Taking a hire car to Gozo
The question everyone asks at the desk, and the one most companies answer badly: yes, you can — and yes, you are still covered.
Permitted, and covered
You may take a Malta by Car hire car on the Ċirkewwa–Mġarr ferry. Your cover stays in force in Malta, on Gozo, and on the crossing between them. Tell us when you book so it is noted on the agreement.
That last line is not a formality. Across the market, taking a hire car to Gozo is treated in three different ways, and the difference only becomes visible when something goes wrong:
- Permission-gated. Several companies require written notice before you sail, and a broker's terms state that without prior authorisation the cover is void.
- Fee-gated. At least one operator charges €75 for the privilege, and states plainly that no insurance covers damage while the car is being transported.
- Recovery-gated. Others allow the crossing but exclude Gozo from roadside assistance, so a breakdown there is billed as a recovery — figures in the €50 to €170 range appear in published terms.
We do none of those things. The cover you bought applies on both islands and on the water in between, and roadside assistance comes with you.
How the ferry actually works
You pay on the way back
Nothing is collected at Ċirkewwa. The fare is a return, and it is taken at Mġarr when you leave Gozo. People miss their sailing looking for a ticket office on the Malta side.
€15.70 for car and driver
For vehicles up to 5.3 m. From 5.3 to 5.5 m it is €20.70 — which is worth knowing if you have booked something large. Each passenger is €4.65.
No reservations
Gozo Channel does not operate a booking system. Boarding is first come, first served, and the crossing takes about 25 minutes.
Queues, in summer
In July and August the car lane at Ċirkewwa can back up past one sailing. Foot passengers always walk on. Build in an hour if you are catching something.
The fast ferry takes no cars
The Valletta–Gozo fast ferry carries foot passengers and bicycles only. Cars cross from Ċirkewwa, at the top of Malta.
If you break down on Gozo
Call us on +356 9905 6366. Roadside assistance applies on Gozo, and the line reaches someone on the islands, not a call centre abroad.
Take the car, or hire one on Gozo?
If you are staying in Malta and going to Gozo for a day or two, take the car across. If Gozo is the trip, the arithmetic changes: two people crossing on foot pay €9.30 return, against €15.70 for the car plus €4.65 for the passenger. And you skip the queue.
We hand cars over at the Mġarr terminal, so that is a real option rather than a thought experiment — collecting a car on Gozo costs the same daily rate as collecting at the airport.
A rough guide:
- Based in Malta, one or two days on Gozo: bring the car. Simplest, and you keep it either side of the trip.
- Gozo for most of the trip: cross on foot, collect at Mġarr, and let us worry about getting the car there.
- Split stay, both islands: either works. Tell us the plan and we will say honestly which is cheaper for your dates.
Before you drive onto the boat
- Tell us. A line on the agreement, and nothing more is needed.
- Handbrake on, gear engaged. The crew will direct you; follow them rather than your instinct about where to park.
- Take your valuables up with you. You cannot stay on the car deck during the crossing.
- Fuel up on Malta if you are low. Gozo has fewer stations and they keep shorter hours.
The ferry, answered
Is my insurance still valid on the ferry?
With us, yes. Your cover stays in force in Malta, on Gozo, and on the crossing between them, provided the trip is noted on your agreement. Other companies differ — one states in its own terms that no insurance covers damage during transport, so check before you sail.
Do I need permission to take the car across?
Just tell us when you book, so we can note it on the agreement. There is no fee and no paperwork beyond that.
How much is the ferry?
€15.70 for the car and driver for vehicles up to 5.3 metres, €20.70 from 5.3 to 5.5 metres, and €4.65 for each passenger. It is a return fare and it is collected at Mġarr on the Gozo side, not at Ċirkewwa.
Can I book the ferry in advance?
No. Gozo Channel does not run a reservation system for the Ċirkewwa–Mġarr route; boarding is first come, first served. Sailings are frequent and run overnight.
What if I break down on Gozo?
Call us on +356 9905 6366. Roadside assistance applies on Gozo as it does on Malta. Several companies exclude Gozo from recovery and charge for it; we do not.
Can I take the car to Sicily?
No. The car may not leave the Maltese islands. This is standard across every operator in Malta, not just us. If you want to see Sicily, cross as a foot passenger and hire on the other side.
Is there a fast ferry that takes cars?
No. The Valletta–Gozo fast ferry is for foot passengers and bicycles. Cars use the Ċirkewwa–Mġarr crossing.
Book the car, then decide.
Take it across or collect it on Gozo — the rate is the same and the cover travels with you.