Cerium conversion coatings were obtained by immersing hot-dip galvanized steel (HDG) sheets in a cerous nitrate solution. The surface morphologies were observed with scanning electron microscopy. The composition of the coating were determined with X-ray energy dispersive spectrometer and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results showed that the modified cerium conversion coating grows more quickly than that of common cerium conversion coating. Potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements revealed that the corrosion resistance of the modified cerium conversion coating was superior to that of common cerium conversion coating and was comparable to that of the conventional chromate passivation coating.