Hiring a car in Malta: age and licence requirements
Who can hire a car in Malta, what licence you need, what to bring to the desk, and what changes if you're under 25 — our own rules, stated plainly.
Updated 21 July 2026 · 4 min read
The minimum age
You need to be at least 21 to hire from us, and to have held a full licence for at least 12 months. Drivers aged 21 to 24 pay a young-driver supplement per day, shown before you confirm rather than added at the desk. Some premium and high-value classes carry a higher minimum age.
These are our own rules rather than a national law, so they vary between companies. If you're comparing operators, the age policy and the supplement are worth reading as carefully as the rate.
Which licences we accept
EU and EEA licences are accepted as issued. Licences from outside the EU and EEA are accepted too, but if yours isn't in the Latin alphabet you'll need an International Driving Permit alongside it — the IDP is a translation, not a substitute, so bring both.
Provisional and learner licences aren't accepted. If your licence has been held less than 12 months, or has significant endorsements, ask us before booking rather than at the counter.
What to bring to the desk
For every driver: the physical licence. Not a photo of it, not a scan on your phone — the card itself. Digital licences aren't accepted here.
For the main driver, additionally: a passport or national ID card, and a payment card in your own name. That last one is the most common stumbling block. A card in a partner's name, or a family account, won't do — the card and the licence have to match.
Additional drivers
Anyone else who'll drive must be named on the agreement and present the same documents. Someone driving who isn't on the agreement is uninsured, which is a much bigger problem than the fee for adding them.
On a longer stay, adding a second driver is usually worth it regardless. Sharing the driving on a two-week trip changes how the holiday feels.
Common questions
- What's the minimum age to hire a car in Malta?
- With us, 21, with a licence held at least 12 months. Drivers aged 21–24 pay a young-driver supplement, and some premium classes have a higher minimum age. Policies differ between companies.
- Do I need an International Driving Permit for Malta?
- Only if your licence isn't in the Latin alphabet — then bring the IDP alongside your licence, not instead of it. EU and EEA licences are accepted as issued.
- Can someone else pay for the rental?
- The card presented at pick-up must be in the main driver's name. Someone else can pay you back afterwards, but the card and the licence have to match at the desk.