Amap Ride-Hailing Hong Kong Review: New-User Offer, Taxi Fares, the Legality of Private Cars and User Ratings

Amap Ride-Hailing is the ride-hailing service of the Amap map app, which is operated by AutoNavi, part of Alibaba Group. The service is built into the map app and works in both Hong Kong and the Mainland: after entering a destination, users can compare estimated fares for different vehicle types and book. Amap launched ride-hailing in Hong Kong in May 2024, initially offering taxis only, and added a private-car option in February 2025.

Amap's App Store description states that it offers ride-hailing in Hong Kong and the Mainland, allows prices to be compared before booking, supports one-tap payment and automatic deduction, and gives new users a discount on their first ride. The link on this page opens the Amap Ride-Hailing Hong Kong new-user campaign page in Traditional Chinese, not a general map download page.

A metered taxi booked through Amap costs the same as one hailed on the street, and its fare is regulated by the Transport Department. From 14 July 2024, urban taxis charge HK$29 for the first 2 km, then HK$2.1 for each 200 metres or each minute of waiting, falling to HK$1.4 for each 200 metres once the fare reaches HK$102.5; New Territories taxis charge HK$25.5 and Lantau taxis HK$24 for the first 2 km.

Surcharges are extra: HK$6 for each piece of luggage, HK$5 for each animal or bird, and HK$5 for a telephone booking. Urban taxis using a cross-harbour tunnel charge HK$25 plus a HK$25 return toll, which is waived when the trip starts at a cross-harbour taxi stand. Where a fixed fare offered in the app is chosen, check before confirming whether the quote already includes tunnel tolls and luggage charges.

For an urban taxi, excluding waiting time and surcharges: 3 km costs about HK$39.5, 5 km about HK$60.5, 10 km about HK$109.5 and 15 km about HK$144.5. The same fixed-amount coupon therefore gives a higher percentage discount on a short trip: every HK$10 off equals roughly a quarter of a 3 km fare, but only about 7% of a 15 km fare.

Where a coupon is a percentage discount with a cap per ride, the effective discount falls once a longer fare exceeds the cap. Before booking, confirm on the fare screen that the coupon has been applied, and compare the amount deducted with the fare for that trip rather than looking only at the coupon's face value.

After opening the campaign page through the link on this page, tap "Claim" and complete any phone verification the page requests, then check the coupons actually issued on the coupons page of the Amap app. Amap publishes no fixed amount outside the campaign page; each coupon's value, minimum fare, eligible vehicle types, area and validity are governed by its own terms. Claim with the same phone number you will use to book rides, as the coupons are credited to that number's account.

Eligibility for new-user status is decided by Amap. Having booked a ride with Amap in Hong Kong before, or having an account, device, phone number or payment method linked to another account, may disqualify a user from new-user offers. Coupons are fare credit, cannot be exchanged for cash and lapse when they expire; cancelling a trip may also invalidate a coupon that has been applied.

Disclosure: the link on this page is this site's invitation link. Amap does not publish any reward for the party who shares the link.

Under section 52(3) of the Road Traffic Ordinance, a private car may carry passengers for hire or reward only if a valid hire car permit is in force. After Amap added a private-car option in February 2025, the Transport and Logistics Bureau stated that only taxis, or private cars holding hire car permits, may provide personalised point-to-point services, and that it had written to remind Amap to comply. The Transport Department warns that the third-party insurance of a vehicle used for illegal carriage for hire or reward may be invalid; passengers can check whether a permit is displayed on the left side of the windscreen, or check the registration mark using the Transport Department's online system.

The new regime regulating ride-hailing has been enacted. Most provisions took effect on 3 August 2026; the Transport Department accepts platform licence applications until noon on 30 October 2026 and expects to issue licences in phases from the end of November at the earliest. The remaining provisions take effect on 22 August 2027, after which every ride-hailing trip must be booked through a licensed platform and provided by a vehicle holding a ride-hailing vehicle permit and a driver holding a ride-hailing vehicle driving permit. Until then, choosing a taxi is the clearest option in legal terms.

Before confirming a booking, check each item on the fare screen: whether the vehicle is a taxi or a private car, whether it is metered or a fixed fare, whether a coupon has been applied automatically, the estimated pick-up time, and whether a fixed quote already includes tunnel tolls and surcharges. Before boarding, check that the registration mark matches the one shown in the app.

Before cancelling a trip, read the cancellation terms shown on the booking screen; cancelling after a driver has accepted may affect any coupon applied. If large luggage or a pet will be carried, state this when booking and allow for the luggage and animal surcharges.

A mobile phone number is required to register and verify the account. Amap's App Store description states that it supports one-tap payment and automatic deduction, and the payment methods actually available are shown when a booking is confirmed. The app also offers in-app purchases, which are charged separately from ride fares.

According to its App Store privacy label, self-declared by the developer, Amap collects precise and approximate location, search and browsing history, and device identifiers linked to the user's identity, and uses them for third-party advertising, the developer's own marketing, analytics and personalisation; the phone number is also used for marketing, and the app may use location when it is not open. Users who object can restrict location access to "while using the app" in their phone settings.

As at 24 October 2026, Amap was rated 4.7 on the App Store in Hong Kong (191,444 ratings) and 4.3 on Google Play (about 33,400 reviews and more than 10 million downloads). These ratings cover the whole map app, not only the ride-hailing service.

Recent negative reviews from Hong Kong users focus mainly on advertisements on launch, push notifications that continue after background refresh is switched off, unclear lane guidance on Hong Kong Island, and rides booked in the Mainland with a Hong Kong phone number receiving no response; positive comments about ride-hailing mostly mention courteous drivers and simple, quick booking.

It suits passengers who need a taxi in any case, already navigate with Amap or travel regularly to the Mainland, and are willing to check coupon terms before booking. New-user coupons give the most noticeable percentage discount on short taxi trips.

It does not suit those who expect a cash rebate, who do not wish an app to use their location and device data for advertising, or who would take unnecessary trips simply to use up coupons. Where a private car is offered and its hire car permit cannot be verified, choose a taxi instead.