You've just moved to Hong Kong and are wondering whether to import your trusty little Corolla from your home country or buy a new one here?
If you opt for the former, the Hong Kong Automobile Association (HKAA) provides a one-stop service that includes collecting the vehicle from the docks, preparing a report of its condition, storing it and arranging inspection, registration and licensing. Some of the larger moving companies also offer a similar service, so shop around.
The HKAA's fee is HK$8,000, but shipping charges are excluded.
If you ship your car from Britain to Hong Kong, it would take about three months for it to get here and a minimum of three weeks to finalise the car's registration.
People import their cars to Hong Kong for sentimental reasons as the cost is similar to buying a new car in the city, according to Kenny Chan, assistant manager of the auto transport section of the HKAA.
New cars don't come cheap due to the hefty addition of the First Registration Tax (FRT) on all new vehicles.
The FRT uses a sliding scale of taxation, so the more expensive the car is, the more tax is charged. For example, a BMW 525i lists at ?30,700 in Britain, but here it sells for HK$559,000. Taking an exchange rate of HK$12 to the pound, the Beemer's price should be HK$368,400. But it costs a whopping 52 per cent more in Hong Kong.