Car Hire Malta — Frequently Asked Questions Car Hire Malta — Frequently Asked Questions This FAQ covers the practical, legal, and cost questions most travellers ask before booking a rental car in Malta. Malta is a 316 km² island state in the Maltese archipelago, and driving rules, parking controls, and insurance terms can materially affect your total trip cost. Read the full Gozo ferry guide → See the full parking colour code system → Read our insurance and deposit guide → See our tested road trip itineraries → Is it worth renting a car in Malta? Yes, renting a car is usually worth it if you plan to visit more than Valletta and Sliema for 3 or more days. Malta is only 27 km by 14.5 km, but reaching places such as Mdina, Rabat, Dingli Cliffs, Hagar Qim, Marsaxlokk, Blue Grotto, Mellieha, Golden Bay, Ghajn Tuffieha, Popeye Village, and the Three Cities is faster and cheaper by car than by multiple taxis or bus transfers. A typical economy rental can start from about €5-7 per day in low season, while airport taxi fares from Malta International Airport in Luqa to Mellieha can be €30-40 one way. Malta's road network is small but congested around the Northern Harbour district, so a car works best when your trip includes coastal viewpoints, village visits, or ferry connections to Gozo and Comino. The main exception is a stay focused only on Valletta, Floriana, St Julian's, and Sliema, where parking can be tight and public transport may be enough for short urban trips. How much does car hire cost in Malta? Economy car hire in Malta usually ranges from about €5 per day in winter to more than €27 per day in peak summer, depending on supplier, pickup point, and insurance selection. Sun Car Rental and First Car Rental Malta often sit at different price points, with low-cost offers for a Toyota Aygo, Hyundai i10, Kia Picanto, Peugeot 108, Citroën C1, or Ford KA+ and higher rates for larger models such as a Nissan Qashqai, Dacia Jogger, or Nissan NV200. A realistic budget is €5-12 per day from November to March and €15-27 per day in July and August, while peak dates such as Easter and Santa Marija can lift prices by 30% or more. Malta International Airport pickup desks in the Park East building beside the arrivals hall usually price airport collection slightly above city branches in Marsa, Luqa, or the Northern Harbour district because of demand and convenience. The main caveat is insurance: a cheap headline rate may still require a preauthorisation on a credit card, plus an excess/deductible or franchise unless you buy SCDW, FDW, zero excess, or full coverage. Do I need an International Driving Permit for Malta? No, an International Driving Permit is not required for most visitors who hold a valid photocard licence from the UK, EU, EEA, or Switzerland. Malta follows standard EU recognition rules, and rental desks at Malta International Airport, Luqa, and city branches in Sliema or Valletta usually accept a valid licence plus passport for collection. An IDP is still recommended for some non-EU travellers because rental companies such as JS Car Hire, Aquarius Rent A Car, and Merlin Car Hire may apply their own desk policy even when local law permits the licence. If your licence is not in Latin script, an IDP is usually the safest option to avoid a refusal at pickup. The exception is a paper-only UK licence or any licence that is unreadable to the rental agent, where an IDP or alternative supporting document may be requested. Which side of the road do you drive on in Malta? You drive on the left-hand side of the road in Malta, with right-hand-drive cars being common in the rental fleet. This reflects Malta's British driving heritage and applies across the Maltese archipelago, including Gozo, where roads around Victoria/Rabat (Gozo), Xwejni Salt Pans, Dwejra, Ta' Cenc, and Wied il-Ghasri can be narrow and winding. On roundabouts, traffic flows clockwise, and drivers should be especially alert near school zones, village centres, and the busy approaches to the Grand Harbour and Strait of Sicily coastal routes. A small car such as a Toyota Aygo, Citroën C1, or Renault Twizy is often easier to place on narrow streets than a larger Nissan Qashqai or Dacia Jogger. The main exception is that left-side driving does not remove the need to watch for pedestrians, local minibuses, and parking maneuvers in historic cores like Mdina and Valletta. Can I take a rental car to Gozo? Yes, most Maltese rental companies allow their vehicles to be taken on the Gozo Channel ferry from Cirkewwa to Mgarr. Standard rental policies from companies such as Bee Rentals Malta, Citygo Rentals, Freeways Auto Rentals, Smarter Car Rentals, Mayjo Car Hire (Gozo), and Compass Car Hire commonly permit inter-island travel, and the ferry fare for a car plus driver is typically charged on the return leg from Gozo. The Gozo Channel ferry is the most common option, while the Gozo Highspeed service is for passengers rather than cars. Once on Gozo, most visitors use a small car for routes from Victoria/Rabat (Gozo) to Ramla Bay, Xwejni Salt Pans, Dwejra, Mgarr, Ta' Cenc, and Wied il-Ghasri, where roads can be steep and narrow. The caveat is insurance: not every policy automatically includes island travel, so you should confirm third-party liability, theft protection, CDW, SCDW, and any franchise or excess/deductible before boarding at Cirkewwa. Do I need a credit card to rent a car in Malta? Yes, most Malta rental companies require a credit card for the security deposit preauthorisation, but some suppliers also accept debit cards or offer no-deposit car hire. A standard hold is often €200-1,500 depending on vehicle class and insurance level, while a cheaper economy car from Malta First Car Hire, Car Rentals Ltd, or MSG Malta may have a lower hold if you accept a higher excess/deductible. Rental desks at Malta International Airport in the Park East building commonly ask for a credit card in the main driver's name, especially for airport pickup near the arrivals hall and baggage reclaim. If you decline SCDW or FDW, the operator may impose a larger preauthorisation.