Can I take a MaltaBest hire car to Gozo?

Yes. The Ċirkewwa–Mġarr ferry carries cars year-round, and your insurance and unlimited mileage apply on Gozo exactly as they do on Malta. There's no separate permission to arrange — just drive on.

How long is the crossing?

About 25 minutes on the water. Allow longer overall in summer, when the queue at Ċirkewwa builds — particularly late morning and on the return on a Sunday evening.

Do I pay for the ferry, and when?

The vehicle fare is paid on the return leg rather than on the way out, which catches some visitors by surprise. Add the gozo ferry pack when you book if you'd rather we set it up for you.

Is driving on Gozo different?

Easier in the ways that count and harder in one. Traffic is light and nowhere is far, but the lanes are narrower, the hills steeper, and the bends sharper than most of Malta. A compact car is the sensible choice over something large.

Gozo & the ferry

Car rental for Gozo

Collect at Malta Airport, drive north, and take the car across on the ferry. Your cover and unlimited mileage come with you — from €6 a day.

See the fleet Staying near the ferry?

Getting the car across

The crossing runs from Ċirkewwa at the northern tip of Malta to Mġarr on Gozo, year-round and roughly every 45 minutes through the day. You drive on, stay with the car deck or go up top, and you're across in about 25 minutes. From the airport to Ċirkewwa is around 45 minutes; from Mellieħa it's ten.

The fare for the vehicle is collected on the way back rather than on the way out, which surprises a lot of first-time visitors. Nothing about your rental changes when you cross — the same insurance, the same unlimited mileage, no extra paperwork.

Driving on Gozo

From Mġarr the road climbs steeply away from the harbour and within a few minutes you're heading across to Victoria in the middle of the island. Gozo drives differently to Malta: far less traffic, but narrower lanes, sharper bends and the occasional stretch where two cars have to negotiate. It's a nicer drive and a slower one.

Victoria has car parks near the bus terminus and below the Ċittadella. The villages are another matter — lanes built for carts, not cars, so park on the edge and walk in.

Worth knowing

Cover and unlimited mileage apply on Gozo, same as Malta
Ferry fare is paid on the return leg
Crossing takes about 25 minutes
A compact car suits Gozo's lanes better than something large

Where people drive on Gozo

Victoria (Rabat)
15 min from Mġarr
The island's centre, and the road most Gozo journeys pass through.
Ramla Bay
20 min
The red-sand beach on the north coast, and the one worth the drive.
Xlendi
20 min
A steep run down to the bay — the road stops at the water.
Dwejra
30 min
The west coast, where the Azure Window stood until it collapsed in 2017.

Taking a hire car to Gozo — common questions

Can I take a MaltaBest hire car to Gozo?: Yes. The Ċirkewwa–Mġarr ferry carries cars year-round, and your insurance and unlimited mileage apply on Gozo exactly as they do on Malta. There's no separate permission to arrange — just drive on.
How long is the crossing?: About 25 minutes on the water. Allow longer overall in summer, when the queue at Ċirkewwa builds — particularly late morning and on the return on a Sunday evening.
Do I pay for the ferry, and when?: The vehicle fare is paid on the return leg rather than on the way out, which catches some visitors by surprise. Add the gozo ferry pack when you book if you'd rather we set it up for you.
Is driving on Gozo different?: Easier in the ways that count and harder in one. Traffic is light and nowhere is far, but the lanes are narrower, the hills steeper, and the bends sharper than most of Malta. A compact car is the sensible choice over something large.

Ready when you are

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