Author
Bowtie Team
Updated on
2025-06-11
Disclaimer: This article is translated with the assistance of AI.
Heading to Mainland China with your Hong Kong vehicle? Find out the essential insurance coverage you need, the key differences between compulsory and commercial policies, estimated premiums, and Bowtie’s detailed comparison of 6 top insurers to help you choose wisely!
Insurance Requirements for Hong Kong Cars Entering Mainland China
Northbound travel for hong kong vehicles owners must purchase Mainland China’s Compulsory Third Party Liability Insurance and may consider adding Commercial Insurance for more comprehensive coverage. The details are as follows:
Compulsory Third Party Liability Insurance
Whether it’s for Hong Kong cars entering Mainland China or vehicles registered in Mainland China, as long as they are driving on Mainland roads, the owners or managers must comply with the “People’s Republic of China Road Traffic Safety Law” and the “Motor Vehicle Traffic Accident Liability Compulsory Insurance Ordinance” by purchasing Motor Vehicle Traffic Accident Liability Compulsory Insurance, commonly known as Compulsory Third Party Liability Insurance.
Compulsory Third Party Liability Insurance is a legal requirement in Mainland China, covering third-party bodily injury or property damage, but it does not cover the driver or passengers in the vehicle. Plus, the compensation limit for each accident is only RMB 200,000 (the minimum legal requirement in Mainland China), which might not be sufficient. Therefore, the Hong Kong Consumer Council recommends that policyholders add Mainland China’s vehicle Commercial Insurance to enhance protection, often referred to as Commercial Insurance.
The coverage limit for Compulsory Third Party Liability Insurance per accident is RMB 200,000, with the breakdown as follows:
| Compensation Limits per Item | Where the Insured is Legally Liable | Where the Insured is Not Legally Liable |
| Third Party Bodily Injury or Death | RMB¥180,000 | RMB¥18,000 |
| Third Party Medical Expenses | RMB¥18,000 | RMB¥1,800 |
| Third Party Property Damage | RMB¥2,000 | RMB¥100 |
Commercial Insurance
Commercial Insurance can be divided into two types. The first is “Commercial Insurance (Third Party Liability),” commonly known as “Commercial Third Party Insurance,” which covers additional compensation for third-party bodily injury or property damage beyond the Mainland China’s minimum legal requirement (RMB 200,000). The coverage options range from RMB 1 million to RMB 10 million. The second type is “Commercial Insurance (Vehicle Occupants Liability),” often called “Seat Insurance,” which covers compensation related to passengers and the driver in the insured vehicle, with coverage options ranging from RMB 10,000 to RMB 200,000.
What is ‘Equivalent Recognition’?
‘Equivalent Recognition’ is a policy announced in May 2023 by both Hong Kong and Mainland China to facilitate Hong Kong cars entering Mainland China. This policy allows Hong Kong car owners to purchase the required Mainland China auto insurance—namely, Compulsory Third Party Liability Insurance (a legal requirement) and Commercial Insurance (optional add-on)—through their Hong Kong insurance company as an add-on to their existing Hong Kong auto insurance policy.
Under the current policy, policyholders must add these ‘Equivalent Recognition’ products through the insurance company that currently insures their Hong Kong auto policy. This setup means the entire policy is issued by the same insurer, eliminating the need for separate policies in Hong Kong and Mainland China, making the process of purchasing and after-sales support more convenient for consumers.
How to Buy Car Insurance for Hong Kong Vehicles for Northbound Travel?
If you’re a car owner in Hong Kong planning to take your vehicle north, you can purchase the required auto insurance through the following channels:
- Purchase an “Equivalent Prior Recognition” product from a Hong Kong insurance company within the validity period of your existing Hong Kong vehicle insurance policy
- Through a one-stop service from a Hong Kong insurance company, buy Compulsory Third Party Liability Insurance and Commercial Insurance from a mainland insurance company
- Directly purchase Compulsory Third Party Liability Insurance and Commercial Insurance from a mainland insurance company
When to Buy Car Insurance for Hong Kong Vehicles for Northbound Travel?
Applying for northbound vehicles involves several steps, so when should you buy the relevant mainland car insurance?
