Gozo by Rental Car — Ferry Prices, Routes & Local Tips Can You Take a Rental Car to Gozo? Gozo Channel Ferry — Prices and How It Works Gozo Channel Ferry Car & Passenger Prices Rent on Malta vs. Rent on Gozo — Which Is Better? Cost & Convenience Comparison Driving on Gozo — Roads, Parking, and Enforcement Parking at Cirkewwa When Visiting Comino FAQ Can I drive my rental car to Gozo from Malta? Yes, most Malta rental companies allow a rental car to board the Gozo Channel ferry. The standard return fare for a car is €15.70, and the crossing usually takes about 25 minutes. Some suppliers require that the booking includes permission for inter-island travel, so the rental voucher should be checked before you drive to Cirkewwa. Is it cheaper to rent a car in Gozo? Yes, renting locally on Gozo is often cheaper for stays of 2 days or more. Mayjo Car Hire and similar Gozo operators commonly advertise economy cars at about €18-€22/day, which can undercut the cost of carrying a Malta rental car plus ferry fares over multiple days. However, one-day visitors often spend less by keeping the Malta car and paying the Gozo Channel fare only once. Where do I collect a rental car at Malta International Airport? Most airport rentals are collected at Malta International Airport (MLA) in Luqa, usually through the Park East building near the arrivals hall and baggage reclaim. This setup is standard for major suppliers and makes it easy to drive south or north immediately after landing. Some companies may use an off-site handover or a shuttle during busy periods, so the booking confirmation should be read carefully. Do I need special insurance to take a rental car to Gozo? No, special insurance is usually not required for Gozo travel. Standard Malta rentals often include third-party liability plus CDW or SCDW, and some contracts offer FDW or zero excess for extra protection against damage costs. Even so, exclusions can apply to off-road driving, undercarriage damage, or unapproved drivers, so the policy wording should always be checked before departure. Gozo by Rental Car — Ferry Prices, Routes & Local Tips Planning a trip to Gozo means choosing between two transport models: taking a Malta rental car on the Gozo Channel ferry or renting a separate car on Gozo. A Gozo Channel return fare for a car is €15.70, the crossing takes about 25 minutes, and the service runs year-round between Cirkewwa and Mgarr. Home › Gozo Car Rental & Ferry Guide If you want a fast answer: take your Malta car for a day trip, but rent locally on Gozo for a stay of 2+ days. Local suppliers such as Mayjo Car Hire in Gozo often quote economy cars at €18-€22/day, while the ferry remains the cheaper option for a single-day visit. Use this guide to compare ferry prices, local driving rules, parking risks, and rental options across the Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean. Can You Take a Rental Car to Gozo? Yes, Malta rental cars can be taken to Gozo on the Gozo Channel ferry, and reputable suppliers such as MSG Malta, Aquarius Rent A Car, JS Car Hire, Sun Car Rental, Merlin Car Hire, Compass Car Hire, Baron Car Hire, First Car Rental Malta, Malta First Car Hire, Car Rentals Ltd, Bee Rentals Malta, Sicily by Car, Citygo Rentals, Freeways Auto Rentals, and Smarter Car Rentals generally allow inter-island travel. Most rental agreements cover Gozo as standard, but the booking voucher should still confirm whether preauthorisation, CDW, SCDW, FDW, theft protection, third-party liability, excess/deductible, franchise, and zero excess terms apply. A typical Malta airport pickup at Malta International Airport (MLA) in Luqa uses the Park East building near the arrivals hall and baggage reclaim, and the same contract usually remains valid on Gozo without a separate island fee. Check the terms before you drive onto the ferry, because some suppliers require written approval for certain vehicle classes or long-term hires. Gozo Channel Ferry — Prices and How It Works The Gozo Channel Line is the main vehicle ferry between Malta and Gozo, linking Cirkewwa with Mgarr in the Strait of Sicily. Vehicle fares are collected only on the return leg from Mgarr to Cirkewwa, so a Malta-to-Gozo crossing is paid later when you leave the island. The crossing takes about 25 minutes, and the schedule usually runs every 30 to 45 minutes, with higher frequency during peak periods. Gozo Channel Ferry Car & Passenger Prices Vehicle / Passenger Return Fare Notes ⚠️ Queue Times The busiest waiting