Shopping and dining, amusement parks and free ports, trends and traditions blend here; this is Hong Kong— a small world where Eastern and Western cultures collide. After the introduction of the 10 million Hong Kong Dollar investment residency policy, it has attracted many investors from the mainland. After successfully obtaining residency in Hong Kong, it is advisable to buy a car, as it will make life in Hong Kong much more convenient. However, driving without a license is certainly not acceptable. The following will inform you how to quickly obtain a Hong Kong driving license after immigrating to Hong Kong.
There are three types of driving schools in Hong Kong:
1. Hong Kong Driving Academies: The fees are relatively high, and it is said that the wages for instructors are low, leading to low motivation among them.
Advantages: They have their own practice grounds.
Disadvantages: Expensive, and you have to change instructors for each lesson.
2. Private Driving Schools:
Advantages: There are different packages to choose from, allowing for flexibility. You will be assigned the same instructor unless you feel that the instructor's skills are inadequate. The prices are moderate and reputable.
Disadvantages: Good instructors are often busy and hard to schedule with, leading to long gaps between lessons. Average instructors are easier to book, but the pass rate is average. Additionally, there are many unnecessary theoretical classes on mechanical principles that also incur fees.
3. Individual Instructors: These instructors are usually referred by word of mouth from the academy. However, since they run their own businesses, they tend to be very dedicated, informing you of the key points on the exam routes. Moreover, since the cars are privately owned, they are generally well-maintained, making them easier to drive.
Advantages: Flexible timing, you can adjust the number of lessons according to your schedule, and the cars are in good condition, making it less likely to stall during the exam.
Disadvantages: Prices are about 10% higher than driving schools, and unless you are referred by someone you know, you may not be aware of the instructor's true skill level.
Summary: Driving academies > Private driving schools > Individual instructors (To clarify, although individual instructors charge the highest per lesson, approximately 280-300 HKD for 1.5 hours, the total number of lessons is around 13, resulting in a total cost of about 4000 HKD. In contrast, driving academies may have cheaper individual lessons, but they add about 6 additional mechanical theory classes that are mandatory and also charge for (260 HKD for 1.5 hours). A medium package at Li Jian costs around 6800 HKD. Therefore, although individual instructors have a higher per-lesson cost, they require fewer lessons, making the total price comparable.)
Teaching quality: Individual instructors > Private driving schools > Driving academies
Registration:
Driving academies: It is said that there are group purchases available on Groupon or Beecrazy; interested individuals can keep an eye on those.
Private driving schools: Simply visit their website, find the store address, and walk in to register. (Generally, you can get a discount with a student ID, so be sure to ask!!! Also, students on a tight budget can opt for installment payments!)
Individual instructors: Usually, you call to schedule, and they will give you a time to learn to drive. The first lesson is a trial, and if you are satisfied, you can schedule the subsequent lessons and make payment.
Regardless of the above options, they all assist with exam registration.
Written Test:
Generally, after registration, you will know the written test date in about two weeks. The written test is similar to that in the mainland, where you receive a booklet with hundreds of multiple-choice questions. During the exam, you will answer 20 questions, and you need to get 14 correct to pass. Usually, a brief review of traffic rules will suffice.
Formal Driving Lessons:
There is typically a gap of 4-6 months between the written test and the road test. If you are a beginner, it is best to register now, so you can take the exam in July or August. There are many advantages to taking the exam in July or August. First, schools are on break, and the roads are less congested with fewer children, taxis, and pedestrians, minimizing the chances of encountering a taxi overtaking or a pedestrian suddenly appearing. Second, it is summer vacation, which is suitable for intensive practice. Third, except for typhoon signal number 8, the weather is generally good, avoiding rain, slippery roads, and poor visibility.
Regardless of the three methods mentioned, driving lessons typically consist of 10-14 sessions, each lasting 1.5 hours. For beginners, the content is as follows:
First lesson: Teaching you to drive in first gear, mainly focusing on steering operations.
Second lesson: Same as above and braking.
Third lesson: Teaching you to shift from first to second gear, just simple gear shifting.
Fourth, fifth, and sixth lessons: Learning to turn around on narrow roads and small-scale road usage.
Sixth and seventh lessons: Learning to park.
Eighth, ninth, and tenth lessons: Directly driving on the road, usually near the exam site for practice.
Exam:
Generally, you will know which exam site you will be assigned to about 4 months before the exam (each exam site has 3 routes, and one will be randomly assigned to you on the exam day). The exam lasts about 20 minutes.
