Table of Contents Importing a car to Malta: Understanding the basics Step by step: How to properly plan your Malta car import Car registration Malta: Documents and authority visits Car import Malta costs: Calculate your budget correctly Driving on the left Malta: Switching from right to left driving Malta traffic rules: What German drivers need to know Registering a car Malta: The final authority marathon Avoiding common mistakes when importing a car to Malta Frequently asked questions Im sitting here in my German car with Maltese registration plates, thinking back to the day I decided: The car is coming to Malta. What started as a spontaneous idea turned into months of navigating EU regulations, endless paperwork, and the quirks of left-hand traffic. Now, two years later, I can tell you: it was worth every minute – but only because I now know how to get it done right. If you’re wondering whether your faithful four-wheeler should make the jump to the Mediterranean island, you’re in the right place. While most guides tell you “it’s all quite straightforward”, I’ll be honest with you: importing a car to Malta is doable, but you’ll need a plan, patience, and a dose of Maltese laid-back attitude. Importing a car to Malta: Understanding the basics Before you turn your key on Maltese soil for the first time, you must understand what “importing a car to Malta” really means. It’s not just a ferry ride – it’s an official import into another EU country with all the bureaucracy that comes with it. When is your car considered “imported”? This is where it gets interesting: your car is considered imported as soon as you use it in Malta for longer than six months. That’s the magic line when Transport Malta (the Maltese registration authority) says: “Welcome to the Maltese tax system.” Until then, you can drive with your German license plates – but be careful, the clock starts ticking from day one after your arrival. EU freedom of movement vs. national laws Yes, you’re right: as an EU citizen you have free movement. But your car? That’s governed by the national laws of the country where it’s registered. Malta has its own rules – and they’re quite tough: Registration tax: Can be up to 37% of the car’s value Technical inspection: Maltese VIP-Test (Vehicle Inspection Programme) Left-hand traffic adaptation: Headlights must be adjusted Insurance switch: German insurance is only valid for a short period Malta vehicle registration: Your three options There are basically three ways you can have your car in Malta: Tourist status: Up to 6 months with German plates (for visitors only) Temporary registration: For stays between 6-12 months (complicated and expensive) Full import: Permanent Maltese registration (the ultimate solution) Spoiler: If you’re staying longer, there’s no way around fully importing your car. Anything else ends up being more expensive and complicated. Step by step: How to properly plan your Malta car import The best time to import your car? Definitely not on a Maltese public holiday. Feels like there’s one every other day. I once tried to get something done in August – huge mistake. Half of Malta is on holiday, the other half is taking a siesta. Timeline: How to plan your Malta car import My advice: Start planning at least three months before your scheduled move. Here’s my tried and tested timeline: Timing Task Why important? 3 months prior Get vehicle valuation Basis for tax calculation 2 months prior Have documents translated Maltese authorities insist on it 6 weeks prior Book ferry ticket High season books up fast 1 month prior Cancel/adjust insurance Avoid double payments 2 weeks prior Appointment at Transport Malta Only bookable online Gathering documents: Your Malta car import checklist Maltese authorities love paperwork. Not digital, not by email – good old paper. Here’s the full list of what you’ll need: Registration certificate (Part I): Original plus certified translation Vehicle title (Part II): Proof of ownership COC papers (Certificate of Conformity): From the manufacturer, proves EU compliance Sales contract or invoice: For value proof and tax calculation TÜV certificate: No older than 6 months Passport or identity card: As EU citizen, ID suffices Proof of residence in Malta: Rental contract or utility bill Vehicle valuation: From an accredited appraiser COC papers: The invisible stumbling block The COC papers (Certificate of Conformity) are the reason your import can fail without you even knowing it. This certificate proves your car meets EU standards. Problem: many car owners never received them – or have lost them long ago. Where to get them? Directly from the manufacturer or its representative. This takes 2-4 weeks and costs between €50-200. BMW, Mercedes, VW – every brand has its own process. My tip: call the German head office; they usually know more than the local dealer. Car registration Malta: Documents and authority visits Now it gets serious. You’re standing in front of the Transport Malta Building in Marsa, wondering why half of Valletta seems to be in line ahead of you. Welcome to Maltese reality – things run a bit more leisurely here. Transport Malta: Your new best friend (or enemy) Transport Malta is the central point for everything on wheels. The building in Marsa is hard to miss – a modern complex that looks like it’s from another era. Good news: online appointment booking works. Bad news: appointments are often fully booked for weeks. My secret tip: check online at 8am. Cancellations often free up slots at short notice. And yes, the service is now much better than its reputation – those days of spending the whole day there are over. The VIP-Test: Malta’s version of the TÜV The Vehicle Inspection Programme (VIP) is Malta’s answer to the German TÜV. The difference? It’s more thorough, takes longer, and has its own rules. What’s inspected: Headlight adjustment: Must be adapted for left-hand traffic Brakes and tyres: Minimum tread depth 1.6mm (same as Germany) Emissions: Stricter than in Germany Safety equipment: First aid kit, warning triangle, hi-vis vest Electronics: All lights, horn, windscreen wipers The test costs €40 and takes around 30 minutes. Appointments are booked separately – and again: plan weeks ahead. Adjusting headlights: Left is the new right Your German headlights are set to the right – makes sense for right-hand traffic. In Malta they need to point left. Not optional, but mandatory for the VIP-Test. You have two options: Stickers: Temporary solution with special decals (€5-10) Adjustment: Permanent change at a garage (€50-150) Modern cars with LED or xenon lights can often be switched via the on-board computer. Check your manual or ask a Maltese mechanic. Car import Malta costs: Calculate your budget correctly Now for the painful part: how much does this all cost? I’ll say it straight: it’s not cheap. Malta funds part of its budget through vehicle registration. When I saw my first bill, I thought: “There’s a mistake.” There wasn’t. Registration tax: The big cost factor The registration tax is the biggest item when importing your car to Malta. It’s based on your car’s current market value and can range from 0% to 37%. The calculation is complex and depends on: Vehicle type: Car, motorbike, commercial vehicle Engine capacity: Larger = higher tax CO2 emissions: Eco-friendlier cars pay less Vehicle age: Older cars pay less Market value: Basis for the calculation Vehicle value Engine Engine > 1600ccm Up to €5,000 0% 15% €5,001 – €15,000 15% 25% €15,001 – €25,000 25% 35% Over €25,000 35% 37% Malta car import cost overview: What you’ll really pay Here’s the brutal truth – my complete cost checklist for a three-year-old VW Golf with a market value of €15,000: Item Cost Note Registration tax €3,750 25% of vehicle value VIP-Test €40 Maltese inspection Vehicle valuation €150 From accredited appraiser Translations €120 Certified translations Plates €35 Maltese number plates Handling fees €85 Transport Malta administration Ferry (return) €280 With car, from Sicily Total €4,460 Excluding workshop costs Money-saving tips: How you can cut costs The registration tax is non-negotiable – there’s no way around it. But you can save on other items: Vehicle valuation: Get several quotes; prices vary a lot Translations: Not all documents need certified translation Ferry: Book outside high season, save up to 50% COC papers: Ask the dealer first; often cheaper than the manufacturer When is importing not worth it? Honest answer: for cars over 10 years old or worth less than €5,000, think twice. Buying locally might be cheaper. Malta has a lively used car market – often with right-hand-drive imports from the UK, perfect for left-side driving. Driving on the left Malta: Switching from right to left driving Okay, I admit it: my first day driving on the left was a nightmare. I sat on the right, thinking left, turned the wrong way, and suddenly faced oncoming traffic. Luckily, this happens in Malta more often than you think – Maltese drivers are very forgiving towards confused tourists. Driving on the left Malta: Surviving the first 24 hours Switching to left-hand driving is more of a mind game than a technical issue. Your German car works just fine – it’s your brain that needs time to rewire. What changes immediately: Seat position: You sit on the right, drive on the left – takes getting used to Roundabout: Clockwise instead of counterclockwise Overtaking lane: On the right instead of the left Turning: Turning left is like turning right in Germany Malta road signs: British legacy meets EU standards Malta’s roadsigns are a mix of British and EU standards. The good: most are self-explanatory or in English. The confusing: speed limits are in km/h but some old signs might still show mph. Important road signs in Malta: Give Way: Yield (like priority road) No Entry: Entry prohibited Bus Lane: Buses only – fines are steep if you ignore ZTL (Zona Traffico Limitato): Restricted traffic zone, residents only Right-hand vs. left-hand drive: What works better? Wondering if your German left-hand-drive car is a disadvantage in Malta? Sometimes, yes. Overtaking is harder because you can’t see oncoming traffic as well. However, parking at the curb is easier. My experience after two years: you get used to it. Most expats drive left-hand-drive cars; only the Brits and Maltese have right-hand drives. In Valletta or narrow alleys, it doesn’t matter – nothing fits through anyway. Malta traffic rules: What German drivers need to know Malta may be small, but its road rules are strict. Some make sense, others are obviously relics from when the island was a British colony. And then there are the unwritten rules no road sign explains. Malta speed limits: Slower is more relaxed Good news for stressed Germans: in Malta you’ll find yourself driving more relaxed automatically. Speed limits are moderate – and they’re actually enforced. Type of road Speed Notes Urban areas 50 km/h Often 30 km/h zones Rural roads 80 km/h Usually narrower than in Germany Expressway 80 km/h Yes, also only 80 here! School zones 15 km/h Strictly enforced Parking in Malta: Creative, expensive or impossible Parking in Malta is an art form. Official car parks are often full, unofficial spots are creative, and parking fines are expensive. Here’s the Maltese parking system: White lines: Free, but usually taken Blue lines: Subject to charge, €1-2 per hour Yellow lines: Resident parking, permit required Red lines: No stopping or parking at all My tip: download the Park Malta app. Shows real-time parking availability and lets you pay directly. Has saved me countless tickets. Malta fines: Expensive and prompt Maltese traffic police are efficient – sometimes too efficient. Here are the usual traps for German