windows are typically weekend afternoons and Sunday evenings, and summer queues at Cirkewwa can reach 1-2 hours. Transport Malta and ferry operators do not publish a guaranteed car boarding time, so plan around that delay when booking same-day connections. Foot passengers can also use the Gozo Highspeed fast ferry from the Grand Harbour to Mgarr, with a typical crossing time of about 45 minutes and a standard adult return fare of around €13.50. The service is passenger-only and does not accept cars, so it is useful for travellers who want to park once and avoid vehicle queues. Operator schedules and fares can change seasonally, so the current published timetable should always be checked before travel. Our 3-day photography circuit includes Gozo as a full day stop. Rent on Malta vs. Rent on Gozo — Which Is Better? The best option depends on how long you will stay on Gozo and whether you need a car on both islands. For a day trip, a Malta rental car plus the Gozo Channel ferry is usually the lower-cost solution; for 2 or more days based entirely on Gozo, a local rental can be better value and more convenient. For a one-day visit, the ferry cost of €15.70 for a car is usually cheaper than paying a second rental day on Gozo, and it avoids a second preauthorisation on a separate booking. For a multi-day trip, Gozo firms such as Mayjo Car Hire in Victoria/Rabat (Gozo) often deliver to Mgarr, your farmhouse, or nearby resorts, with economy pricing around €18-€22/day and deposit rules that may vary by card type. When comparing offers, check whether the daily rate includes CDW, SCDW, FDW, excess/deductible, or zero excess, because the headline price can change the real total by €10-€25/day. If the plan includes crossing from Malta to Gozo, Gozo ferry pickup planning helps compare Mgarr arrival timing, luggage handling, and whether collecting a car after the crossing is easier. Cost & Convenience Comparison Scenario Recommendation Estimated Cost & Rationale Driving on Gozo — Roads, Parking, and Enforcement Driving on Gozo is slower and more rural than driving in Malta, with narrow lanes, village squares, and steep coastal roads linking places such as Ramla Bay, Dwejra, Ta' Cenc, Wied il-Ghasri, Xwejni Salt Pans, and the hilltop centre of Victoria/Rabat (Gozo). A compact car such as a Toyota Aygo, Hyundai i10, Kia Picanto, Peugeot 108, Peugeot 208, Citroën C1, Citroën C3, Ford KA+, Toyota Yaris, or Nissan Micra is usually easier to park than a larger Nissan Qashqai, Nissan NV200, Dacia Jogger, or Renault Twizy, especially in older streets and busy bays. Parking control is strict in built-up areas, and Transport Malta and LESA (Local Enforcement System Agency) can issue fines or arrange towing where rules are broken. In many Maltese towns and on Gozo, a parking disc may be required in short-stay bays, and streets fitted with ANPR cameras can detect overstays or controlled access violations under CVA (Controlled Vehicular Access) rules. If a rental car is towed, local partners commonly direct drivers to the Victoria Police Station on Triq ir-Repubblika, and a recovery fee may apply before the vehicle is released. Fuel pricing is regulated nationally, and published retail fuel rates are usually consistent across Malta and Gozo; as a practical benchmark, unleaded petrol has recently been around €1.34/litre. For the most accurate on-road planning, check the latest Transport Malta guidance and any village-specific parking signs before entering Valletta, the Grand Harbour area, or tight streets in Sliema and St Julian's. Parking at Cirkewwa When Visiting Comino Comino is a car-free island, so visitors to the Blue Lagoon must park at Cirkewwa or Marfa Jetty and continue by passenger boat. This matters because the Cirkewwa car park is often full, especially when Gozo commuters and day-trippers are using the terminal at the same time. For colour-coded bay rules and enforcement details, see our Malta parking rules and colour codes guide. ⚠️ Enforcement at Cirkewwa LESA enforcement is active around the terminal, and illegal parking near ferry approaches can result in fines or towing. 💡 Alternative: Marfa Jetty A practical alternative is Marfa Jetty, where some operators provide free parking near the ticket booths and run boats toward Comino and the Blue Lagoon at roughly 30-minute intervals. Adult return boat fares are commonly in the €12-€15 range, but schedules, boarding points, and operator availability can change by season and sea conditions.