Your Ultimate Guide to Driving in Malta as a Tourist

The required documents to drive in Malta are:

• Driving license
• Vehicle registration certificate (V5C or equivalent) that proves the vehicle is legally registered in your country.
• Valid Green Card (International Motor Insurance Card) with coverage in Malta
• Passport or ID for identification purposes

The required documentation for car rental in Malta is: 

• Driving license (International Driving Permit for foreign drivers)
• Passport or ID
• Credit card under your name (the main driver’s name).

If you hire a car in Malta, the rental insurance covers the requirement of green card and the rental company provides the vehicle registration papers.

However, there are some special requirements about driving license in Malta, as mentioned above.

All EU-residents are not considered foreign drivers and can drive in Malta, whether by their own car or by renting a car, with their national driving license.

Otherwise, if you come from a non-EU country, the driving license for foreigners in Malta can be your national driving license for up to 12 months. For more than 12 months or if your license is not in English, you need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive and hire a car in Malta.

This is crucial for driving in Malta after Brexit. Driving in Malta with UK license is valid only for up to 12 months, so for longer time spans, you need to have an IDP.

This is a common question for many travelers, because Malta is a relatively small island. So, you may wonder if you can travel around by public transportation.

The truth is that driving around Malta does not take long and there are many buses that make the main routes, such as from Valetta to Mdina, to Mellieħa or Marsaxlokk. However, keep in mind that public transportation is really overcrowded during summer and gets inconvenient.

Car rental is much more convenient and time-effective to make long routes and discover the island. For example, it is definitely worth driving around the entire coastline of Malta, which will take about 3 to 4 hours. It is a stunning road trip with impressive seascapes, where you can stop, take photos or make your bath in a hidden cove.

The only disadvantage of car rental in Malta is the cost. However, if you travel as a group of friends or family, car hire in Malta is more cost-effective than public transportation.

Plus, you can find budget car rentals, such as Abbycar, where you book all-inclusive packages with car and insurance, you pay no extra fees and take advantage of really low prices, especially if you book early.

Is driving in Malta left or right? In Malta, they drive on the left side of the road, following the British system, as Malta was a British colony until 1964. So, in all cars in Malta the driving seat is on the right side of the car, similar to the UK cars.

This is important to keep in mind, especially if you come from a country where driving is on the right side of the road, such as most European countries.

Malta has strict driving rules and police checkpoints are frequent, so you should comply with these rules, as fines may be high.

What are the rules on mobile phone use when driving in Malta? Speaking to your mobile phone is not allowed. It is permitted while driving only with hands-free device.

What are the rules on alcohol in Malta? Driving after having drunk alcohol is strictly prohibited. The limit is 0,05% for private drivers and 0,02% for professional drivers and drivers with less than 2 years’ experience. Practically, you can’t drink and drive in Malta and you should be careful, as alcohol tests are common.

Other important rules to remember when driving in Malta are:

• Seat belts: The use of seat belts is mandatory for all passengers.
• Child seat: Children under 12 years old must use appropriate child seats.
• Speed limits: Speed limits in Malta are 30 km/h in urban areas, 50 km/h on rural roads and 80 km/h on highways.
• Emergency number: It is 112.

Are there any rules on on-street parking I need to know in Malta?

Parking in Malta is limited, so we recommend you park at your hotel or outside the city center. Around the historical center, there are many public or private parking garages, some of which are free.

If you decide to park on the street, please remember that free spots are really infrequent. If you find one, check the color on the street to be white, which means the public parking is allowed. If it is green or blue, it means it is resident-only parking, while with yellow parking is strictly prohibited.

Driving in Malta is easy, as distances are short and there are only a few routes. In fact, there are only two major highways, North to South (A1) and West to East (A3). So, it is really easy to navigate, even if you don’t have GPS. Plus, all signs are in English.

However, there are some difficulties. The Maltese driving style may be aggressive and the traffic jam is high during the peak hours. Inside the historical center, the streets are narrow and there are many round-abouts, which may be confusing for drivers inexperienced in left-side driving. In rural areas, there are sharp turns and many one-way streets.

The biggest challenge when driving in Malta is to get familiar with driving on the left side of the road, if you come from a country with the opposite system.

So, is it safe to drive in Malta? Yes, it is safe, but we recommend you following some simple tips:

• Follow the speed limits.
• Be prepared for and don’t interact with aggressive drivers.
• Avoid driving during the night, especially in rural areas.
• Avoid driving in Valetta during the rush hours. 

No. Malta has two main highways that run across the island, but they have no toll stations.

However, Valletta is a limited traffic zone, where vehicles entering during certain hours are subject to a small access fee, mainly on weekdays. The CVA (Controlled Vehicular Access) fee for entering Valletta by car is calculated based on how long your vehicle stays inside the city. The main fee is 0,80 euros per hour. 

If you are involved in an accident when driving in Malta, please consider the following instructions:

• Move to a safe location away from traffic.
• Check if you and other passengers are injured, and if anyone is injured, call emergency services immediately. 112 is the EU emergency number for any case.
• In case of car rental, notify the rental agency using the provided emergency contact information, which can be found on your voucher rental agreement. Inform about the situation and provide details about the location, nature of the emergency, and any assistance you may need.

Start now planning your journey to this unique destination and rent a car in Malta with Abbycar to discover all the natural and urban beauties hassle-free and on a budget!