This is one particular country when it comes to anything, but when it comes to driving here it is something else. A country congested with a lot of different cars, making Malta with one of the most unwanted record of all time, a country that has as much cars as much as there are people. Thus, when buying or renting a vehicle long term, it makes it a little bit tricky. This is because, we do not have long distance drives, but we have got quite a lot of traffic within the major part of Malta.
So, what is the process you need to take when buying a car? What type of car? What type of fuel? What is the optimal engine capacity here in Malta? What do you need to do – what paperwork do you need? And if you’re a Foreigner, could you buy a car as a foreigner in Malta?
We will be discussing all of this in the following order:
Buying
Conclusion
I have owned a couple of cars myself, I found the experience a little bit hectic at first, so, I would like to help people whom like me found some troubles in the process, or else they maybe found the process to be a little bit confusing.
First of all, we need to make the most generic assessment:
These are some of the main points you should be tackling prior to making a purchase. After you’ve done so, we’ll move on for the next few points.
In this part we will be tackling the fuel types, engine capacity and general running costs. This will lead us perfectly on to the next part – that is Vehicle Licence and insurance.
There are 3 main fuel types – Diesel, Petrol and Electric/hybrid – There are others like gas and even biodiesel, but these are the main that we will be discussing. They all work in a different manner, but with today’s cars, the main factor would be environmental impact.
Engine Capacity in very simple terms is the amount of volume covered within the piston (a piston is one of the main components that turn the engine and make it work). So, if there is more volume needed to be covered the more fuel is going to be burned. So, a rule of thumb is, that if an engine has a low capacity/displacement is more efficient. (This varies through use)
Diesel
All of this was ok for countries that have long distances, because the way this blocker works was optimised for bigger countries not for city centre like environments. Furthermore, this kind of environment in relation to the emission blocker, brought a lot of problems to this kind of engine as it was not thought to fit for all of this. As a crumble effect, licence on certain cars increased drastically so It would be wise to check the licence before purchasing.
So, having said that, should you avoid the diesel engine here in Malta? I say it depends a lot to the Engine Capacity as shown accordingly:
Petrol
After 2009, there was a huge boost and advancements within technologies got these engines to an all new efficiency breakthrough. Backed up with statistics, Petrol engines are much more optimised for more congested areas as they produce less emissions. Less emissions are equivalent to less licence fees.
So, having Said that, suggested for Malta – petrol engine capacities vary from: 600-1400 litres. Anything more than that would need to stop at every fuel station to re-fuel.
Electric/hybrid
So, this is how we rank what fuel type we choose for vehicles in Malta:
We suggest Maltapark and Facebook Marketplace to search for a car, as we think It could be easier and wiser to take your time and find your perfect fit for your needs.
These vary from a lot of factors. As from engine capacity to Age to anything. Personally, the Insurance system is one of the most inconsistent systems that ever existed. Just be wary of the insurance companies, I always feel they try to screw you over and they vary radically from company to another. I personally think that their reasoning does not make total sense. On the other hand, Licencing is another phenomenon. It has been reported, that these will be overhauled. So, here is our rule of thumb.
For Buying vs Renting a Car in Malta guide – Click here
TOP TIP: After choosing and agreeing on the right vehicle, make sure you only pay the deposit first prior to making the transfer. This is usually 10% of the car valuation. This will safeguard you from any unnecessary drama, safeguarding both parties. After the transfer and pick up is done, make sure to pay the rest of the discussed valuation.
We even suggest to write up a small contract that bounds the individual on a certain set amount and stating that the vehicle is to be the same as it was when it was agreed upon. Write a clause in favour of the seller that ensures that he gets all the money if the deal happens, and if it does not happen because the buyer had a change of heart, he can keep the deposit. This will ensure that both parties are safeguarded by having two copies and both of them signed with ID numbers and Date of birth written down.
To complete the transfer, you would need:
I have owned quite a few cars and I have made a lot of mistakes. I bought a 2009 1.9 diesel powered car, and I have encountered these specific problems as I did not know about them. I hope all of this was of any help. We will do our best to keep this content fresh and updated. Make sure to use our top tip within the “How to complete a transfer of a vehicle in Malta” section as we think it is an extremely valuable source of information.
Yes, A foreigner can buy a vehicle in Malta, just like any other individual. WHEN IN DOUBT CALL TO ASK. Never be afraid to ask, it’s not because the information is incorrect, it is because things are always evolving and changing thus, it is quite obvious that things are subject to change.
Transport Malta Contact info is: