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Car rental in Malta is the smartest way to see a small but extraordinarily dense island. From one end of Malta to the other is just 27 kilometres, yet those 27 km hold more sights and quirks than many European capitals. A car turns the standard Valletta–Sliema–Mdina loop into a proper trip: Gozo, the southern bays of Marsaxlokk, megalithic temples, sunsets on the Dingli cliffs.
Prices here are among the lowest in Europe. From November to March an economy car starts at 7 euros a day. In July–August the same class costs 25–40 euros. Competition between rental companies is fierce, and the island's rental ecosystem has been fine-tuned over decades.
A couple from Manchester landed on a Tuesday in May, picked up the keys at MLA in five minutes and were on the ferry to Mgarr by lunchtime — global chains were still queuing for a shuttle.
Worth knowing in advance: Malta drives on the left, the streets are narrow, there isn't a single motorway, and local drivers are impulsive. It takes one or two days to adapt, and we'll be straight about it below.
This guide covers what really shapes the trip: seasonal prices, the Gozo ferry, the Valletta congestion charge, kerb-colour parking, insurance, deposits and how payment works.
Driving on the left
The main difference from continental Europe is left-hand traffic — a legacy of British rule. The wheel sits on the right, indicators and wipers swap sides, and roundabouts turn clockwise. Most drivers adapt within a day or two, especially if the first day is spent on quieter rural roads rather than rush hour in St Julian's.
There are no motorways on the island at all. The top speed is 80 km/h on rural roads, 50 in towns and 35 in some village centres. Long crossings always pass through built-up areas, and a trip across the country usually takes 40–60 minutes.
You get used to driving on the left faster than you'd think. The tricky part isn't the side — it's that the indicators are under the right hand. The first few times you'll switch on the wipers when you mean to turn. Normal.
Local drivers are impulsive: they rarely indicate, don't yield and squeeze into tight gaps. It isn't aggression in the harsh sense, just a local style you adapt to. Best tactic: defensive driving, keep more distance and don't take sudden manoeuvres personally.
The tightest spots are Sliema, St Julian's and the old streets of Mdina. Cars pass within centimetres, and even experienced drivers scrape a rim on the kerb. Which is why Super CDW gets taken more often here than anywhere else.
Knowing this in advance saves a couple of rookie mistakes — and one or two stones on the windscreen.
Hyundai i10 in Malta
everything went smoothly.
Nissan Nv200 Evalia in Malta
I recently rented the Nissan NV200 Evalia in Malta, and overall, the experience was very smooth and enjoyable. The booking process was straightforward, and the pick-up and return were handled quickly by the friendly and professional staff. The vehicle was clean, spacious, and comfortable, which made it ideal for exploring the island with my friend. Driving was easy, and parking in smaller streets was more convenient than expected. The only minor issue I noticed was that the gear lever felt a little stiff when changing gears. Apart from that, everything went well, and I would happily rent again and still wait for my deposit back. Marco
Fiat Grande Punto in Malta
I found a car through the site takecars.com. Very convenient site, there is a choice of languages. When I booked a car, I was quickly contacted and confirmed the order. By the way, takecars.com is the only site where I could find a car rental with a small deposit and with the possibility to pay the deposit with a debit card instead of a credit card.
Peugeot 208 in Malta
I got a Nissan Micra. It was brand new, just a bit shabby (but I guess that's normal for Malta). As soon as I drove out of the airport, the low tire pressure warning came on right away. I filled up at a gas station and the next day around noon the warning appeared again. I texted the number listed on the rental counter and received a message telling me where to check the pressure. I went to a friendly tire shop and they fixed the problem in 10 minutes (there was a nail in the tire). There were no problems for the rest of my stay. The car was returned quickly and with no problems. The car was hardly checked for any new damage. Only the fuel tank was checked. The deposit was returned within a week. Overall, everything was fine.
Hyundai i10 in Malta
Great 10/10
Citroen C1 in Malta
Regarding the car I ordered through your site - it was a Citroen but I got a Renault Clio, of course it's not a problem, even I think the Clio is bigger than the C1 which is a plus for me. The car itself was clean, there were no problems with it, the guy who came to deliver it to me arrived almost immediately, he was also tolerable and answered all my questions. I would order again.
Citroen C3 in Malta
I ordered a car at the front desk by writing my name, but no one showed up. I had to call and ask where the car was. Since I know the area, it was no problem for me, otherwise I would have had to search. The transfer went smoothly. I didn't get the car I ordered, but it was fine. The car was pretty closed and a little dirty. Other than that, there were no problems. Turning it in at the airport was no problem. I go to Malta every year and if I am offered a good deal again I will definitely come back. Sincerely, Vidovic Željko
Citroen C1 in Malta
It was good
Citroen C3 in Malta
The car rental went well. The rental representative met me at the airport, quick checkout, the car was new, pleasant to drive.
Toyota Yaris in Malta
everything was ok) the only thing was it was hard to find the location to pick up the car
Citroen C1 in Malta
The rental overall was smooth, the staff was very friendly. However I am still waiting for my deposit which was said to be transferred back 15 days after my rental. I contacted the company and they were very friendly and currently working on the transaction. Other than that Malta was great and it was an amazing pleasure exploring the island by car. Regards, Jonatan
Citroen C1 in Malta
Everything was ok, even got better car.... Fast response and they waited me in front of airport, really cool!!!
Citroen C1 in Malta
Everything was good. The service was good. The car was good thank you very much. 🙏🏼
Take Cars in Malta
On Malta it pays to look not at the rental brand on the sign, but at the actual supplier behind it and their real reviews. The same logo can sit above a polished airport desk and a back-street garage. Reviews show the difference.
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CDW is included by Maltese law
Every rental on the island has to include third-party liability and basic CDW (collision damage waiver), and that cost is already built into the price you see when you book.
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Low or zero deposit, with several ways to pay
We offer rates with deposits between 0 and 250 euros, accept debit cards as well as credit, and cover most of the balance on the spot in cash where the supplier allows it.
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Real reviews on every car, not just on the company
After each rental we ask for feedback, so what you see is the experience on the specific car you're considering, not generic marketing for the supplier.
Gozo and the ferry
Gozo is the second island of the archipelago and, for most clients, the main reason to rent a car. The Gozo Channel ferry runs between Cirkewwa and Mgarr: 25 minutes, 24/7, every 30 minutes during the day.
Price and schedule
A "car plus driver" return ticket is 15.70 euros. Passengers don't pay extra. Foot passenger — 4.65 euros adult, 1.15 for children aged 3–12. Tickets are sold ONLY on Gozo, in Mgarr, on the way back. At Cirkewwa you board without a ticket.
People look for a booth in Cirkewwa and ask where to pay. The answer is nowhere — you follow the signs and drive straight onto the ferry. Payment happens on the way back, on Gozo.
Queues in summer
In July, August and on long weekends the car queue at Cirkewwa can run 3–4 hours both ways. Three tactics work: early sailings (07:00 or before), late ones (after 20:00), or Gozo on a weekday. Motorbikes skip most of the queue; foot passengers board separately.
A couple leaving the hotel at 6:30 was on Ramla l-Hamra beach by 9. They met the queue back in the evening — by 18:00 it was already thinning out.
Insurance on Gozo
CDW and Super CDW from your Maltese rental are valid on Gozo without exception. Keep the rental agreement in the car: the ferry doesn't check it, but Gozo patrols can.
One guest left the rental contract at the hotel and only realised it on the ferry. Keep it in the glove box. The cover is identical on both islands.
If anything happens on Gozo, the claim process runs exactly as it would in Mellieha or Sliema — same supplier, same paperwork.
Parking and fines
CVA and how to skip it
Entry into central Valletta is run by the Controlled Vehicular Access system. Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 14:00, every entry is automatically charged: the first 30 minutes free, then 0.82 euros per hour, capped at around 6 euros a day. After 14:00, on weekends and on public holidays — free of charge.
The biggest surprise on a client's bill isn't the CVA itself — it's the rental's 15–30-euro admin fee on top. Sometimes the fee costs more than the entry. Easier just to skip the drive in — it's a 10-minute walk.
The best alternatives are the MCP underground car park in Floriana or the lot at St Mark's Street, just outside the city walls. From either, it's 10–15 minutes on foot to St John's Co-Cathedral.
Kerb colours
Parking in Malta is read by kerb colour. White — public parking, usually free or time-limited. Blue — residents only at night. Yellow — no parking at any time. Green — disabled only.
If the kerb is yellow, don't even stop for a minute. The tow truck works fast, especially in Sliema and central Valletta. Fine 24–50 euros plus a clamp release of 25–50, doubled on a zebra crossing.
Fines and the 50% discount
Maltese traffic fines can be paid online at lesapublic.gov.mt with a 50% discount, if you settle within 7 days. The alcohol limit is 0.08% (0.8 ‰), and the penalty for going over is 1,200 euros and a 6-month licence ban.
Insurance and deposit
CDW, Super CDW and excess
Maltese law requires every rental to include third-party liability and basic CDW — a rule unusual within the EU. The basic excess sits at 500–1,500 euros, and it doesn't cover windscreen, wheel rims, tyres or undercarriage — the parts that suffer most on Malta's narrow streets.
