Driving in Malta
Everything a visitor actually needs to know before turning the key — starting with the bit that catches most people out.
Malta drives on the left
A legacy of British rule, and the single thing most likely to trip up a visitor from mainland Europe.
- Keep left, overtake on the right. The driver sits on the right-hand side of the car.
- Roundabouts run clockwise. Give way to traffic already on the roundabout — coming from your right.
- The first few junctions are the risky ones. Take the airport exit slowly and let your instincts recalibrate.
Limits, signs and enforcement
Speed limits
80 km/h on open roads, 50 km/h in built-up areas, and lower where signed. Speed cameras are common and fines arrive by post.
Valletta ZTL
The capital has a controlled-access zone with automatic number-plate cameras. Entering during charged hours bills the vehicle's owner — which means you.
Seatbelts & phones
Seatbelts are compulsory front and rear. Handheld phone use while driving is an offence. Children need an appropriate restraint.
Fuel
Stations are plentiful and many have automated pumps that take cards out of hours. Check whether your car takes petrol or diesel before you fill.
Parking
White bays are free, blue bays are usually residential-priority, and yellow lines mean no. Village cores fill early — park on the edge and walk in.
Traffic
Rush hour is roughly 7–9am and 4–6pm, and it is genuinely heavy for an island this size. Add half an hour to anything time-critical.
After a scrape or a breakdown
Small knocks in tight village streets are the most common thing we see. None of it is a disaster if you do the following:
- Don't move the vehicles if there's another party involved and there's any dispute about fault.
- Photograph everything — both vehicles, the position on the road, the plates, and any damage, before anything is moved.
- Call us. We'll tell you whether you need a police report and arrange recovery or a replacement car.
- Get the other driver's details — name, number, plate and insurer.
Our number is +356 9905 6366, and it reaches someone in Malta, not an overseas call centre.
Licences and documents
Bring the physical driving licence for every person who'll drive, plus your passport or ID card. Licences issued in the EU/EEA and the UK are accepted directly. If yours isn't in the Latin alphabet, carry an International Driving Permit alongside it.
Any of this unclear?
Ask before you book rather than after you land. We'd much rather answer a question than sort out a misunderstanding at the desk.