Rent A Car

When I first arrived in Malta, some … ooh 20 years ago now, one of the locals told me the answer given to those tourists who, when picking up hire cars, asked if they should drive on the left or right hand side of the road was: “Neither. We drive in the shade!”

It’s a quaint little anecdote that may make you smile and did me too until I spent some time on the roads and realised that there was actually quite a bit of truth in it – though not so much in today’s Malta.

Even in the short time that I’ve been familiar with Maltese motoring things have moved on a lot. There are now jams, that the locals will declare are horrendous but they are nothing compared to what you might encounter in other European countries like the UK, France or Italy for example. (Unless the jam happens at Marsa, in which case, such is the genius of the Maltese road system, you're screwed and can't get anywhere!)

The quality of driving here may also be a deterrent to convincing you to drive as that too continues to fluctuate anywhere between fast, frantic, aggressive and typically Mediterranean to laid-back, slow and blissfully oblivious to any large queues building up behind.

This latter category is largely due to the state of some of the vintage vehicles that continue to chug around the island and that tailback producing snail pace they drive at not so much top speed but the only speed they can travel at!

The fact remains though that in spite of the erratic driving and the state of the cars, and some of the roads … actually most of the roads, which are generously scattered with potholes, and even given the excellent public transport, the best way to see Malta and Gozo is by car!

The island is small, its network of roads is gradually improving and though the driving - and particularly the unpredictable attitude to the 'Give Way' concept at junctions and roundabouts - may sometimes leave you open-mouthed and disbelieving, take your time and stay calm and it is as safe as anywhere else. If in doubt, simply stop and let all the locals drive around you.

Whether you prefer to relax on a beach or spend your days sightseeing, hiring a car in Malta is always worthwhile. A self-drive car provides convenient transport to and from the airport and gives you the freedom to really explore your holiday destination, get away from the crowds and search out deserted beaches, traditional villages and local authentic restaurants. 


You can throw your kit and beach towels in the boot and do all the things you really enjoy, free from the restrictions of bus timetables or organised excursions. Mercifully for today’s tourists, the road signs have also improved tremendously. However, in spite of this, finding your way around can still be a challenge, especially when the name of the place you're aiming for suddenly vanishes from the signs between junctions! But with the use of a map or mobile phone it's not a huge problem.

GPS maps are also available nowadays but come with the same drawbacks as any ‘sat nav’ ie the insistent woman will be advising you that the farm track to your right that clearly leads nowhere is by far the quickest way to get to Mdina even though you can see the city perched on a hillside at the end of the long, straight main road you are currently driving down.

Whatever may happen out there, the beauty of motoring in Malta and Gozo is the fact that when you are really lost there is one very easy and effective thing to do - stop the car and ask the first person that comes your way for directions. Practically every Maltese person speaks extremely good English, and probably some other languages too, so communicating will be easy and fast. We can't say the same for your pronunciation of the place names, but an exchange of smiles and a quick point at a map should do the trick for you.

All types of car rental operations from local agents to top international companies can be found in Malta and Gozo and offer quality and cheap car hire. Their fleets of rental cars range from cheap and compact, to the family sized and executive. Take your pick of the bunch but remember that air-conditioning is a must in the summer! You'll find some suggested companies by clicking on the link below.