Driving in Malta with a US license: IDP, exchange and the test

Driving in Malta looks easy on a map: the islands are small and most distances are short. For an American the adjustment is bigger than the distances suggest. Malta drives on the left, roads in older towns are narrow, and your US license has a fixed shelf life once you live there. Unlike some EU countries, Malta does not let US license holders swap their license for a Maltese one. Residents who want to keep driving go through the Maltese licensing process.

This guide covers what Transport Malta, the Maltese driving licence regulations and the US State Department say.

How long your US license is valid

Transport Malta's page on foreign licences sets the rule for holders of licences from outside the EU: you may drive in Malta for up to 12 months from the date of your last entry into Malta. The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations, Subsidiary Legislation 65.18, contain the legal basis.

What this means in practice:

• Visitors on a short stay drive on their US license during their trip, subject to the rental company's own rules.
• New residents have 12 months from their last entry to get a Maltese licence. The clock runs from the last entry, so a trip abroad and back does not reliably reset anything once you are resident, and relying on re-entry to extend the period is risky.
• Your US license must stay valid. An expired US license is not a license in Malta.

Do you need an International Driving Permit?

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is a translation of your license in a standard format. It is not a license on its own. The State Department's guidance on driving abroad says that only two organisations in the United States are authorised to issue IDPs: AAA and the American Automobile Touring Alliance. You must apply before you leave, and the IDP is used together with your US license. The State Department and the FTC both warn about websites selling fake international licenses.

Because Maltese official business is in English and a US license is in English, many visitors drive without an IDP. Rental contracts can still require one, and an IDP is cheap insurance against a dispute at a roadside check. If you plan to drive in Italy on a trip from Malta, check Italy's rules separately.

Can you exchange a US license in Malta?

No. Transport Malta's exchange page lists the licences it can exchange directly for a Maltese licence without tests: licences issued in EU and EEA countries and Switzerland, and a small number of other countries under specific arrangements, such as the United Kingdom and Australia. The United States is not among them. A US license holder who becomes resident must obtain a Maltese licence through the standard process.

Where an exchange is possible, Transport Malta also requires at least 185 days of residence in Malta during the preceding 12 months, which shows how the authority links licensing to residence.

The Maltese licensing process

Transport Malta and the licensing regulations describe the sequence:

1. Theory test. You start by passing the theory test on the Highway Code and road signs.
2. Learner's permit. With the theory pass, you obtain a learner permit, and lessons are taken with a licensed driving instructor.
3. Practical test. You apply for the practical test on Transport Malta's form DRV 022. The first application must include the theory test certificate and the student record sheet from your instructor. Transport Malta lists the practical test fee at €23.25 on weekdays and €40 on Saturdays.
4. Licence issue. Once you pass, you apply for the licence itself.

An experienced American driver will still find the lessons useful, because the test is taken on the left side of the road, often in a manual car unless you test in an automatic and accept an automatic-only licence. Ask your instructor about vehicle category before you book.

Left-side driving and local conditions

Malta drives on the left, a legacy of British rule, and most cars are right-hand drive. Roundabouts run clockwise, and you give way to traffic already on the roundabout coming from the right. Old town centres have narrow streets, pedestrian zones in Valletta and Mdina limit car access, and parking is tight in Sliema, St Julian's and Valletta.

The State Department's Malta page describes road conditions and traffic risks. Its general advice applies: drive defensively, watch for scooters and buses on narrow roads, and never drink and drive.

A first-year timeline that works

Because the 12 months run from your last entry, it helps to plan the switch as a project rather than leaving it to the last month:

• Before you move: decide whether you will drive at all. If you will, get an IDP from AAA or AATA and make sure your US license will not expire during your first year.
• Months one to three: drive rentals on your US license if you need a car, and get used to left-side traffic and roundabouts on quieter roads before trying Valletta or Sliema at rush hour. Use this time to collect the documents Transport Malta asks for, including your residence card.
• Months three to six: sit the theory test. Booking early leaves room for a resit and for gaps in test availability.
• Months six to ten: take lessons with a licensed instructor and book the practical test with form DRV 022.
• Months ten to twelve: keep this period as a buffer for a second practical attempt.

If you reach month twelve without a Maltese licence, stop driving until you have one. Driving on an expired permission can void insurance cover, and an accident without valid cover is far more expensive than a few months of buses.

Renting a car as a resident

Car rental companies apply their own rules on top of the law. Some ask for a license held for a minimum number of years, an age range, a credit card in the driver's name, and sometimes an IDP. Read the rental terms for the documents they require and for the excess you would pay after damage. Right-hand drive cars put the gear lever on your left, which takes some practice with a manual.

Insurance and registration if you buy a car

If you buy a car in Malta, it needs Maltese registration and insurance. Transport Malta handles vehicle registration and licensing. An insurer may ask for a Maltese licence before offering a long-term policy, which is another reason to start the licensing process early.

Driving on Gozo

Gozo uses the same rules. Cars cross on the Gozo Channel ferry between Ċirkewwa and Mġarr. On Gozo, roads in villages are narrow and rural roads can be steep. The same 12-month rule applies to your US license whether you live on Malta or Gozo.

Alternatives to driving

Many residents never drive in Malta. Residents with a personalised tallinja card ride most scheduled buses free, and ferries link Sliema and the Three Cities to Valletta. If you live in a well-served area, it can make sense to use the 12 months on your US license only for occasional rentals while you decide whether to go through the Maltese test.

Checklist

1. Note the date of your last entry into Malta; your 12 months start there.
2. Get an IDP from AAA or AATA before you leave the US if you want one.
3. Keep your US license valid while you use it.
4. Book the Maltese theory test early if you plan to drive long term.
5. Find a licensed instructor and agree on manual or automatic.
6. Do not buy an international license online.

Common questions

How long can I drive in Malta on my US license? Transport Malta allows holders of non-EU licences to drive for up to 12 months from the date of their last entry into Malta.

Can I exchange my US driver's license for a Maltese licence? No. The United States is not on Transport Malta's list of countries whose licences can be exchanged without tests, so residents go through the theory and practical tests.

Where can I get an International Driving Permit? The State Department says only AAA and the American Automobile Touring Alliance are authorised to issue IDPs in the United States. Apply before leaving the US.

How much is the practical driving test in Malta? Transport Malta lists €23.25 for a weekday practical test and €40 for a Saturday test.