Road guide
Driving in Malta
Malta's short distances can hide urban delay, controlled access and a ferry stage to Gozo. Plan the road line, then verify the live network and each access condition separately.
Verify the current road state after planning
Use the route planner to compare a normal itinerary, distance and driving estimate, then consult Transport Malta's traffic service and eGIS layers for works and reported conditions. Short urban journeys need realistic margin at busy times.
The official map warns that directions may not include every latest update. Check close to departure and follow temporary signs, police instructions and traffic management even when a saved route still shows the usual street.
Plan on this site
Calculate your route
Enter a start and destination, plus up to three optional stops in travel order. The calculation opens on DrivingDirections.net with distance, estimated time, a route overview and turn-by-turn directions.
Reset the driving routine to the left
Traffic drives on the left. The official Highway Code is the working reference for signs, junctions, roundabouts, overtaking, stopping and parking; the EU country page supplements it with rules that vary by driver or vehicle.
Take particular care when leaving a parked position, entering a roundabout or returning to the road after a stop. Dense streets and limited visibility make the signed restriction and actual road position more important than a general country summary.
Match the licence rule to the country of issue
Transport Malta states that holders of an EU driving licence may drive in Malta while the licence remains valid. Its published rule for a non-EU licence is different: a holder may drive for up to 12 months from the date of the last entry into Malta.
Carry the licence and the vehicle's insurance, registration and rental or owner authorisation. Twelve months is not a blanket rule for every situation: residency, licence validity, vehicle category and rental terms can require an earlier licensing check.
Treat Valletta CVA as an access account, not a route feature
Valletta's Controlled Vehicular Access system uses automatic number-plate recognition at the boundary. It records entry and exit and calculates the time a vehicle spends in the zone so that the applicable access and parking charge can be determined.
Check the official boundary and the vehicle's account or payment status before and after entry. A route estimate neither calculates a CVA charge nor confirms that the registration mark has been read correctly.
Confirm an exemption before relying on it
CVA exemptions are tied to published categories and an application or approval process. Eligibility in principle is not the same as an approved vehicle record, so verify the registration mark and effective status before entering on that basis.
Retroactive applications are not accepted under the published exemption procedure. Do not assume that an invoice can be removed later because a person, organisation or vehicle might otherwise have qualified.
Split a Malta–Gozo vehicle journey at the ferry
The year-round vehicle service operates between Cirkewwa in Malta and Mgarr in Gozo. Transport Malta describes this as a roll-on/roll-off link carrying passengers, cars and cargo; other passenger sea services are not automatically vehicle ferries.
End the first road route at the correct terminal and allow for check-in, queueing, loading and the crossing. The road journey resumes after unloading on the other island, so a driving estimate alone cannot represent the complete door-to-door time.
Use the right incident process
Transport Malta's licence guidance distinguishes a minor bumper-to-bumper collision with no injuries from other road accidents. Use the applicable local form or warden process, exchange accurate details and preserve photographs without creating another traffic hazard.
If anyone is injured, there is fire or an immediate danger, call 112 and provide the road, direction and a precise landmark. Do not let paperwork delay emergency assistance, and follow police or warden instructions at the scene.
Official information
Official sources
- Traffic Services Transport Malta · checked 13 September 2026
- eGIS roadworks and live traffic Transport Malta · checked 13 September 2026
- Land Transport and driving in Malta Government of Malta · checked 13 September 2026
- The Highway Code Transport Malta · checked 13 September 2026
- Road rules and safety — Malta Your Europe, European Union · checked 13 September 2026
- Driving licence Transport Malta · checked 13 September 2026
- Driving licence and car insurance validity in the EU Your Europe, European Union · checked 13 September 2026
- Controlled Vehicular Access CVA Malta · checked 13 September 2026
- Pay CVA charges CVA Malta · checked 13 September 2026
- CVA exemption procedures CVA Malta · checked 13 September 2026
- Other ports in the Maltese Islands Transport Malta · checked 13 September 2026
- Passenger transport by sea Transport Malta · checked 13 September 2026
- Emergency Services 112 Malta Police Force · checked 13 September 2026