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HZMB - has anyone managed to get insurance sorted?

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  1. #1

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    Question HZMB - has anyone managed to get insurance sorted?

    While it makes very little sense from a money saving, or (from HK Island) even convenience perspective, I'd quite like to be able to drive to Macau. Seems only a small quota can drive into the city but that there's a large car park at the end of the bridge where you can take a bus or taxi into town.

    Transport department have an application process where for HKD540 you get a 12mth permit for the bridge from the HK and Macau sides sorted as well as a statutory filing for the Mainland (as it's their bridge/waters).

    Unfortunately you also need car insurance for Macau and the Mainland before you can actually legally drive across and that seems to be more of a challenge. Has anyone actually managed to get cover in place without spending stupid amounts of money?

    Really can't believe that in the 10 years they were planning and building this thing they couldn't put some common laws and ordinances in place to facilitate local cover being valid (at least for the crossing to the car parks).


  2. #2

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    It's about HK$1200-1800/year per territory for Macau and mainland cover. So yes not cheap if you are only making a small number of trips.

    I don't believe there is any insurance plan yet designated for the HKZM bridge but imagine something should pop up.


  3. #3

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    Bigger problem here is Macao plates. I have a car with dual HK & Guangdong plates, but never was able to enter to Macao.


  4. #4

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    I was quoted CNY 950 and MOP 1,210 for those jurisdictions respectively.

    However, unless I misunderstood, I believe the CNY 950 includes coverage for all of Guangdong (not just HZMB) - so if you have an HRP and ever fancy driving into Guangdong on the ad-hoc quota scheme, then you'd be covered.

    I got these quotes via Kwiksure, who arranged my existing HK vehicle insurance.

    MandM! likes this.

  5. #5

    crossing borders in prviate vehicles is really for the celebrities or rich only in HK, Macao and Mainland. Lifestyles here is different. We are well used to public transport instead.


  6. #6

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    Few thousand HKD doesn't make you rich. But yes it is not cheap. Public transport is cheap and if it wasn't then traffic would be much worse.


  7. #7

    Chinese media had shown a HK celebrity got his permit to use the bridge in Zhuhai. Celebrities don't ride buses and trains when going to Mainland and Macao. Many ride helicopters to Macao.

    Planning was to restrict the number of private vehicles . As in many East Asian cities, they probably don't encourage the increase of vehicles into HK , Zhuhai and Macao, by expensive costs , requirements of insurance and plates application. Zhuhai doesn't have serious traffic jam due to the small population, restricting vehicles is a good idea to keep the current good situation. HK and Macao hve very high population density and jam, controlling the increase of vehicles is good.

    Last edited by lighthse003; 28-12-2018 at 12:57 PM.

  8. #8

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    Received the following annual quotes for Macau insurance (limited to car park area only):

    Min Xin Insurance: HKD $1,372
    Asia Insurance: HKD $1,527

    Frankly outrageous, considering it's 3rd party insurance only and one pays something similar for HK insurance: except covering the whole city, and not just a stupid car park.

    Mainland insurance was a consistent CNY 950 from both CPIC & PICC. This is for 3rd party (excl. property damage) only. Property damage was an additional CNY 1,222 whereas protection for your own vehicle was CNY 2,680 more. At least with this policy, it applies for all of Guangdong Province (not just HZMB) which means those driving to Mainland with the 7-day self-drive arrangement need not get another policy.

    It's crazy to think that "one country" can't figure out a more streamlined and cost effective way to share road infrastructure when one can drive within the EU relatively bullshit free.

    Coolboy and shri like this.

  9. #9

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    I managed to get the cover in place in the end (via Kwilsure). Cost wise I reckon we just about broke even Vs the cost of ferries in 1st class etc given a few trips with a full car, but probably won't bother renewing for the year ahead. Last time we went just before new year the RMB bridge toll seemed to have been waived... Not sure if that's a permanent arrangement or they were just feeling generous with Xi's visit for the anniversary. Helpfully at least a couple of casino buses now go to the bridge station, along with a couple of very full public bus routes which didn't exist a year ago.

    Any idea if the 7 day self-drive plus a normal multi entry visa, and a Hong Kong driving license is enough to drive into Zuhai or Shenzhen (using the China insurance coverage)? The HK gov website shows only about 5 or 6 people use the scheme monthly which seems very low if it only needs a 950HKD insurance policy so I'm a bit dubious! People I've spoken to also seem pretty sure a Gweilo on HK plates will get into a crash scam within yards of the border...

    Coolboy likes this.

  10. #10

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    Quote Originally Posted by Peaky:
    I managed to get the cover in place in the end (via Kwilsure). Cost wise I reckon we just about broke even Vs the cost of ferries in 1st class etc given a few trips with a full car, but probably won't bother renewing for the year ahead. Last time we went just before new year the RMB bridge toll seemed to have been waived... Not sure if that's a permanent arrangement or they were just feeling generous with Xi's visit for the anniversary. Helpfully at least a couple of casino buses now go to the bridge station, along with a couple of very full public bus routes which didn't exist a year ago.

    Any idea if the 7 day self-drive plus a normal multi entry visa, and a Hong Kong driving license is enough to drive into Zuhai or Shenzhen (using the China insurance coverage)? The HK gov website shows only about 5 or 6 people use the scheme monthly which seems very low if it only needs a 950HKD insurance policy so I'm a bit dubious! People I've spoken to also seem pretty sure a Gweilo on HK plates will get into a crash scam within yards of the border...
    The highway tolls on the Mainland are always waived during long holidays, like CNY or National Day.
    I'm sure you won't get into a scam in Shenzhen, but Zhuhai might be different. At any rate you will be fucked if you are in an accident and can't speak Chinese, it's gonna be your fault no matter what, especially outside of Shenzhen.
    hongkong7 likes this.

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