Car Shipping to Malta
Shipping a car to Malta is one of the more nuanced vehicle moves in Europe. The islands sit off the Sicilian coast, they drive on the left, and every imported vehicle passes through Transport Malta before it can legally hit the road. Flyto Relocation has arranged international vehicle transport across Europe since 2018, and Malta falls squarely within our Southern-European operating area. We coordinate the whole journey through vetted shipping partners so that your car arrives safely, clears the right paperwork, and reaches Valletta or your Maltese address without unwelcome surprises.
This guide explains how cars reach Malta by sea, what drives the cost, the difference between EU and non-EU origin for customs and VAT, and the registration and roadworthiness steps you will face once the vehicle lands.
How cars reach Malta: sea shipping and routing
Because Malta is an island with no fixed link to mainland Europe, the main freight route is by sea. In practice, most cars move to Malta on short-sea and Mediterranean services, very often routed via Italian ports such as Genoa, Salerno or the Sicilian terminals, then onward to the Grand Harbour area. Vehicles collected in Northern or Central Europe are typically trucked or railed to a departure port first, then loaded for the sea leg. Flyto plans this end-to-end so you deal with one coordinator rather than a chain of separate operators.
RoRo versus container
There are two established ways to move a car across water, and the right choice depends on your budget, the vehicle, and how much protection you want.
- RoRo (roll-on/roll-off): The car is driven onto a dedicated vehicle deck and secured. It is generally the most economical option and well suited to standard, running vehicles. Personal belongings cannot usually travel inside the car on RoRo services.
- Container shipping: The car is loaded into a container, either on its own or shared with other vehicles. This gives more protection from the elements and handling, suits high-value, classic or non-running cars, and can allow some accompanying household goods where rules permit. It typically costs more than RoRo.
Transit times
Sea transit for the Malta leg itself is short — often just a day or two once the vehicle is aboard a Mediterranean service. The realistic door-to-door timeline is driven by the inland leg to the departure port, sailing schedules, port handling and customs processing. As a broad guide, plan for roughly one to three weeks from collection in mainland Europe to availability in Malta, and longer for vehicles originating outside Europe. Sailings are not daily on every route, so booking ahead matters.
What drives the cost
There is no honest single price for car shipping to Malta because too many variables move the number. The main cost drivers are:
- Origin and the distance of the inland leg to a suitable port
- RoRo versus container, and whether a container is sole-use or shared
- Vehicle size, weight and whether it runs and drives
- Season, fuel and current sailing capacity on Mediterranean routes
- Marine insurance cover and any port, handling or documentation fees
- Maltese import charges, which are separate from freight (see below)
Rather than quote invented fixed prices, Flyto gives you a current market range for your specific route and vehicle, then a firm quotation once the routing is confirmed. Import taxes payable in Malta are always additional to the shipping cost.
Customs and VAT: EU versus non-EU origin
Your tax position hinges on where the car is shipped from and your residency situation.
- EU origin: Malta is an EU member and part of the single market, so a car moving from another EU country does not attract customs duty. However, Malta still levies its own registration tax when the vehicle is registered, and registration through Transport Malta is mandatory.
- Non-EU origin: A car imported from outside the EU generally faces customs duty plus VAT on entry, unless you qualify for transfer-of-residence relief when moving your normal home to Malta. Relief is conditional and evidence-based.
Rules change and depend heavily on your residency and how long you have owned the vehicle, so treat the above as orientation, not a ruling. Always confirm your exact liability with Transport Malta and Maltese customs before you ship.
Registration, registration tax and roadworthiness
Landing the car is only half the job. Before you can drive legally, the vehicle must be registered with Transport Malta. At a high level this involves presenting the vehicle and its documents, paying the applicable registration tax (calculated on factors such as value and emissions), and passing a roadworthiness inspection (VRT). Only once registered and plated with Maltese number plates is the car road-legal. Timelines apply for registering after arrival, so do not leave this to chance.
Left-hand traffic and the RHD note
Malta drives on the left, and right-hand-drive (RHD) vehicles are common and entirely at home there. If you are importing an RHD car — for example from the UK or Ireland — it suits Maltese roads well. Left-hand-drive vehicles can be registered and used too, but bear the driving side in mind when planning the move. Non-EU RHD imports still face the customs and VAT considerations described above.
Preparation and insurance
Good preparation prevents delays and disputes. Before collection we advise you to:
- Clean the car so any existing marks are visible, and photograph it thoroughly
- Leave roughly a quarter tank of fuel and disable any aftermarket alarm
- Remove personal items and loose accessories (especially for RoRo)
- Gather the V5C/registration document, proof of ownership, ID and residency evidence
Marine transit insurance is strongly recommended. Flyto helps you arrange appropriate cover through our partners so the vehicle is protected for the full journey, not just part of it.
Comparing your main options
| Factor | RoRo | Container |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | Lower | Higher |
| Protection level | Standard | Enhanced |
| Best for | Running, standard cars | High-value, classic, non-running |
| Belongings inside | Not permitted | Sometimes, where rules allow |
Get your fixed price (2 min) →
How Flyto coordinates your Malta move
Flyto owns hubs across Northern, Central and Southern Europe and works with a network of vetted shipping partners on the water. To be clear, we arrange and manage your shipment rather than owning the vessels ourselves — that partner model is exactly what lets us pick the best route and sailing for each vehicle. From collection at your door, through the inland leg, the Mediterranean sea crossing, and guidance on Transport Malta registration and VRT, you have one point of contact who keeps the move on track and the paperwork straight.
Ready to move your car to Malta? Get a tailored, honest quote and a clear plan from our team. Start your Malta car shipping quote with a Flyto advisor and we will map out routing, timing and the import steps for your exact vehicle.