Can an American Drive in Malta? — Yes, but You Switch to the Left

Malta is compact, sunny and easy to reach, which makes a hire car tempting — but for an American driver it comes with one genuine adjustment that catches people out on day one. Get that right and the rest is manageable.

The verdict for American licence holders

You can drive in Malta on your US licence, with an International Driving Permit recommended alongside it for non-EU visitors. Carry the IDP with your licence and passport; arrange it through AAA before you fly, since it cannot be issued in Malta. The licence itself is rarely the problem here — the road layout is.

The big change: Malta drives on the left

The United States drives on the right; Malta drives on the left. This is the single thing most likely to catch you out, and the risk is concentrated in your first hour — joining a roundabout the other way, drifting to the wrong side after a turn, or instinctively looking the wrong way at a junction. Take your first drive somewhere quiet, not into Valletta or the coastal resort traffic, and check your direction deliberately at every turn until left-side driving stops feeling backwards.

Narrow roads, a familiar alcohol limit, and modest fines

Town limits are 50 km/h and rural roads 80 km/h, but the practical brake on your speed is how narrow, walled and congested many Maltese roads are — surfaces vary and parking spills into the carriageway. The drink-drive limit is 0.08 BAC, the same as much of the US, but treat it as zero given the tight roads. A typical fixed penalty is around EUR 46; you can estimate any speeding penalty with the Speeding Fine Calculator.

Before you set off

Petrol is roughly $1.52/litre, the capital is Valletta, and the emergency number is 112. Read the full local rules on our Malta driving guide, and confirm what you should carry with the Driving Permit Checker before collecting the car.