Renting a Car in Malta: What to Expect Before You Book

Renting a car in Malta is relatively straightforward, but the rental conditions themselves are often the biggest source of stress for tourists. High deposits, credit card requirements, insurance policies, blocked funds and disputes over vehicle damage can catch even experienced travellers off guard.

In this article, you’ll find practical tips on choosing a car rental company, explanations of the differences between local and international providers, advice about insurance, and several things I strongly recommend checking before signing the rental agreement.

Should you choose a local or international car rental company in Malta?

Most major international car rental companies operate in Malta. Brands such as Avis, Budget, Hertz, Europcar, Sixt and Enterprise all have offices here. Their counters are mainly located at Malta International Airport in Luqa, where most tourists pick up their vehicles.

Alongside the international chains, Malta also has many smaller local rental companies. These often offer a more personal approach, lower deposits or more flexible conditions. Well-known local companies include Aquarius Rent A Car, Freeways, JS Car Hire, Percius and Mirage Car Hire. Some of these businesses have been operating in Malta for decades.

When choosing a rental company, don’t focus only on the cheapest price. Reviews, deposit amounts, insurance conditions and the way potential damage claims are handled are usually far more important. An extremely cheap offer can easily end up costing more than a slightly more expensive but transparent booking.

That is exactly why, with smaller local rental companies, it is worth paying attention not only to the price, but also to deposit rules and insurance conditions.

Rental deposits and credit card rules

Deposits, credit cards and insurance are often more important than the daily rental rate itself. A cheap-looking offer may seem attractive at first glance, but if it comes with a high excess, a large deposit or strict insurance exclusions, it can become very expensive if something goes wrong.

Most traditional rental companies block a deposit on the driver’s credit card when the car is collected. The amount varies depending on the rental company, vehicle category and insurance package. Some rentals may require only a few hundred euros, while others can exceed €1,000.

If you do not mind using a credit card or having a higher deposit temporarily blocked, the easiest option is usually comparing international rental companies through comparison booking platforms, where you can filter offers by deposit amount, insurance type or fuel policy. For shorter stays, a combination of buses, taxis and ferries often works surprisingly well — especially if you plan to stay around Valletta, Sliema or St Julian’s. I also explain how public transport works in my guide to public transport in Malta.

If you do not have a credit card or do not want a large deposit blocked during your holiday, there are also more flexible options through smaller local rental companies. Some allow lower deposits or debit card bookings. I explain the options for renting a car in Malta without a credit card in a separate article.

Full insurance does not mean full coverage

Basic insurance is usually included in the rental price, but it often comes with a high excess and does not cover all types of damage. Full insurance can significantly reduce or even remove the excess, but it still may not automatically include tyres, windows, the underbody, the interior, lost keys or misfuelling.

I explain the differences between deposits, excess, CDW and Super CDW in more detail in my separate guide to car rental deposits and insurance.

When comparing offers, do not look only at the daily rate. Insurance conditions, deposit amounts, accepted card types and coverage exclusions are just as important. These details often determine whether a rental is genuinely good value or not.

Can you take a rental car to Gozo or Sicily?

Most rental companies in Malta allow cars to be taken on the ferry to Gozo, but I still recommend confirming this in advance — either in the rental conditions or directly with the company. Some providers may restrict certain vehicle categories or require prior notification.

If you are planning to take the car outside Malta — for example by ferry to Sicily — you must arrange this with the rental company in advance. Most standard rental agreements do not allow international travel and require individual approval. Without prior consent, the insurance would usually become invalid as well.

What to check before driving away

This is the important moment — you are finally collecting the car. You may be excited to leave quickly, but do not underestimate the initial inspection. Before leaving the rental car park, walk around the vehicle carefully and inspect it from every angle, including the windows, wheels and roof. Document every scratch, dent or defect — even minor ones — with photos or videos, ideally in front of an employee. Make sure all existing damage is written into the Rental Car Condition Report. Do not rely on phrases such as “it’s fine, we don’t care about that”.

Also check the equipment: lights, wipers, fuel level (according to the agreement), spare tyre or puncture repair kit, reflective vests and similar essentials. Make sure you have contact details for roadside assistance in case of a breakdown or accident, as some companies require their representative to attend. Ask about the procedure in case of an accident, since Maltese rental companies often send their own staff member to the scene. If this will be your first time driving in Malta, I also recommend reading my detailed guide about driving in Malta, parking and local road rules. If you receive a fine during the rental or find a ticket under the wiper, I have also written a practical guide on how to check, pay or dispute a traffic fine in Malta.

Insurance only applies to authorised drivers

If you did not pay for an additional driver, do not let anyone else drive the car. In case of an accident, the insurance company may refuse coverage because the contractual conditions were not met.

Returning the car with a full tank is usually the best option

In most cases, you receive the car with a full tank and return it full as well (full-to-full). Alternatives where the company refuels the vehicle for you are usually expensive due to service fees and inflated fuel prices. Stick to full-to-full whenever possible; if not, return approximately the same amount of fuel and ask for written confirmation.

Do you need to wash a rental car before returning it?

When returning a rental car, normal operational dirt on the bodywork is usually not a problem — Maltese rental companies know very well how quickly vehicles become covered in dust, sea salt or Saharan sand. However, an excessively dirty interior may result in a cleaning fee. If you feel the car is dirtier than normal, I recommend at least giving it a quick rinse at a self-service wash. It is not only about politeness, but also about protecting yourself — on a cleaner car, it is much easier to identify which scratches are new and which were already there before.

If you are used to fully automated tunnel car washes from continental Europe, Malta may surprise you. Most car washes here operate either as self-service pressure-washer bays or manual washes where you hand over the keys and staff clean the car for you. You may also encounter semi-automatic systems where brushes wash the vehicle mechanically but the pressure washing is still handled by staff. Fully automated tunnel car washes, where the machine washes and dries the car entirely by itself, are still relatively rare in Malta — partly because of cheaper labour costs and limited space.

How to return the car without problems or disputes

When returning the vehicle, the same rule applies as during pickup: stay present and document everything. Arrive early enough to allow time for a joint inspection. Ask for written confirmation that the vehicle was returned without issues (even a note such as “No new damage, fuel full” is useful). Take another set of photos or videos immediately before handing the car back, especially of any previously damaged areas. Keep all documents — the agreement, condition report and fuel receipts — for several months.

If you return the car outside opening hours, the keys are usually dropped into a key box. In that situation, take detailed photos of the vehicle in the car park. If the rental company later attempts to charge unjustified damage, respond immediately in writing and attach your photos. One advantage of booking through larger booking platforms is that they are often better at enforcing fair dispute resolution. The best protection, however, is prevention — careful inspection and clear communication. The vast majority of Maltese rental companies operate fairly.

What to watch out for when renting a car

Before looking at specific problematic rental companies, let’s go through several warning signs and common tricks that may appear in rental agreements or in the behaviour of some car rental companies — both in Malta and elsewhere:

• High excess and insurance exclusions
  Low prices often mean high excess fees or limited coverage. Check whether the insurance includes windows, tyres, the underbody or mirrors.
• Vaguely defined vehicle damage
  Some companies charge even for tiny scratches or normal wear and tear. Always photograph the vehicle thoroughly during both pickup and return.
• Additional fees
  Watch out for administration fees, expensive refuelling charges, cleaning fees or mileage limits.
• Blocked amounts higher than the deposit itself
  Besides the deposit, some companies may also block extra funds for fuel or possible fines.
• Pressure to buy extra insurance at the counter
  Staff may emphasise the high excess and try to sell expensive “full cover” insurance. Ideally, decide on your insurance before booking.
• Technical condition of the car
  Before driving away, check the tyres, brakes, lights and dashboard warnings. If something feels wrong, ask for another vehicle.
• Accident procedure
  Most agreements require you to contact the rental company immediately, after which their representative usually comes to the scene and completes an accident report. Failing to follow the correct procedure may cause insurance problems.

In short: read the rental conditions — at least the key points — and ask about anything unclear. Transparency and willingness to explain details are usually signs of a trustworthy rental company.

If you are not confident in English, prepare a few essential questions in advance (even through a translator app) or bring someone who can help with communication. Ask for important information in writing or directly in the contract.

Reviews on independent platforms such as Google, Trustpilot or travel forums can also reveal a lot. Pay attention to repeated complaints — they often say more about a company than the average rating itself.

Car rental companies in Malta with repeated complaints

With car rental companies in general, negative reviews can be found for almost every brand — especially regarding deposits, insurance disputes and vehicle damage claims. That is why it is more important to focus mainly on recent experiences from the last few months and to check whether the same complaints appear repeatedly.

In Malta, review websites and travel forums repeatedly mention complaints about companies such as Sicily by Car, AddCar Malta and some smaller low-cost rental firms. The most common issues involve slow deposit refunds, older vehicles, poor technical condition, additional administrative charges or disputes over damage. Personally, I would approach these companies with extra caution, take detailed photo documentation and read the contract conditions very carefully before signing.

Interestingly, Goldcar Malta had a very poor reputation in the past, but after operational changes and integration under Europcar, reviews have gradually improved. This also shows how quickly situations can change and why it is not wise to rely only on reviews that are several years old.

Before booking, I therefore recommend focusing mainly on recent reviews from the last few months and checking whether the same issues continue to appear over time.

Final tips before renting a car in Malta

Renting a car in Malta can be completely stress-free if you follow a few basic principles. Choose a reputable rental company, check reviews carefully, verify the pickup and return conditions, and document everything with photos or videos during both collection and return. Doing so significantly reduces the risk of disputes.