RRoad Clarity
A narrow road between low honey-coloured limestone walls on Malta, small terraced fields either side and the Mediterranean beyond.

Malta

Drives on the left · EUR · Emergency 112
LAST VERIFIED 2026-09-13

Driving in Malta

Malta drives on the left, and it is that combined with the width of the islands' roads that defines the experience. Roads are narrow, frequently congested, and the distances are very short — you are rarely more than half an hour from anywhere. What consumes the time is traffic rather than kilometres, so an itinerary built on distances will be wrong in the direction of optimism. There are no toll roads anywhere on the islands, and no winter tyre requirement worth discussing given the climate. The alcohol limit is 0.8‰, one of the higher figures in Europe and the same as England and Wales, dropping to 0.2 for novice drivers. Headlights are not required in daylight. If you are arriving from mainland Europe, left-hand driving is the adjustment to take seriously — particularly at junctions and roundabouts, where old habits reassert themselves fastest. Limits are 50 in towns and 80 on rural roads.

Speed limits

Urban
50 km/h
Rural / outside built-up areas
80 km/h
Motorway
No general limit

Alcohol limits

General limit
0.8‰
Novice drivers
0.2‰

Mandatory equipment

  • •Warning triangle

Winter tires & snow chains

No legal requirement — essentially never needed given the mild Mediterranean climate.

Tolls

System
No general toll

No toll roads on the islands.

More things to know before you drive

Seatbelts
Mandatory front and rear for all occupants.
Mobile phone use
Hands-free only; holding a phone while driving is prohibited.
Child seats
Children require an appropriate child restraint suited to their age and size.
Headlights
Not generally mandatory in daylight; recommended in poor visibility.
Low-emission & restricted zones
No low-emission zone network currently in place.
Right of way & roundabouts
No general priority-to-the-right rule — give way according to signs and road markings, similar to UK practice. Roundabouts go clockwise (as driving is on the left); give way to traffic already on the roundabout, approaching from your right.
Parking
Paid parking is common in Valletta and other towns via meter or app.
Speed cameras
Fixed and mobile cameras are used on main roads.

Good to know

Drives on the left, like the UK and Ireland, but roads are narrow and can be congested — allow extra time. Distances are short given the island's small size.