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.

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 What is the minimum age to hire a car in Malta? The minimum age to hire a car in Malta is 21 with most suppliers. Drivers aged 21 to 24 may be subject to a young driver surcharge, which varies by supplier and vehicle category. Some suppliers set the minimum age at 23 or 25 for larger or premium vehicles. Always check the rental conditions for your specific booking before you travel. Can I hire a car in Malta if I am over 70? Most car hire suppliers in Malta do not impose an upper age limit, but some require drivers over 70 to provide a recent medical certificate confirming fitness to drive, or may restrict access to certain vehicle categories. Check the rental conditions for your chosen supplier at the time of booking. Is car hire at Malta Airport expensive? Malta Airport car hire prices vary significantly depending on the season, how far in advance you book and which supplier you choose. Booking in advance and comparing across multiple suppliers is the most reliable way to secure a competitive rate. Prices are generally lower outside the peak summer months of July and August. Getcarhire.com searches all major suppliers at Malta International Airport simultaneously, with no hidden fees added at checkout. Do I need a full driving licence to hire a car in Malta? Yes. You need a valid full driving licence that has been held for at least one year. If your licence is not printed in English or the Roman alphabet, you will also need an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside it. Bring your passport or national ID card and a credit card in the name of the main driver. The full list of required documents will be confirmed in your booking voucher. Can I hire a car in Malta with no excess? Yes. A number of suppliers offer zero excess car hire in Malta, or you can reduce your excess to zero by adding Full Coverage protection at the time of booking. Full Coverage covers the deductible charged by the rental supplier in the event of damage or theft. It is worth comparing the cost of Full Coverage against the excess amount on your chosen vehicle before deciding. Getcarhire.com displays the excess amount clearly for each vehicle in the search results. Is it worth hiring a car in Malta? For most visitors, yes. Malta's public transport covers the main routes between the larger towns but does not reach the quieter coastal areas, the inland villages or Gozo without significant time investment. A hire car gives you the flexibility to reach Marsaxlokk market on a Sunday morning, drive the Dingli Cliffs at sunset or take the Gozo ferry on your own schedule rather than working around bus timetables. The island is small enough that fuel costs are minimal, and there are no toll roads. Can I take a hire car from Malta to Gozo? Yes, provided your hire car agreement permits it, which most do. You take the car onto the Gozo Channel ferry (pronounced GOH-zo) at Cirkewwa (pronounced cheer-KEH-wah) in the north of Malta. The crossing takes approximately 25 minutes and runs frequently throughout the day. Check that your rental agreement specifically permits ferry crossings and travel to Gozo before you book, as a small number of suppliers exclude it. Where do I pick up a hire car at Malta Airport? All major car hire suppliers at Malta Airport have desks in the arrivals hall of the terminal building. The vehicle collection area is a short walk from the terminal. Malta International Airport (MLA) is a single compact terminal, so the process is straightforward. If you are arriving on a late flight, check the operating hours for your specific supplier in advance, as desk hours vary.

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. If you prefer a ready-made route, our Malta road trip itinerary covers a suggested 3 to 5 day driving plan across the island, including the best stops, timing tips and a Gozo day trip.

Whether you are flying into Malta International Airport and heading straight to the coast, or planning a few days exploring Valletta, Gozo and the quieter corners of the island, Getcarhire.com gives you everything you need in one search. Compare Malta car hire deals across all major suppliers, with transparent all-in pricing, free cancellation on most bookings and no hidden fees at the desk. Enter your dates below and see what is available for your trip.