Hire Car Malta Tips, Experiences & Comparison

Exploring Malta by Hire Car

It is fun to explore Malta by hire car. The roads are well developed, the traffic volume keeps within limits, the drivers have a rather restrained driving style. To make booking and travel easier for you, we have put together a few tips.

Taking over the hire car

At Malta International Airport, you will find numerous hire car agencies after baggage claim on the left in the arrivals hall. You should just make sure that your rental company is there as well. Because if it is just near the airport, you may have to wait a long time for a shuttle to take you to your hire car.

Booking the right car

The best way to master the unfamiliar left-hand traffic in Malta is to book a car with automatic transmission. This way you can concentrate on the traffic and don’t have to search for the gears with your left hand.

Hire car prices

You can often get a hire car in Malta at amazingly low prices. However, if the price is too low, be sure to study the rental conditions carefully. Often you will find hidden costs there, which have to be paid on the spot and turn the supposed bargain into an expensive offer. Cars that are offered at a very reasonable price in our eyes, we have marked with the note “Excellent offer”.

hire car price comparison Malta

Insuring the car properly

The left-hand traffic ensures that an accident with the foreign hire car can happen quickly. Protect yourself and book a car with fully comprehensive insurance without deductible.

When it comes to the amount of liability, you should definitely make sure that the coverage amount is at least one million euros.

Because if people are injured in an accident or several vehicles are involved, such a sum is quickly reached. If the sum insured of your rental company seems too low, you have the possibility to provide additional protection with a so-called Mallorca policy. Talk to your insurance company.

age limit

You must be 21 years old to hire car from almost all hire car companies in Malta. And many charge an additional fee from drivers younger than 25. Older drivers over 70 are also often charged an additional fee. Study your rental company’s terms and conditions before booking.

Accessories

Especially in the first days you will have to struggle with the unfamiliar left-hand traffic. Then you will be glad if a navigation device shows you the way.

This and other accessories, such as child seats, you must always order separately from your rental company. Make your reservation in good time so that the equipment you want is actually available on the day you pick up your car.

Free kilometers

In order to enjoy your excursions in Malta without any worries, you should book a hire car with all kilometres free. This way, you can head to more distant destinations without anxiously squinting at the mileage meter.

Remember the tank regulation

In Malta, there are hire car companies where customers must purchase the first tank of fuel for a service charge. The car can then be returned with an empty tank. Rather book with a rental company where you pick up the car with a full tank and return it with a full tank. That way you save the service fee and don’t have to fret if the tank is still a quarter or eighth full when you return the car.

Bail

Be sure to book with a rental company that only blocks the deposit due on your credit card. This is because if the money is actually collected, it may take longer for the deposit to be returned to your account once the car is returned.

Customer Satisfaction Hire Car

Numerous customers complain about the external condition of hire cars in Malta. Always get written confirmation of any damage such as scratches or dents and keep the record in a safe place. This is the only way to avoid being held liable for damage that you did not cause when you return the car.

Safety Hire Car

The road safety of some rental vehicles is also poor in Malta. Therefore, check all the lights on your car before your first drive. Also, look at the tread of the tyres and test the oil level. Make sure you have a first aid kit and high visibility vests on board.

While you’re still in the rental company’s parking lot, do a little brake test. And check the tire pressure at the first gas station. If you notice anything about your vehicle that compromises safety, insist on a replacement vehicle with your hire car company.

Traffic Rules Malta

General:
Malta has a dense network of routes, radiating in a star shape from Valletta. However, although a lot of money has been spent on road upgrades in recent years, the secondary routes are often in poor condition.

Motorways do not exist at all. Traffic lights are relatively new in Malta and are not always respected by all local motorists.

A double yellow line on the side of the road means absolutely no parking. Violators are immediately met by the claw or towing service. Talking on the phone in the car is forbidden everywhere and in general, this also applies to the use of hands-free devices.

Driving license:
An international driving license is not required here.

Promille limit:
All over Malta the 0.8 promille limit applies.

Fine:
Drinking and driving: from 480 euros
Speeding: from 25 euros
Red light: from 25 euros
Overtaking ban disregarded: up to 60 euros
Parking ban: from 25 euros

Other:
Similar traffic rules apply as everywhere else in Europe. The speed limits are 50 km/h in cities, 80 km/h on country roads. In Malta you have to drive on the left side of the road!

Suggestion for a trip by hire car

Valletta: Cozy capital with many facets
Start your trip in Valletta, the capital of the island of Malta. With a population of just 6,000, Valetta makes a cosy impression.

Perhaps visit the multimedia show “The Malta Experience” at St. Elmo Bastion first. Here you will learn a lot about the island and its history.

After that, a visit to St. John’s Co-Cathedral is worthwhile. The cathedral was built between 1573 and 1577 and redesigned in 1661. The nave is richly decorated and fascinates the visitor. Let yourself drift, stroll through the alleys and follow your intuition.

Maybe you feel like visiting the National Museum of Fine Arts. Or go shopping in the boutiques and shops, which are in great variety here. Afterwards a small snack in one of the nice restaurants and you have also discovered the very own charm of the Maltese capital.

Mdina: On to the old capital
The next day, the journey takes you to Mdina in the island’s interior. In about 20 minutes you are there. In Mdina, a lot of Maltese history awaits you. Already around 200 BC, the Romans declared Mdina the capital of the island and until today the city attracts with the splendor of past times. Mdina is rightly considered the most beautiful city in Malta.

You can conquer the old town on foot at your leisure, as it is closed to car traffic. Enter the former capital through the mighty Main Entrance. Just beyond is Vilhena Palace, which is well worth a visit.

After that, you can walk to Bastion Square and climb the fortification wall. From here, there is a grand view of the island. To round off your visit to Mdina, you then have the option of hiring a horse-drawn carriage and taking a leisurely ride through the city.

Hagar Qim and Mnajdra: The time travel continues
Even further back into Malta’s history, the journey takes you to the temple complexes of Hagar Qim and Mnajdra, which are also on the UNESCO World Heritage List. You will reach the historical sites in about 20 minutes. Hagar Qim was first discovered in 1839.

Researchers believe that the temple complex was built around 2800 BC. The oldest part of Mnajdra is even believed to date back to 3400 BC. Take a few hours and take in the impressive structures.

Blue Grotto: A fascinating natural spectacle
At the end of the day, you should still enjoy one of the most beautiful natural spectacles of the island. Head to Wied iz-Zurrieq Bay which is just a four-minute drive from Hagar Qim. From here, a boat will take you to the Blue Grotto.

The ride passes bizarre rock formations. The 50-metre-deep grotto takes its name from the play of colours in the water, which looks turquoise, rich blue or almost black, depending on the angle of the light. Even during the relaxing tour, you will have plenty of opportunity to think about the other stops on your road trip.

Conclusion

The manageability of the island makes Malta a dream destination for a hire car trip. All places are quite close together and are easily accessible via mostly well-maintained roads. With our practical price comparison you will always find a suitable car at a reasonable price.