UK licence Malta

Driving in Malta with a UK license

Short answer: you can drive in Malta with a UK license; an International Driving Permit is recommended and is carried alongside your UK license.

IDP recommended

An International Driving Permit is recommended (not strictly required) for UK licence holders driving in Malta. Your UK licence is in the Roman alphabet, but an IDP removes any doubt at rental desks and roadside checks. Carry both.

Convention basisMalta uses the format of the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Conventions. Our certified translation is prepared in that exact format.

At the rental deskAn IDP helps non-EU and non-Latin-script drivers at Maltese desks.

CarryCarry BOTH your UK national licence and the IDP at all times. The IDP is a translation of your licence and never replaces it.

Minimum age18+ to drive; rental typically 21+ with a young-driver surcharge under 25

Validity1–3 years (you choose at checkout)

FormatDigital PDF you print yourself, plus a QR-verifiable ID card — accepted alongside printed permits

Last verified July 2026Convention: Both

Get my IDP for Malta Full Malta guide

UK drivers should carry an International Driving Permit with their licence; some countries recognise the 1949 version and others the 1968 version. Your International Driving Permit is a certified multilingual translation of your existing licence, prepared in the 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna format and carried alongside your national licence.

What driving in Malta is like

The coastal drive along Dingli Cliffs, Malta's highest point, offers dramatic clifftop Mediterranean views. For most visitors the real draw is the freedom to reach places trains and tours don't, on your own schedule, with the open road generally capped around 80 km/h open roads (no motorways). Getting behind the wheel is the easy part: your International Driving Permit is a certified translation of your UK licence, carried alongside it, so rental staff and officials in Malta can read your credentials at a glance.

Driving rules in Malta

Drive on the left.
Seatbelts mandatory; phone use banned.
0.05% alcohol limit.
Narrow roads and aggressive local driving.

Local driving facts in Malta

Emergency number: 112 (112 also connects from most mobiles). Typical maximum for cars on the fastest road class: 80 km/h open roads (no motorways). Posted limits always take precedence.

Tolls & road charges: Malta has no toll motorways. The only road-use charge is the Valletta CVA congestion fee inside the walled city, roughly EUR 0.82/hour (first 30 minutes free) weekdays 08:00-18:00, billed automatically by plate.
Parking: Curb colours govern parking: white means free public, blue is residents-only 18:00-08:00, green is residents-only 24h, and yellow means no parking. Paid meters give 1-2 hours; illegally parked cars risk clamping or towing by LESA wardens.
Penalties & enforcement: Camera and LESA radar speeding fines are about EUR 34.94 for up to 15 km/h over and EUR 74.94 above that; mobile-phone and seatbelt offences also carry fixed penalties. Rental firms pass camera fines to the renter, often with an admin fee.
If you have an accident: 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.
City driving: Driving is on the LEFT (a former British colony), which surprises many continental visitors. Valletta's narrow one-way grid sits inside the CVA charging zone, and the Regional Road/Marsa junctions are notoriously congested.
Winter driving: No winter-tyre rules - Mediterranean climate; snow and ice essentially never occur.
Fuel: 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.

Sources: autoeurope.co.uk, cva.gov.mt, tollguru.com, pulizija.gov.mt

Common questions

Can I drive in Malta with a UK license?

you can drive in Malta with a UK license; an International Driving Permit is recommended and is carried alongside your UK license. Malta uses the format of the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Conventions. Our certified translation is prepared in that exact format.

Is my UK driver's license valid in Malta?

Do I need an International Driving Permit for Malta?

Can I rent a car in Malta with a UK license?

An IDP helps non-EU and non-Latin-script drivers at Maltese desks.

What IDP format does Malta accept?

Malta uses the format of the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna Conventions. Our certified translation is prepared in that exact format.

How do I get an International Driving Permit for Malta?

An International Driving Permit is a certified multilingual translation of your existing UK license. You apply online, and it is issued as a printable PDF booklet with a QR-verifiable ID card in the 1949 Geneva / 1968 Vienna format Malta uses — carried alongside your UK license.

Do I still carry my UK license?

Carry BOTH your UK national licence and the IDP at all times. The IDP is a translation of your licence and never replaces it.

What is the emergency number and speed limit in Malta?

In Malta, dial 112 for emergencies; 112 also works from most GSM phones. The general maximum for cars on the fastest road class is 80 km/h open roads (no motorways); posted limits in towns and on secondary roads are lower and always take precedence.

How do tolls and road charges work in Malta?

Malta has no toll motorways. The only road-use charge is the Valletta CVA congestion fee inside the walled city, roughly EUR 0.82/hour (first 30 minutes free) weekdays 08:00-18:00, billed automatically by plate.