Rental Cars in Hong Kong

Rental Cars

Frankly, you'd be mad to rent a car on Hong Kong Island or Kowloon. Maniac drivers, traffic jams, and next to no parking make driving here severely stress-inducing. So why bother, when public transportation is excellent, and taxis inexpensive? If you must have your own wheels, consider hiring a driver; most top-end hotels arrange this. The minimum rental time is two hours, which will cost you HK$800-HK$1,000 (depending on car model); it's HK$400-HK$500 for each subsequent hour.

If you're determined to drive yourself, your driver's license is valid in Hong Kong if you're 18 to 70 years old (those over 70 must pass a physical examination before driving). You'll need an International Driver's Permit for long stays. Check the AAA Web site for more info as well as for IDPs ($10) themselves. Rental rates begin at HK$702 per day and HK$2,900 per week for an economy car with air-conditioning, automatic transmission, and unlimited mileage. Remember that you drive on the left in Hong Kong. Take traffic regulations seriously even if other drivers don't -- the police are very ticket-happy.