Here is our guide to driving in Malta, whether you are visiting on holiday or decide to become an expat on the island. Find all the information about driving licenses in Malta.
Passing your driving license in Malta
The first step to passing your driving license is to select a driving school, specifically an approved trainer. They are locally called “Motoring schools.” You can then choose to learn with either an automatic or a manual car.
Motoring school (driving schools)
Here is our selection of renowned driving schools in the central areas of the island.
Rudolph Motoring School
A driving school that offers you the opportunity to practice and take the driving test for car, motorcycle, bus, and truck license.
Rate: A session will be charged at €15 for 45 minutes, or €22 for 120 minutes.
The school is located in St Catherine Street, Attard. However, they offer to pick you up and drop you off wherever you want before and after your driving time.
website: Rudolph
Royal Motoring
This school is widely used in Malta with several offices and a fleet of more than twenty vehicles. You can also apply for a car, motorcycle, bus, and truck license.
Price: A session will be charged at €15 for 45 minutes, or €22 for 120 minutes.
The instructor offers the possibility to pick you up and drop you off wherever you wish.
A central office is located in:
Attard: Corner Place (Apartments), Office No. 5, Triq iz-Zaghfran.
And a second is located in Qawra: Sunshine Flats, Qawra Road.
website: Royal Motoring
Our tip: To shorten your driving hours, we recommend that you choose an instructor who can pick you up and drop you off at your office or home after your driving time has elapsed. This way, you will avoid unnecessary journeys.
Administrative documents
You will need to provide a list of administrative documents and pay fees for the various exam registrations:
Firstly, you will need to get a Learner’s Permit. This is usually requested from Transport Malta, directly by the driving school.
Next, you will be asked for the following documents to complete your file:
- A certificate of physical fitness, form DRV 01
- A request made by the driving school
- A recent ID photo
- A copy of your ID card / passport or resident card
To qualify for the theoretical license exam:
- The learner’s permit, previously requested
- An ID document
And finally, on the day of the driving test:
- The learner’s permit
- The certification of your validated theoretical exam
You also have a second option, which is to get your license with a non-approved instructor. The latter must then be over 25 years of age and have a valid license of more than 5 years.
Renting or driving a car in Malta with a foreign license – Exchanging your driving license.
Foreign nationals holding a driving license issued outside the European Union are allowed to drive in Malta with their national driving license for a maximum period of 12 months from their last date of entry into the country.
Nationals of the European Union, the European Economic Area, Switzerland and Australia can continue to drive using their own license. They can also opt to exchange their driving license for a Maltese license:
To do this, you will need to prove that you have lived in Malta for more than 185 days during the previous year. The Maltese driving license will be issued to you for a period of 10 years. It will therefore have to be renewed every 10 years.
A request is then made to Transport Malta, located in Paola, or to the Permit Office in Gozo. The exchange process is carried out in three phases:
1- Gather the following documents:
- The DRV30 form completed with an identity photo
- A photocopy of the current license
- A copy of your signed lease proving you have lived in Malta for more than 185 days
- A copy of your residence card.
The documents should be sent to the following address: Transport Malta, Land Transport Directorate, Driver Licensing Unit, A3 Towers, Arcade Street, Paola, PLA 1212
2- Transport Malta will contact your administration to check that you have no license suspension in your country of origin.
3- You will be contacted in the following weeks to give you an appointment where you will need to present the ORIGINAL documents previously sent by email, including your own driving license, which they will keep.
You are now ready to drive on Maltese roads!