According to the official northbound vehicles website, after submitting your application, you can wait for notifications via email or mainland mobile SMS from the mainland authorities. Meanwhile, you can use the link on the northbound vehicles website to access the “Mainland Information Management Service System” to check the next required procedures.
Once your vehicle passes the specified vehicle inspection for northbound vehicles, you can then purchase the relevant car insurance.
Plus, keep these two key points in mind:
- Zhuhai traffic police will only approve the northbound vehicle application after the mainland car insurance takes effect. If the insurance is already in effect when uploaded, Zhuhai traffic police will approve it right away. If not, they’ll wait until it takes effect.
- The validity period of the electronic temporary entry vehicle license plate for northbound vehicles must match that of the Compulsory Third Party Liability Insurance, but it can’t exceed one year. Since the “Closed Road Access Permit” issued by the Transport Department must align with the mainland electronic license plate’s validity period, make sure to select the same validity period as the Compulsory Third Party Liability Insurance when applying for the permit.
Costs of Car Insurance for Hong Kong Vehicles Going North
How much does car insurance for northbound vehicles cost? For a typical five-seater family car, we’re assuming coverage for Compulsory Third Party Liability Insurance, Commercial Third Party Insurance (with a limit of RMB 2 million), and Passenger Insurance (with a limit of RMB 50,000 per seat). Here’s a breakdown of the basic premiums (for 1 year) from various insurance companies:
| Insurance Company | Compulsory Third Party Liability Insurance Premium | Commercial Third Party Insurance Premium | Passenger Insurance Premium |
| Hong Kong China Travel Insurance Advisors | HK$2,191 1 | ||
| China Taiping Insurance (Hong Kong) | RMB¥950 | RMB¥922 | RMB¥750 |
| MSIG Hong Kong | RMB¥760 | RMB¥922 | RMB¥750 |
| Allianz (Hong Kong) | HK$1,064 | HK$1,476 | HK$1,200 |
| AXA (Hong Kong) | HK$1,159 | HK$1,125 | HK$126 2 |
| Kwiksure | RMB¥950 | RMB¥923 | Not available |
- 1 Only provides package premiums
- 2 Default coverage amount is RMB 10,000 per person
- * Premium data sourced from the relevant insurance company websites, last updated on September 5, 2024
Why You Should Get Medical Insurance for Hong Kong Vehicles Traveling Northbound?
Hong Kong folks driving northbound might not be fully familiar with mainland road conditions and traffic rules, which can ramp up the risk of accidents. Plus, Hong Kong vehicle northbound insurance mainly focuses on third-party compensation, and even the “seat insurance” under “commercial insurance” that covers drivers and passengers comes with pretty limited limits (just RMB 1,000 to 20,000 per person).
So, if you’re thinking about taking a Hong Kong vehicle northbound, it’s a smart move to snag some medical insurance for yourself. That way, if an unfortunate accident happens and you need hospitalization or surgery, you won’t be left footing the entire bill yourself. With medical insurance*, you can use it to help cover those medical costs and ease your financial burden.
- * Different medical insurance plans offer varying covered regions, so consumers should review the terms and conditions before purchasing and claiming.
Why Bowtie Pink is the Perfect Add-on?
Bowtie Pink VHIS comes packed with appealing features, making it a solid health backup for both young adventurers and seasoned travelers who love a good road trip:
- Available for individuals aged 15 days to 80 years
- Coverage applies worldwide ^
- Global emergency support services
- Full reimbursement 1 for any hospital, any surgery
- Annual limit: Up to HK$20,000,000 (reset annually)
- Monthly premiums as low as HK$178 #
- ^ Excludes the US and non-designated hospitals in China; psychiatric treatment is limited to Hong Kong.
- # Based on a 25-year-old non-smoker subscribing to Bowtie Pink (Ward) with a deductible option of HK$80,000 per month.
- 1 Full reimbursement means no sub-limits and applies only to specified coverage items. Payments are subject to remaining deductible (if applicable), annual limits, lifetime limits, and other factors including reasonable and customary charges, pre-existing conditions, designated hospitals in mainland China, and restrictions on treatment in the US. For full product terms, conditions, risks, and exclusions, please refer to the relevant product website and policy.
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