Super CDW on Malta isn't a luxury — it's common sense. 8–15 euros a day at the desk, or 20–40% cheaper booked online. Excess drops to zero, windscreen and rims included.
Driving licences and the IDP
EU, UK, US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand licences are accepted directly, no IDP needed. Drivers from outside those regions should bring an International Driving Permit — police can ask at a stop, and some suppliers won't hand over the keys without one.
Every season the same scene plays out: a guest lands without an IDP, the licence is in non-Latin script, and the supplier asks for a paper that takes a week to get from home. Sort it before the trip.
Deposit and payment
Local suppliers hold 100–400 euros as a deposit; international chains 500–1,500. We have rates with zero deposit and the option to settle most of the balance in cash. Chains require a credit card in the main driver's name; most local suppliers and our partners accept debit cards too.
Simplest path: small online prepayment by card, then cash for the balance and the deposit at the desk. Local suppliers refund the deposit on the spot if there's no damage.
For drivers who prefer everything settled by card, the no-deposit rates remove the question entirely — what you book is what you pay.
Rates in Malta vary throughout the year depending on the season and the rental length in days.
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How expensive is renting a car in Malta: average daily rates for a one-week car rental, across all car classes. Delivery across Malta not included.
Frequently asked questions
No. Every Maltese rental company forbids taking the car off the island, including the Valletta–Pozzallo ferry to Sicily. Insurance is voided the moment the car leaves Malta or Gozo. If you want to combine the islands, rent separately in Sicily on arrival.
15.70 euros return for the car and driver (vehicles up to 5.3 m). Passengers inside the car don't pay. Tickets are sold only on Gozo, in Mgarr, on the way back. At Cirkewwa you board with no ticket and no payment — it's the standard system, not a mistake.
Yes, but usually with an insurance surcharge of 5–15 euros a day. Over 75, several suppliers refuse or ask for a "fit-to-drive" doctor's letter. Mention your age at booking to avoid a surprise at the desk. We have suppliers who work with 70+ without extra paperwork.
With Super CDW or Full CDW you photograph the damage, notify the supplier within 24 hours, and the repair is covered. With basic CDW the rims are normally excluded — a replacement of 60–120 euros is taken from the deposit.
No. EU, UK, US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand licences are accepted on their own. The IDP is only required for licences from countries outside that list, or those issued in non-Latin script. A photo on the licence is mandatory; paper-only licences were phased out years ago.
Yes — most local Maltese suppliers and our partners accept debit cards or cash for the deposit. International chains still insist on a credit card in the main driver's name. When booking, choose cars marked "no credit card needed" — not every car on the lot allows it.
Airport rentals are usually 2–5 euros a day more because of the airport surcharge. If you're staying in Sliema or St Julian's and don't need a car for the first day or two, picking it up in town is cheaper. For a road trip from day one, the airport is normally worth the small premium.
Local Maltese suppliers refund cash deposits on the spot at drop-off if there's no damage. Credit-card holds clear in 7–30 working days, depending on the bank — that's the bank's process, not the supplier's. Keep the return inspection sheet as proof in any later dispute.
With basic CDW, no — those parts are typically excluded, and the cost comes out of the deposit. Super CDW or Full CDW usually covers windscreen, rims, tyres and undercarriage. On Malta this isn't a luxury — it's a sensible precaution given the narrow streets.
Yes. Maltese rules require a police report to activate any CDW or Super CDW — even for a scratch, no report means the repair comes out of your deposit. Call 112, don't move the car, photograph everything and wait for the patrol — they arrive quickly.
No. One-way rentals are not offered on Malta by any supplier — the car returns to the pickup point. The island is small enough that this rarely matters, but if your plans involve a non-standard return, raise it at booking and we'll see what we can arrange.
You don't pay a fine — you pay the charge itself: 0.82 euros per hour up to 6 euros a day, plus the rental's 15–30-euro admin fee on top. To avoid it entirely, drive in after 14:00, on a weekend, or park at Floriana and walk into Valletta — it's 10 minutes on foot.
3–7 euros a day, or 20–40 euros for the whole rental, depending on the supplier and seat class. Children under 10 or below 135 cm must travel in a seat or booster. Stock runs out in July and August — book the seat with the car, not at the desk.
Practically speaking, Malta has very few unsealed roads — the island is built up and the main sights are all on tarmac. The few dirt tracks (Fomm ir-Rih, some Gozo bays) are usually outside basic CDW cover. Safer to walk in from the nearest car park.
Most rentals run on 95 unleaded (around 1.45 euros per litre in 2026). Diesel is less common; it sits around 1.35 euros. The fuel type is always written in the contract and on the fuel cap. Many stations close by 20:00 — fill up during the day, especially before a Gozo trip.