Many people who are moving to Malta take their car with them. Taking into account that car prices in Malta are considerably higher, it seems like a good idea at first. However, it is very important to consider all the facts before deciding to move with the car.
Tourist or resident
If you are visiting Malta, and you are not the residents of the island, you can keep your car in Malta for six months without having to change your registration. If you are a resident of the Maltese islands you are not permitted to drive a car with foreign registration plates. Once you are a resident in Malta you have seven days to register the car. If you are a resident and do not register the car in Malta and keep your foreign license plates, you risk a large fine of €30 for each day the car is not registered properly.
Registration tax
Every car that is being registered in Malta is subject to registration tax. The amount of tax depends on their CO2 emissions, particulate matter (for diesel vehicles) and the length of the car. Cars that have been imported from non-EU countries or vehicles that have been manufactured over 4 years ago are also subject to a minimum tax.
Before taking your car to Malta you should inquire with the Transport Malta authority about how much registration tax you will have to pay. In some cases it might be a good idea not to take your car, but to buy one in Malta, or to take a different car.
Parking
Malta is a very small island nation. The size of the island is roughly 316 km². With over 400,000 citizens, it is Europe’s most densely populated country. It was recently also released that there are over 330,000 registered cars on the island. Consequently, depending on where you live, you might have problems finding parking. Especially areas like St. Julians and Sliema are notoriously bad for public parking and most people have to make use of the underground parking facilities in these areas. If you are taking your car, you might want to look into renting an apartment that also has a garage, which will naturally be more expensive. Living in a more remote area often has the advantage of better parking opportunities.
Traffic
As mentioned above, there are a lot of cars registered on the island. Using the car, especially at peak times, can result in you being stuck in a traffic jam. Especially the roads in and out of St. Julians and Sliema are often congested. When you need to be somewhere on time, you should keep in mind the traffic in Malta.
Personally, I do not own a car in Malta. I am happy with the public transport system, which is not the fastest, but it is very reasonably priced (€1.50 for a day ticket), and the route network is acceptable. I prefer living close to my workplace, as it saves the hassle of driving a car. If you live and work central, it is often very convenient to walk. And if you need a car for a day or two, it is very easy to rent one.
