Car rental in Malta: driving on the left, rules and tips

In Malta, traffic drives on the left, as in the UK; for US visitors it is the main adjustment. Renting a car lets you reach the Dingli cliffs, the northern coves or the megalithic temples at your own pace, but traffic is dense and parking is difficult around Valletta. The airport rental companies are grouped in the Park East car park, a building separate from the terminal.

This page draws on official sources: the “Road rules” page published by the European Union from Maltese authorities’ data, the “Driving Licence” page of Transport Malta, the Malta International Airport page and UK government travel advice. It gives no prices, which vary greatly by season. To prepare your trip, see also our Malta guide and when to go to Malta.

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Do you need to rent a car in Malta?

It depends on your plans. Malta is a small archipelago, well served by buses from Valletta, and many visitors do without a car. A car becomes useful if you want to:

• chain several far-apart sites in the same day (Mdina, the Dingli cliffs, Marsaxlokk, the Mellieħa beaches);
• go early in the morning or late in the day to beaches and viewpoints, before or after the groups;
• travel as a family, with luggage or young children;
• stay outside well-served areas, in an inland village for example.

Conversely, if you are staying in Valletta, Sliema or St Julian’s and mainly visiting those towns, a car is more of a constraint: the streets are narrow, often one-way, and parking spaces are scarce. A common approach is to rent for only two or three days in the middle of the stay, for excursions.

Licence, age and documents

UK drivers: the UK FCDO’s Malta travel advice (GOV.UK, read 12 November 2026) says you can drive in Malta with a UK photocard driving licence; if you have a paper licence, you may need to swap it for a photocard or obtain the correct version of the international driving permit (IDP) as well. US drivers: we could not read the U.S. Department of State’s Malta page (access refused when we checked) and found no official statement of the exact rule, so check your rental company’s terms on accepted licences and the IDP. Transport Malta says the minimum age to drive is 18 (other ages apply by category). The age required to rent and the licence seniority are set by each rental company, which often applies “young driver” fees. Plan on a bank card in the main driver’s name for the security deposit.

Driving in Malta: the official rules

Driving on the left

Transport Malta states it: in Malta, you drive on the left side of the road. Rental cars therefore have the steering wheel on the right and, for manual gearboxes, the gear lever on the left. The first kilometres need attention: you go round roundabouts clockwise, giving way to vehicles already on them (coming from the right), and you overtake on the right. If you have never driven on the left, an automatic gearbox makes things much simpler.

Type of road	Maximum speed for cars
Urban roads	50 km/h (31 mph)
Non-urban roads	80 km/h (50 mph)
Expressways	80 km/h (50 mph)

For the rest, the EU page states:

• Alcohol: 0.5 g/l of blood (0.05%) for standard drivers and new drivers, zero for professional drivers.
• Phone: forbidden in the hand, allowed only with a hands-free kit.
• Seat belts and child seats: compulsory for all occupants (with exemptions), as Transport Malta also states.
• Access to Valletta: Transport Malta says entering Valletta by car is subject to an access charge depending on duration (CVA system), and that paid park-and-ride car parks exist.
• Equipment: rental cars must be equipped with a fire extinguisher, a warning triangle and a first-aid kit. Check they are there when you collect the car.
• Reserved lanes: some lanes are reserved for public transport, two-wheelers and emergency vehicles, with a sign showing the hours. A car may use them only in an emergency.

The UK FCDO adds that some roads in Malta are in poor condition, that local standards of driving are poor and that you should keep to the speed limit.

After a minor collision

According to Transport Malta, for a collision with no injuries it is not necessary to call the police or local wardens: you fill in the accident report form provided by the Malta Insurance Association. For any other accident, contact the local wardens on 21 320 202; if anyone is injured, the police on 21224001 or 112. Also tell the rental company without delay, as the contract generally requires.

The real difficulties on the ground

• Parking around Valletta, Sliema and St Julian’s: allow time, respect the markings and never park in a reserved lane.
• Narrow streets in villages and Mdina: a small car is far more practical.
• Traffic at rush hour around the Valletta conurbation: set off early for an airport return.
• GPS may suggest very narrow lanes: if in doubt, stay on the main roads.

Where to collect your rental car

At Malta International Airport

According to the airport’s “Rent a Car” page, the keys to cars booked in advance are collected at the rental offices on level 1 (lower) of the Park East car park, a building separate from the terminal, which the airport places three minutes’ walk away. Follow the “RENTAL CARS” signs on the floor, on signboards and in the lifts.

The page lists about thirty companies at Park East, including Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Sixt, Alamo, Enterprise, National, Green Motion, OK Mobility, Sicily by Car, Free2Move, as well as Maltese companies such as First Car Rental, Auto Union, Drifter or Wheego (read 27 October 2026). If your booking gives another address, it is an off-airport office: check how you are picked up (shuttle, meet-and-greet) and the opening hours.

In town and in Gozo

There are also offices in tourist areas, which lets you rent for just a few days. If you plan to take the ferry to Gozo with the car, check that the contract allows it and that the insurance remains valid on the neighbouring island: the rule varies by rental company.

Insurance and excess: what to understand

Every rental includes compulsory third-party liability insurance. Damage to the vehicle and theft are covered by waivers (often called CDW, theft protection or similar) with an excess: the sum that remains payable by you after a claim. The company generally blocks a security deposit on a card in the main driver’s name. Small parking scratches are common in narrow streets: examine this point closely in the cover you choose.

There are three options: accept the excess, buy it back at the counter, or take out third-party “excess insurance” (you then pay the amount up front and are reimbursed). Some credit cards include rental cover: read the terms, because exclusions (glass, tyres, underside, unpaved roads) are common. Our travel insurance guide explains the differences.

Pick-up and return checklist

• Photograph or film the vehicle from every angle, including wheels, windscreen and roof, with the agent present if possible.
• Have every scratch or dent, however small, noted on the check-in report.
• Check the fuel level and the fuel policy in the contract.
• Check that the extinguisher, triangle and first-aid kit are there, compulsory on rental cars.
• Take a few minutes in the car park to get used to the vehicle before joining the road (right-hand drive, left-hand traffic).
• On return, get the check-in report signed; if the office is closed, photograph the parked car, the odometer and the fuel gauge.
• Keep the contract, photos and receipts until your deposit has been fully released: fines can arrive after your stay, via the rental company.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Renting a large car: it complicates parking and getting through villages.
• Choosing a manual gearbox without ever having driven on the left (a common issue for US drivers).
• Parking in a reserved lane or a residents’ space.
• Setting off for Gozo without checking the contract conditions.
• Underestimating the time needed to return the car to Park East before a flight.
• Using the phone at the wheel without a hands-free kit.

Booking your car rental in Malta

You can book directly with a company present at the airport or use a comparison site, which shows several offers at once. Either way, compare the actual rental company (the one that will hand you the keys), the desk location (in the terminal or by shuttle), the amount of the excess and deposit, the mileage, the fuel policy, additional or young driver fees and the cancellation terms.

Frequently asked questions

Our sources

• Your Europe (European Commission), “Road rules and road safety – Malta” (last checked 18 September 2024), read 27 October 2026.
• Transport Malta, “Driving Licence” page (updated 15 November 2022), read 27 October 2026.
• Malta International Airport, “Rent a Car” page, read 27 October 2026.
• UK FCDO, Malta travel advice: safety and security (GOV.UK), read 12 November 2026.
• Our methodology

Updated October 2026. Rules, rental company lists and conditions may change: check the official sites before you go.