Do I need to leave the vehicle when passing the Shenzhen-Hong Kong cross-border private MPV? 2026 Inspection Process

Let me tell you the answer directly: You have to leave the vehicle, but only on the Shenzhen side. **

This is a question many people ask before making their first appointment. Some people say that they can pass the whole journey by sitting in the car, while others say that they have to drag their luggage and queue up. What happened is explained below.

The driver drives to the Hong Kong exit and you sit still in the car. Hong Kong Customs inspects the vehicle and handles border clearance procedures. During the entire process, you do not need to get off the car, carry luggage, or queue up.

When the car passes, you follow it.

This is one of the places where cross-border chartering is more convenient than taking the high-speed rail or bus—you don’t have to carry your luggage between different modes of transportation.

It's different here. Since December 2017, Mainland Customs has stipulated that all passengers must leave the vehicle, walk through the customs on their own, and then enter the vehicle to continue their journey.

The actual process is like this:

1. The driver parked the car at the designated location at the Shenzhen checkpoint
2. All passengers leave the vehicle and collect their bags and documents.
3. Walk into the Mainland Immigration Hall and wait in line as usual - usually 5 to 15 minutes
4. The driver takes the vehicle passage and waits for you at the exit.
5. The large luggage placed in the trunk should be kept in the car at all times and the driver will be responsible for taking care of it.

This link of parking and walking to cross the border usually takes 15 to 25 minutes. If it’s not a holiday and there’s no traffic jam, 15 minutes is basically enough.

Different checkpoints have different queue times.

Shenzhen Bay checkpoint - the first choice for heading to Nanshan and Shekou. Hong Kong and Shenzhen share one inspection area, which saves time and is one of the most efficient checkpoints.Huanggang checkpoint — 24-hour border clearance. For guests landing on late-night flights, drivers usually go here.Futian checkpoint — The closest to Futian central area, but it is prone to traffic jams during morning and evening rush hours.

Which checkpoint to take is decided by the driver based on your destination and real-time traffic conditions, so you don’t need to choose.

• Passport (Hong Kong residents can use Hong Kong ID card, and mainland residents can use home return permit)
• Required endorsement or visa
• Small carry-on bag (if you have one)

The driver handles the vehicle clearance, so you don’t need to worry about it.

Reference time from Hong Kong Airport to various districts in Shenzhen:

During the Golden Week and public holidays in both places, the flow of people passing through the border will increase significantly and the time will be extended accordingly.