【Car Tips】Recommended mobile apps for car owners
As a Hong Kong car editor, I truly believe that to be a competent car owner in 2025, you must have some smart and user-friendly apps on your phone. Not only will they solve your daily driving problems, but they'll also save you time, money, and worry! This article will provide a detailed analysis of which must-have apps are most practical for Hong Kong car owners, suitable for which types of drivers, and the most effective ways to use them. We'll also include tips and my personal experiences!
1. Navigation/maps/real-time traffic conditions
Google Maps
- Functions : The most comprehensive navigation, route planning, real-time traffic congestion reminders, parking lot information, and street view.
- Hong Kong Features : Accurate display of traffic congestion, support for Cantonese voice navigation, and fast updates.
- Editor’s tip : Take advantage of the “Estimated Time of Arrival” feature to plan an alternative route in real time when stuck in traffic.
Waze
- Function : Real-time social reporting of police, traffic accidents, road works, speed traps, etc.
- Hong Kong specialty : spontaneous reporting by car owners, especially suitable for those who drive long distances or are afraid of "beef jerky".
- Editor's Note : This app is a must-have for night driving and holiday tours of the New Territories. The information is more authentic than Google's.
Hong Kong Map - Centamap/Hong Kong Lands Department Map
- Function : Official map of the Lands Department, find streets, buildings, parking lot locations, and building entrances.
- Usage : It is especially useful for beginners to find rare streets or village houses.
2. Parking/Payment/Parking Space Search
HKCarpark (Hong Kong parking space)
- Function : Real-time query of the location, charges and vacancy of shopping malls, government and private parking lots in all districts of Hong Kong.
- Editor's Tip : Automatic navigation to the parking lot entrance is supported, making it particularly useful for finding a spot in hard-to-find areas like Mong Kok and Causeway Bay.
Easy Parking (e-park.hk)
- Functions : Instantly find parking spaces, support parking reservations (for some parking lots), and display charges.
- Editor’s test : Popular parking lots will have real-time “full” reminders, saving time in finding a spot.
Octopus App／Alipay HK／Tap & Go
- Function : Pay some government/shopping mall/roadside meter parking fees, support mobile payment.
- Tip : Use the Octopus App to park your car and save the hassle of carrying cash.
3. Road and traffic information
Hong Kong Transport Department Mobile Application
- Functions : Real-time traffic conditions, road closures, traffic jams/accidents/road closure information, and tunnel toll collection.
- Advantages : Official data is the most reliable and suitable for daily inter-regional commuting drivers.
HKeMobility
- Function : Check real-time tunnel traffic, parking lots, electric vehicle charging stations, road projects, etc.
- Editor's recommendation : Even if you're driving, it's very convenient to check tunnel traffic jams/real-time road conditions.
4. Exclusive for electric vehicles
ChargeSpot / Electric Vehicle Charging Map / Tesla App
- Function : Check the location, real-time availability, reservation and payment of electric vehicle charging stations in Hong Kong.
- Tesla App : Designed for Tesla owners, it controls charging, air conditioning, and car location, etc.
- Editor's recommendation : A must-have for EV owners, especially on weekends and holidays when charging spaces are hard to find.
5. Owner's life/repair/maintenance records
Drivvo/Fuelio/Car Expenses
- Function : Record expenses such as fuel, repairs, maintenance, insurance, annual inspections, etc., and analyze vehicle usage costs.
- My personal experience : Using Drivvo to record fuel consumption and maintenance history lets me know which gas station is the most economical in the long run and when to change my engine oil.
Carousell/28Car
- Functions : Buy used cars, auto supplies, find a mechanic, and find a garage.
- Editor’s sharing : Selling cars, finding affordable modifications, and buying and selling parts all rely on these two platforms.
Hong Kong Automobile Association (HKAA) App
- Functions : emergency support, roadside assistance, member discounts, insurance inquiry.
- Recommendation : A must-have for long-distance driving or novice drivers, so you don’t have to worry about having no one to help you when you encounter problems.
6. Violation and fine enquiries
Hong Kong Police Force - Traffic Violation Notice Enquiry Platform
- Function : Check if there is any unpaid fine to avoid additional fines.
- Tip : Check the ticket on the app as soon as you receive it, and some tickets can be paid online.
7. Other essential and practical apps
Weather App (HK Observatory / MyObservatory)
- Functions : Real-time weather, rain warning, black rain/red rain/thunderstorm/strong wind warning.
- Editor's tip : Know when it rains heavily and park your car to avoid flooding.
Google Keep/Apple Notes/Evernote
- Usage : Record important information such as maintenance, license plate, insurance, annual inspection due date, etc.
Car Cam dedicated apps (such as 70mai, Viofo, Blackvue, etc.)
- Functions : Live video viewing, clip downloading, remote control settings.
Editor's personal recommendation
| use | APP Name | Editor's Comments (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| navigation | Google Maps, Waze | A must-have! Perfect for getting out of town, getting stuck in traffic, scouting, and even getting a bit of beef jerky. |
| Find a parking space | HKCarpark, Easy Parking | A great tool for finding parking spaces in popular areas, saving time and reducing ticket tickets |
| Traffic Information | Transport Department App, HKeMobility | Instantly check tunnels/traffic jams/road closures/parking lots |
| Fuel cost management | Drivvo, Fuelio | It helps you save fuel and record maintenance in the long term, and is suitable for people who use many cars. |
| Charging/electric vehicles | ChargeSpot, Tesla App | A must-have for EV owners, no worries when finding charging stations |
| Emergency Support | Hong Kong Automobile Association (HKAA) | Seeking help when in trouble can help novice drivers feel more at ease |
| Violation Enquiry/Fine Payment | Traffic violation enquiries, Octopus App | Don't worry about forgetting to pay the fine |
| Second-hand auto parts/sale | Carousell, 28Car | Buy and sell spare parts, sell cars, and find garages at affordable prices |
| Weather/flood avoidance | MyObservatory | Black rain flooding warning, park to avoid disaster |
| Car Cam Management | 70mai, Viofo, Blackvue and other original apps | Instant download of clips for easy alarm/insurance |
Editor's Upgrade Tips
- Safety first : Don’t use apps while driving while looking at your phone. It’s best to use CarPlay/Android Auto or voice navigation.
- Update the app regularly to ensure the latest data, especially charging stations, parking lots, and traffic information.
- Protect your privacy : Pay attention to app permissions and avoid installing apps from unknown sources.
- Have a backup : If your navigation app fails or there is no network connection, you can use another app as a backup.
- Make good use of cloud sync : Repair, insurance, and maintenance data are stored in the cloud, so you don’t have to worry about losing your phone when you change it.
Summarize
For Hong Kong car owners in 2025, mobile apps will become their go-to assistants for daily driving! Making good use of apps for navigation, parking, traffic, repairs, charging, and fine inquiries will not only save you time, money, and hassle, but also make your daily driving safer and smarter! For tips on using various apps and any "hacks" you've encountered, feel free to leave a message and ask us. Let's all make our car-loving lives more technologically advanced! 🚗📱
If you want to learn more about actual testing, installation instructions, or function comparison of a certain type of app, please feel free to ask the editor!
