Destinations / Malta
Driving in Malta as a visitor
Often optional, depending on your licence and rental company. Malta drives on the left, a legacy of British rule; visitors can use a valid foreign licence, with an IDP advised for non-Latin-script holders.
Reviewed July 2026 · A translation of your own licence, carried with it. Not a government permit.
What Malta expects
| Driving document | Depends on licence issuer, script and rental policy |
|---|---|
| Convention format | 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna |
| Valid for | Up to 3 years |
| Drives on the | Left |
| Emergency number | 112 |
| Top speed limit | 80 km/h open roads (no motorways) |
What the rental desk will ask you for
| Your own licence | The original card. A photo of it, or a photocopy, gets turned away. |
|---|---|
| Licence translation | Check the desk policy for your issuing country and licence script. A translation accompanies the licence and never replaces an official permit. |
| Booklet format they know | 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna |
| Minimum age | 18. Under 25 usually pays a young-driver surcharge. |
| Deposit | A credit card in the driver's name. The hold is taken in EUR. |
Rules that catch visitors out
| Seatbelts | Seatbelts mandatory; phone use banned. |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | 0.05% alcohol limit. |
| Roads | Narrow roads and aggressive local driving. |
On the road in Malta
At the pump
Stations sell unleaded petrol (95/98) and diesel, mostly self-service and card-accepting, with some unattended pumps after hours. Prices are regulated, typically around EUR 1.40-1.70 per litre.
After a crash
Call 112 for police and ambulance. Do not move the vehicles until police arrive if there are injuries or a dispute; a police report is needed for any insurance claim, and rental firms require it.
Sources: autoeurope.co.uk · cva.gov.mt · tollguru.com · pulizija.gov.mt
Common questions
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Malta?
Often optional, depending on your licence and rental company. Malta drives on the left, a legacy of British rule; visitors can use a valid foreign licence, with an IDP advised for non-Latin-script holders.
Which translation format is used for Malta?
Malta uses the 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna convention format. A Vialy translation is prepared in that format but is not a government-issued permit.
Will a rental desk in Malta ask for a translation?
An IDP helps non-EU and non-Latin-script drivers at Maltese desks.
How fast can Vialy prepare one for Malta?
The exact delivery moment is quoted before you pay, 30 minutes as standard and 5 with Express.
Also in Europe
Driving on to another country on the same trip? Each page states what that destination expects.