Pick up your car in Valletta or at Malta Airport and explore the capital's fortifications, then head across the island without leaving a hold on your card.
When you book a car rental in Valletta through Rodavia, you connect directly with a local supplier operating in the capital and across Malta. The booking advance covers full-cover insurance, so no deposit is held at pick-up - just your driving licence and the voucher.
Most suppliers offer collection points near the City Gate or within walking distance of the bus terminus. If you land at Malta International, you can arrange pick-up at the airport instead; the drive into Valletta takes fifteen to twenty minutes along the coast road. Vouchers spell out the exact meeting point, contact number and what to bring.
Left-hand traffic mirrors the UK setup. Valletta's grid of one-way streets inside the bastions demands patience - Republic Street and Merchant Street funnel most through-traffic, and parking inside the walls fills early. Blue zones require a pay-and-display ticket during weekday mornings.
Valletta anchors the centre of Malta, putting every corner of the island within easy reach. Head north-west to Mdina in twenty-five minutes, or cross to the Three Cities - Vittoriosa, Senglea, Cospicua - in ten via the Grand Harbour tunnel. Sliema and St Julian's lie just across Marsamxett Harbour, a quick loop through Floriana and Msida.
| Destination | Time | Road |
|---|---|---|
| Malta Airport (Luqa) | 15 min | Triq Luqa |
| Sliema | 10 min | Coast road |
| Mdina | 25 min | Attard bypass |
| Mellieha | 35 min | Coast via St Paul's Bay |
| Marsaxlokk | 25 min | Birzebbuga road |
If you plan to visit Gozo, the Cirkewwa ferry terminal sits at the northern tip - forty minutes from Valletta. Check your voucher to confirm whether the rental agreement allows crossing to Gozo; some suppliers include it, others require prior notice.
Narrow bastions and grid streets mean a compact car makes sense if you plan to park inside the capital. Outside the walls, roads widen quickly. Speed limits sit at fifty in town and sixty to eighty on open stretches; cameras operate on the main arteries.
Roundabouts appear every few hundred metres - give way to traffic already circulating. Enemed stations dot the island; fuel prices sit slightly higher than southern Europe but remain stable. The whole island crosses in under an hour, so range anxiety never enters the picture.
Blue parking zones in Sliema and St Julian's require a pre-paid ticket displayed on the dashboard weekday mornings. Valletta's underground car park near the City Gate offers day rates if you want to leave the car and explore the capital on foot.
Meet the supplier just outside the fortifications - walk from any hotel in the capital in minutes.
Land, clear customs and collect keys in the arrivals hall - fastest route if you fly in.
Convenient if you stay in Sliema or St Julian's; cross to Valletta in ten minutes.
Serves Bugibba and Qawra hotels - straight access to Mellieha and the ferry.
Enter your dates in the search above to compare availability at each location. The voucher will list the exact address and contact once you confirm.
The booking advance settles insurance and rental fees before you travel. Payment methods include debit card, credit card or bank transfer - no credit card is mandatory. At the collection point, you present a valid driving licence (held for at least twelve months) and the voucher sent by email.
Because full-cover insurance forms part of the advance, the supplier does not freeze a deposit on your card. Any optional extras - child seat, additional driver, one-way drop-off - are noted in the voucher and settled according to the terms listed there.
Driving licences issued in the EU, UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are recognised without further paperwork. Check the main page if you hold a licence from another jurisdiction.
Yes. The booking advance includes full-cover insurance, so the local supplier does not hold a deposit when you collect the keys - only your licence and voucher are required.
No. You can pay the booking advance with a debit card or bank transfer. At pick-up, the supplier checks your driving licence and voucher but does not require a credit card for a hold.
Collection points sit near the City Gate or just outside the fortifications. Some suppliers also offer pick-up at Malta Airport or in Sliema. Your voucher lists the precise address and contact number once you confirm the booking.
The airport at Luqa lies fifteen to twenty minutes south-east of Valletta along Triq Luqa. Traffic can add five minutes during weekday morning rush, but the route remains straightforward.
Many suppliers allow it, but you must check the voucher terms. The Cirkewwa ferry crossing takes twenty-five minutes; if permitted, the car travels at no extra charge, though you pay the ferry operator directly for the vehicle ticket.