How does car hire work in Malta?
Booking is simple: choose your pick-up and drop-off dates, pick a car class, and see one price before you pay. You collect the car in Luqa with meet-and-greet, a quick licence check and a refundable deposit on a card, then return it to the same place at the end of your trip. No queueing at an off-site depot and no surprise charges at the desk.
What does car hire in Malta cost?
Car hire in Malta with Nova Drive starts at €4 a day for an Economy car, and every class is priced all-in: VAT and the Malta International Airport fee are already in the figure, together with collision damage waiver, third-party cover and unlimited mileage across Malta and Gozo. A refundable deposit is held on a credit card in the main driver's name at pickup and released when the car comes back; optional Zero Risk Protection removes the excess entirely and lowers the amount held to a refundable €300. Drivers aged 21 to 24 pay a young-driver surcharge, shown before payment rather than added at the desk. What changes your total is the class you pick, your dates and how long you hire for, and the full figure always appears before you pay. Every booking can be cancelled free up to 48 hours before pickup.
| Class | Seats | Bags | Transmission | From (per day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City Car | 4 | 1 | Auto/Man | €3.50 |
| Economy | 5 | 2 | Auto/Man | €4 |
| Compact | 5 | 2 | Auto/Man | €8 |
| Compact SUV | 5 | 2 | Auto/Man | €10 |
| SUV | 5 | 3 | Auto/Man | €12 |
| Large / Saloon | 5 | 3 | Auto/Man | €14 |
| 7-Seater | 7 | 3 | Auto/Man | €19 |
| Minibus (9-seat) | 9 | 5 | Manual | €25 |
| Leisure Van (5-seat) | 5 | 3 | Auto/Man | €50 |
EconomyAuto/Man · from €4/day
Compact SUVAuto/Man · from €10/day
SUVAuto/Man · from €12/day
7-SeaterAuto/Man · from €19/day
Large / SaloonAuto/Man · from €14/day
Leisure Van (5-seat)Auto/Man · from €50/dayFor how to keep the cost down, see our affordable car rental page, or browse the fleet to compare classes.
Driving in Malta: a quick primer
- Keep left: Malta drives on the left, a legacy of British rule. Take the first hour gently if you are used to the right.
- Roundabouts everywhere: give way to traffic already on the roundabout, and signal as you leave.
- Tight town cores: streets in Valletta, Sliema and the old villages are narrow, so a smaller car is easier to park.
- Short distances: nowhere on the island is far, so a single car covers the whole trip comfortably.
Licence, age and deposit
You will need a full driving licence held for the minimum period shown in our terms, photo ID or passport, and a credit card in the main driver’s name for the refundable deposit. Debit cards are not accepted for the deposit hold. EU and UK licences are accepted as issued; if your licence was issued elsewhere, check whether an International Driving Permit or a certified translation is needed before you travel. The exact age, licence and deposit terms for your car are shown clearly before you book.
Car hire by area
Wherever you are based, you collect the car in Luqa and drive straight to your accommodation. These area guides cover drive times from the airport, parking and local tips for each town: