DIY Rental Van in HK?

[TimM]

I need to move some furniture between Causeway Bay and Kennedy Town next weekend and am looking to hire a van for a few hours to complete the move.

Are there any easy/cheap DIY hire vans you can recommend that are not far from CWB?

I'm also happy to hire a wan with driver if necessary, bit would only need them for 2 hours max.

Thank you!

[Claire ex-ax]

Yes you can hire a van to drive yourself, if you have the licence for a small goods vehicle.

[TimM]

Thanks Claire - I have an Australian unrestricted heavy vehicle drivers license, so renting/driving a van shouldn't be an issue.

Do you know of any DIY hire companies with a good rep? I'v tried google to no avail.

[Claire ex-ax]

I posted a place on Geoexpat earlier this year. You should probably 'google' in Chinese for a wider range of options.

BTW, re the licence. I'm not up on this but if you are a Hong Kong resident, i.e. not a visitor, you need to convert it an HK licence. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

[kimwy66]

I posted a place on Geoexpat earlier this year. You should probably 'google' in Chinese for a wider range of options.

BTW, re the licence. I'm not up on this but if you are a Hong Kong resident, i.e. not a visitor, you need to convert it an HK licence. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

You are correct. When you become resident your overseas licence is instantly invalid for driving in Hong Kong. You may only use a foreign licence if you are on a tourist visa.


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[INXS]

You are correct. When you become resident your overseas licence is instantly invalid for driving in Hong Kong. You may only use a foreign licence if you are on a tourist visa.


Sent from my GT-I9105P using GeoClicks mobile app

Not true...there is a grace period...6 months I believe...might even be a year.

How do I know? Speeding ticket after I had my HKID...no points and a reminder to transfer my licence...

[kimwy66]

Not true...there is a grace period...6 months I believe...might even be a year.

How do I know? Speeding ticket after I had my HKID...no points and a reminder to transfer my licence...

There is no grace period. How do I know? Got pulled over in a speed check in my first few weeks in HK, and ended up explaining myself to an Inspector down at the station, threatened with being charged with Driving without a Licence and Driving without Insurance, and having my husband charged with allowing a car to be driven without insurance.

It is a myth on the internet that I fell for. But lets not perpetuate it. THERE IS NO GRACE PERIOD.

3. Driving in Hong Kong for Overseas Driving Licence Holders

For overseas driving licence holders who wish to drive in Hong Kong, they may do so through one of the following means-

(a) Apply for a full driving licence by direct issue without test;
(b) Apply for a temporary driving licence; or
(c) Driving on strength of their valid overseas driving licence or international driving permit if they are visitors to Hong Kong (visitors mean that they arrive at Hong Kong other than to take up residence for a period not exceeding 12 months).

If you have a visa to reside in Hong Kong and are eligible for a HKID, you must immediately apply for a Hong Kong licence, simple process takes 7 days. If you don't, the penalty is a fine and / or 12 months imprisonment.

I had to wait 2 months to find out if I was going to be charged or not, and had to attend another interview with the inspector. I was let off in the end with a very stern lecture, for which I counted myself lucky having been so stupid as to have believed something I read on the internet without checking first.

[Trance Omega]

If you have a visa to reside in Hong Kong and are eligible for a HKID, you must immediately apply for a Hong Kong licence, simple process takes 7 days. If you don't, the penalty is a fine and / or 12 months imprisonment.

I can confirm this too. We bought our car before we got our HK licenses and the sale couldn't be completed or insurance until we had our license. We couldn't even take it for a test drive until after we got our licenses. This was last February.

[jgl]

Hang on, the original requirement is to move some furniture which requires a van/truck for a couple of hours. Why even suggest that the OP drive the van himself?

This is exactly the sort of work that the man-with-van operators perform. Point to point or hourly rentals (hourly rates are around 100-120 an hour off memory). This way the OP doesn't have to faff with license requirements, navigation or parking, and concentrate on just moving furniture.

There's a thousand companies and individual operators out there, just call the number on the side of any van or search the forum for prior recommendations. I use Wing Shing frequently, but you might need a Canto speaker to get it sorted out.

[Claire ex-ax]

I think in some countries it's more common to rent a van and drive/move stuff yourself than it is in Hong Kong. Here, you call a man with a van. Easier all round but may not be so familiar for the OP.