Driving in Malta: What to know before you go

Malta drives on the left, the roads are generally well surfaced, and the distances between places are short. Traffic around Valletta can be slow at peak times, and some of the older village lanes are narrow, but nothing that will trouble a confident driver. A few specifics worth knowing: Documents You Need Your driving licence must be valid and held for at least one year. If your licence is not printed in English or the Roman alphabet, you will need an International Driving Permit alongside it. Bring your passport, your booking voucher, and the payment card in the name of the main driver. Speed Limits 80 km/h on dual carriageways, 50 km/h in built-up areas. Speed cameras are in use across the island. The limits are taken seriously and the fines are not trivial. Seat Belts Compulsory for all passengers. Make sure everyone in the car is buckled before you move off. Mobile Phones Using a handheld mobile while driving is illegal. Malta has a hands-free system in place and the law is enforced. Alcohol The legal blood alcohol limit in Malta is 0.08%, equivalent to roughly one beer or a small glass of wine. If you are caught over the limit, you face a fine, points on your licence, or imprisonment. It is just not worth the risk. Headlights/Tyres Use headlights at night and in poor visibility. Tyre pressure and tread on your hire car will be checked by the supplier before handover but give them a quick look yourself when you collect. The minimum legal tread depth in Malta is 1.6mm. Parking Use designated parking spaces or public car parks. In Valletta particularly, pay attention to Time Parking Zones marked with blue lines. Illegally parked vehicles are fined or towed, and the process of recovering a towed car on holiday is exactly as time-consuming as it sounds. Five scenic drives worth taking in Malta The island is compact but there is real variety in what you can see from behind the wheel. These five routes cover the best of it. Planning your Malta trip Not sure how to fit everything in? We have put together a practical Malta trip planner to help you work out your itinerary, how many days you need, and which areas to base yourself in. Why use Getcarhire.com for car hire in Malta? We search across the most reputable car hire companies operating at Malta Airport, including Hertz, Avis, Europcar and Sixt, to give you a range of options at competitive prices. What you see is what you pay: • No hidden fees or charges: the price shown is the price you pay • Free cancellation up to 48 hours before your pick-up time on most bookings • Unlimited mileage and comprehensive insurance included in the price on selected deals • 24/7 customer support and roadside assistance • Secure online booking with instant confirmation How to book your Malta car hire Enter your pick-up and drop-off dates in the search form, choose from the available vehicles, add your driver details, and confirm. Your booking confirmation arrives by email. Malta Airport is a single compact terminal. The major hire car desks are in the arrivals hall and the vehicle collection area is a short walk from the building. Collection is straightforward and there are no shuttle buses to contend with. Search Malta car hire deals