP is legally required, required in practice by hire companies, or genuinely not needed - three different situations most sites blur into one. Read the full editorial policy.
Planning Hong Kong?
We will send you the Hong Kong guide as it grows - what to book before you go, which eSIM and travel card are worth it there, and what things actually cost in Australian dollars.