Category: Malta

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Malta

Malta

Europe > Malta > Malta

See: Why hire a car in Malta ? | Why not? | Ratings | Summary | Comments

Please note that Carornocar.com is currently being revised and updated in preparation for the Summer 2021 (northern hemisphere) tourist season. It is expected that some social distancing rules will still apply. For additional Malta car hire advice, please use the comments form below.

Quick Ratings

Price band: 

Malta is in car rental price band: 1/10 (1 = cheapest car rental location)

General comment - based on price alone, is it worth renting a car in Malta? 

Yes. Extremely cheap car hire, if booking economy vehicle outside peak holiday period.

Volatility:

Can you expect big swings in car rental prices in Malta between the peak and the off peak season?

7/10 (0 = stable prices)

Driving score: 2/10

Non car score:4/10

Balance: 2

(0 = car hire not advised / 10 = rental car essential)

General comment -

 

Malta is the sort of destination where many British visitors will feel very much at home, given the strong links the country has with Blighty, combined with the added “bonus” (as if it should really matter) that Malta is one of only two European countries outside the British Isles where the driving is on the left.

But does that really matter if you’re planning on holidaying here? Probably not – after all, driving on the “wrong” side of the road doesn’t put most people off from hiring cars elsewhere in the Continent, and nor does driving on the “right” side of the road stop Continental visitors from driving in the UK.

Why? Visiting Malta using a hire car

Why do you need a car in Malta ?

  • No reason to hire a car in Malta, other than to sit and stew in your own metal box, rather than someone else’s!
  • With a car you can take a ferry to Gozo and drive around there – but you can also visit Gozo on foot.
  • If you live outside major resort centres, a car could be handy – but it will still be easier to use taxis.

Why not? Visiting Malta without a car

Why don't you need a car in Malta ?

  • Malta is a very crowded island, and it has traffic problems to match.
  • Difficulties parking, especially in Valetta.
  • Buses and taxis will always be better value, and usually both will be much quicker.
  • Visit Gozo as a foot passenger.
  • Malta car hire is often poor value, due to need to pay for a full tank of fuel you probably won’t use.

What really matters in Malta is the simple fact that this is a very tightly packed island, and indeed Malta is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. The island’s main airport at Luqa is situated right on the edge of the Maltese capital Valletta, and you could almost walk it, but you probably wouldn’t want to do so in the summer sun, and of course there’s no need either as taxis and local buses are plentiful.

Going to Gozo

It’s also easy enough to travel to neighbouring Gozo using a combination of bus and ferry, and the option of going at least one way by helicopter is also available from Luqa airport.

So, do you really need a hire car in Malta? All in all, there really isn’t much reason to get a rental car in Malta, unless you are staying in a villa somewhere on the other side of the island, but even here, there are still enough buses to satisfy all but the fussiest of visitor.

And in all honesty, if you are going to be fussy about the buses on Malta, you’ll probably be fussy about the traffic too, so you might prefer just to get around by taxi. It’s unlikely that even a long string of short taxi fares is going to break the bank when compared with the total cost of renting a car, parking, fuel and insurance included.

Ratings: How does Malta compare?

Is it worth hiring a car in Malta? TBC

This is based on a rough consideration of the costs of renting a car in Malta, and how this compares with the costs of using public transport. The answer to this varies hugely from one destination to the next, based on a wide range of factors. It's based on renting a car at the airport (TBC), and driving for an average of 2-3 hours on open roads on most days.

How does this compare if:

You are travelling:

Solo / As couple / small family / larger family / senior couple etc

Does car rental make sense on different budgets?

 

 

Do you need to hire a car in Malta? TBC

This is based strictly on whether or no we think it's possible to visit Malta (and the surrounding area) without using a car. Of the three key questions, this one is the most likely to be a "no".

Should you rent a car in Malta? TBC

This is a balance of all factors. Remember this is an answer to the question for people who are already asking it. That's why the answer might still be a "yes", even when public transport is good. 

See global comparisons

Hiring | Driving | Parking

Trains | Buses | Local travel

 

Car hire basics:

 

Public transportation basics:

 

Regular bus services: YES

Coach (inter-city): YES

Tram: NO

Metro: NO

Commuter Rail:

High Speed Rail:

Rail type (end stub / through / junction / hub):

 

As you start ....

Does Malta airport have a direct rail link?

(Yes - within terminal / adjacent / short walk) (Yes - bus transfer / other) No

 

 

 

 

Changelog

Has our advice for Malta car rental changed over time, or has it been pretty constant?

2017 - 2

2019 - 3

2021 - 2

Average score - 2

Notes:

 

Malta car hire verdict – strong no.

Summary

Do you or don't you need a car in Malta ?