drivers: Offence Fine How often? Speeding €50-300 Daily Illegal parking €25-100 Very often Mobile phone while driving €120 Frequently checked Bus lane driving €300 Automatic camera enforcement Running a red light €150 Camera monitored Particular Maltese traffic rules A few quirks nobody tells you about: Roundabout: Priority goes to those in the circle – but some Maltese drivers see it differently Horn: Used often and in a friendly way, not as aggression Indicators: Optional – at least some locals think so Zebra crossings: Pedestrians have priority, but don’t count on it Sunday drivers: Expect ultra-relaxed drivers on Saturdays and Sundays Registering a car Malta: The final authority marathon You’ve got all the documents, passed the VIP-Test, and have funds for the registration tax. Now comes the final step: the official registration with Transport Malta. This is where months of preparation pay off – or you have to start all over again. The big day: Appointment at Transport Malta You’re standing in front of the Transport Malta Building with your document folder, feeling like you’re about to take an important exam. It’s not so different. The officials know every trick desperate car owners might try and every possible paperwork mistake. This is how the appointment goes: Check-in: Confirm your appointment, take a number Document check: Everything is scrutinised Tax calculation: Based on vehicle valuation Payment request: Cash or card, no exceptions Issuing of number plates: Your new Maltese plates Maltese plates: Your new identity Maltese number plates look different from German ones: three letters, three numbers, that’s it. The format: ABC 123. Letters are random, numbers sequential. No custom plates here – Malta is practical, not vain. What your plates reveal: Old formats: DBY, GBY = registered before 2004 New formats: AAA-ZZZ = after EU accession Special plates: P = Police, M = Military, H = Historic Insurance Malta: The final step With Maltese plates, you need Maltese insurance. Your German policy is no longer valid. That’s no problem – Malta has plenty of insurers and reasonable prices. Popular insurers in Malta: Middlesea Insurance: Biggest company, many offices Elmo Insurance: Often cheaper, good online service Mapfre Middlesea: International group, EU-wide coverage GasanMamo: Local provider, personal service The costs? Around €300-600 per year for comprehensive cover, depending on your age, vehicle, and no-claims bonus. Your German no-claims bonus is often recognised – bring confirmation from your previous insurer. Avoiding common mistakes when importing a car to Malta I made almost all of them – the classic car import mistakes. So you don’t take the same expensive detours, here are my top fails and how to avoid them. Mistake #1: Starting the planning too late Classic: you think “oh, I’ll get that done in two weeks.” Doesn’t work. Authority appointments are booked out for weeks, COC papers take ages, and so do translations. My first car sat around for three months with German plates because I was too late getting started. Solution: At least three months in advance, preferably four. Mistake #2: Wrong vehicle valuation The registration tax is based on market value. Many get their car overvalued (flattering to the ego) or use the first appraiser they find. Result: hundreds of euros in unnecessary tax. Solution: Get multiple valuations, choose the lowest realistic one. Mistake #3: Going to the authority without VIP-Test Transport Malta won’t let you through without a valid VIP-Test. I tried it once – two hours wasted for nothing. Solution: VIP-Test first, then registration. Never the other way around. Mistake #4: Cancelling German insurance too soon You cancel your German insurance and are suddenly uninsured because the Maltese registration takes longer than planned. Solution: Only cancel German insurance once Maltese insurance is active. Malta car import checklist: Final check before the authority Before heading to Transport Malta, tick off this list: ☐ Passed VIP-Test (no older than 30 days) ☐ Vehicle valuation on hand (accredited appraiser) ☐ All documents translated and certified ☐ COC papers from the manufacturer ☐ Proof of Maltese residence not older than 3 months ☐ Enough cash for the tax payment ☐ Appointment with Transport Malta confirmed ☐ Backup plan for insurance Frequently asked questions How long can I drive in Malta with German plates? As a tourist, up to 6 months. If you stay longer or register residency, you must import and re-register your car. How much does Malta car import actually cost? For a car worth €15,000, about €4,000-5,000 including all fees and taxes. The registration tax is the biggest item at 15-37% of vehicle value. Is the COC certificate mandatory for import? Yes, without the Certificate of Conformity nothing works. This proof that your car complies with EU standards is available from the vehicle manufacturer for €50-200. Can I transfer my German no-claims bonus? Usually yes. Maltese insurers often accept German no-claims certificates. Request an international confirmation from your former insurer. How hard is the switch to left-hand traffic? The first few days are a challenge, especially when turning or overtaking. After a week, you won’t even think about it. German left-hand-drive cars work fine in Maltese traffic. When is importing not worth it? For cars over 10 years old or worth less than €5,000. Import costs often exceed the vehicle value. Consider buying locally in Malta instead. How do I find a good vehicle appraiser in Malta? Transport Malta has a list of accredited appraisers. Prices range from €100-200. Get several quotes – the cheapest isn’t always the worst. What happens if the VIP-Test fails? You get a list of defects and can retake the test after repairs. Most common problems: headlight adjustment and emissions. Cost for retesting: €40.
