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Hong Kong license plate (HK) in 2025 ✅



Current Hong Kong car license plates use the standard European size, bearing a high similarity to the British system due to their common historical background. The configuration of Hong Kong car license plates is two letters followed by four numbers in black on yellow at the rear and a white background at the front.

Car license plate from Hong Kong


Image of the current flag of Hong Kong
The international code of Hong Kong is HK.

Updated political map of Hong Kong

Capital city: Victoria
Language: Chinese and English
International code: HK
In Hong Kong they drive on the left
First plate was registered on: ?.
There are 77 cars per 1000 inhabitants.
Continent: Asia


Please, check matriculasdelmundo.com in Spanish here for all the updated information about license plates of Hong Kong.


Current Hong Kong License Plates


Hong Kong license plates (香港車輛號牌) use the same font and plate style as in the United Kingdom with the standard European size. The Hong Kong vehicle license plates system consists of two letters followed by four numbers, starting from AA1 to AA9999 and AA9999 to ZZ9999. Some letter combinations identify a special license plate system in Hong Kong. The letters I, O, and Q are not used in Hong Kong license plates. Custom license plates are allowed with almost any word or combination.


The rear Hong Kong license plate has a yellow background, while the front one has a white background. The Hong Kong vehicle license plate system started with the letters HK in 1951, followed by AA to ZZ. BB 1972, CD 1980, EJ 1990, FA 2000, KK 2010, 2017 UN.


How current Hong Kong license plates work
How current Hong Kong license plates work

Custom Hong Kong License Plates


Custom Hong Kong vehicle license plates have been available since 2006. They use the same plate type as the regular system but allow a combination of up to 8 characters, excluding the letters I, O, and Q to prevent confusion. Custom Hong Kong license plates can be obtained through an auction at an approximate cost of 5,000 Hong Kong dollars (~589 €).


Custom Hong Kong License Plate
Example of a custom Hong Kong license plate

What Numbers Are Used in Hong Kong License Plates?


Hong Kong license plates use two letters followed by up to four numbers. However, you may be wondering which numbers are used in greater detail. Some numbers and number combinations in Hong Kong vehicle license plates are considered lucky numbers, especially those containing 3 or 8, which symbolize longevity and prosperity in local culture. These numbers in Hong Kong license plates can be acquired through public auction, just like license plates with low numbers from 2 to 10. The Hong Kong license plate with the number 1 identifies the Commissioner of Police.


Standard rear Hong Kong license plate with yellow background
Example of a rear Hong Kong license plate

What Do the First Two Letters on Hong Kong License Plates Mean?


The first two letters on Hong Kong license plates can identify the type of vehicle when they do not use the regular system. Some examples of what the first two letters on Hong Kong license plates mean are listed below. AM identifies a government or police vehicle, LC refers to the legislative council. Hong Kong vehicle license plates starting with FU or FV identify a left-hand drive vehicle (mainly from mainland China Read more). Ambulances and hospital service vehicles have Hong Kong license plates that start with HA, identifying the Hospital Authority. License plates in Hong Kong that begin with the VV and VW series identify vehicles not intended for standard road use (village vehicles) mainly used for cargo transport between Hong Kong’s islands. These vehicles are under 3.2 meters long. Hong Kong vehicle license plates with the letters ZM likely indicate a car registered in Macao or China. Read more below.


What Do ZM or FV Letters on a Hong Kong License Plate Mean?


Hong Kong has a special territorial status shared with Macao and Guangdong (China), reflected in a unique license plate system. If you are wondering what the letters ZM or FV mean on a Hong Kong license plate, here is an explanation. Hong Kong vehicle license plates with ZM and FV must have a yellow rear background and a white front background, following the official Hong Kong standard. When a vehicle from Macao drives in Hong Kong, it must display both the standard Macao license plate (white characters on a black background in a European format) and a Hong Kong license plate starting with ZM. Since the opening of the 50-kilometer Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge in 2018, these vehicles frequently travel between both territories without having to pass through China. When one of these Macao vehicles enters Hong Kong, it must use the Hong Kong license plate in addition to its Macao plate.


Other Types of Special Hong Kong License Plates


Here are some examples of other special Hong Kong vehicle license plates currently in use. Hong Kong license plates ending in just the letter A identify government fire department ambulances. Trailer plates in Hong Kong start with T or Z. There are no differentiated diplomatic plates, meaning there are no diplomatic corps license plates in Hong Kong, only a small oval code with the letters CC in red on a white background.



☛ Which code identifies cars from Hong Kong?

The code HK identifies Hong Kong. The license plates of Hong Kong may be used with the international registration code HK next to it on the back part of the car.

international oval code HK from Hong Kong

Example of a car with the international recognition code of Hong Kong


Below you can find a car with the oval code and international recognition of Hong Kong which is HK.

Red Porsche with the HK code from Hong Kong


Questions and answers about car license plates in Hong Kong 🥇

Small falg of Hong Kong

Where is the code HK in a license plate from?

The international code HK identifies Hong Kong, in Asia.


Which country uses the code HK on its license plate?

The country that uses the code HK on its car license plate system is Hong Kong.. The letter or letters HK always identify Hong Kong. The international code HK must always be displayed on the rear of the vehicle inHong KongSpain in an oval in black characters on a white background when travelling abroad, except in very rare cases.


When did Hong Kong have its first ordinary car license plate?

The date of the first car license plate registration officially issued in Hong Kong was in ?.


Which side of the road do people drive on in Hong Kong?

In Hong Kong, you drive on the left side of the road.


On which continent is Hong Kong located?

Hong Kong is located in the continent . You can check how are the license plates of Asia following the link to the general section within matriculasdelmundo. Car license plates in Asia


What are license plates from Hong Kong called in other English-speaking couuntries?

In English, license plate of Hong Kong is commonly called a license plate of Hong Kong in the United States and Canada. In the UK and Australia, it’s often known as a number plate of Hong Kong. Another term, registration plate of Hong Kong, is understood globally and is slightly more formal. All these terms refer to the same vehicle identification plate of Hong Kong, with usage varying by country. Car plate of Hong Kong can be used in more technical situations.


Is it the same a license plate of Hong Kong and a registration plate of Hong Kong?

Yes, both license plate of Hong Kong and registration plate of Hong Kong can be used to refer the same vehicle registration unique number of Hong Kong.


Cite this section about the license plates of Hong Kong


Matriculasdelmundo. License plates of Hong Kong. Reviewed and updated information. Matriculasdelmundo.com. Retrieved on 01/05/2025 from https://matriculasdelmundo.com/en/hong-kong.html.



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Big map of Hong Kong

Map of the Hong Kong license plates


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Official Sources on License Plates of Hong Kong


All the information about the license plates of cars and motorcycles in Hong Kong and vehicle plates shown here has been extracted from official state archives (such as the BOE and the DGT in Spain), from personal sightings, by contacting automobile clubs from other countries, or through media or files referenced in the text. This information on car and motorcycle plates in Hong Kong has been collected since 2009, so we hope you find the information you're looking for about Hong Kong license plates.


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Please, check matriculasdelmundo.com in Spanish here for all the updated information about license plates of Hong Kong.

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