Rent a car in Malta is justifiable, if you yearn for a short time to inspect all or almost all the sights of the Maltese archipelago, to visit the most remote, most beautiful and most deserted beaches and not depend on the timetable of public transport, delaying for dinner in a restaurant in a nearby resort. In English, renting a car will be «rent a car».

From a security point of view, Malta is quite a quiet place, but still the thefts from the parked cars here sometimes happen, do not leave valuables in the cabin. In the historical center of Valletta there are many pedestrian streets, and the entrance to the center is paid. Therefore, to inspect the capital, it may be worth shifting from four-wheeled transport to a multi-wheeled bus or even moving around on their own two.

Documents, insurance

To rent a car in Malta, you will need national rights (all certificates are valid here), a credit card (it will be blocked by a deposit of about 100 euros) and a passport. The driver must be at least 25 years old and not older than 70 years. If you already have 18, but still do not have 25 (lucky ones!), Then you will not stay without a car, you just have to pay the "young driver" fee (well, at least some justice!).

The cost of car hire in Malta from major international operators usually include insurance against theft and damage, as well as liability to third parties; local distributors - more often than not .The price also includes: unlimited mileage, taxes and fees .Additional paid: rent of a child seat, a second driver .The deductible implies partial costs of the lessee in case of an accident .For insurance without a franchise will have to pay extra .A popular option: the driver's liability is limited to 300 EUR for any insurance event .The absence of a franchise is confirmed by the presence in the contract of the phrase "no excess" .The

Fuel and refueling

In Malta, you can buy 95th and 98th unleaded petrol and diesel fuel, there are no gas refills. It is prohibited to transport gasoline in canisters on a ferry.

Traffic regulations

Malta's traffic rules are in many respects identical to domestic and all-European, complexities can arise only with left-hand traffic .At the roundabout, the main one who is already on the circle, and not the one who drives in .The mandatory requirement for the use of a passing beam applies only to passage through tunnels .Children's chairs are mandatory for use only for children under three years old .For older children, the use of conventional seat belts is permissible, which, by the way, should be fastened to everyone who is in the auto .To conduct telephone conversations at the wheel without the system "hands free" is prohibited .The

To the recommended equipment in the car is an emergency stop sign.

Penalties

All fines must be paid through banking institutions within seven days after the committed offense (or else you will be summoned to court). It does not matter whether you were given a fine personally or left a receipt on the windshield of the car. Penalty for incorrect parking can be paid "on the spot" to a police officer. Information about all fines quickly reaches the rental offices, you can pay the penalty directly to them (if your lease does not exceed seven days).

Some amounts of fines: excess speed - up to 120 €; wrong parking - 24 €; the non-use of seat belts - 50 EUR from each unbuttoned; driving in headphones - 12 €; talking on the phone without hands free - 100 €; violation of the rules of transportation of children - up to 60 €; drunk driving - 1200 EUR, and / or deprivation of rights for 6 months, and / or imprisonment for up to three months.

Parking in Malta

In Malta, the entrance to the historical center of Valletta is paid - the boundaries of the paid zone are controlled by the CVA (Controlled Vehicular Access) system. The cameras read the license plate of all vehicles entering and leaving the zone, and the system calculates the amount to be paid based on the time the car spent in the city center. The car can be left on the outskirts of the city at the intercepting parking lot and use public transport - and it's much more convenient.

In the rest of the territory of the Maltese archipelago, there are no special problems with parking and parking. The yellow line at the curb means that it is forbidden to park in this place, the white rectangle says the opposite. However, if not prohibited, it is most likely allowed. It is not allowed to park on pedestrian sidewalks and at a distance of less than 4 meters from a pedestrian crossing.

Car Rental Firms in Malta

International companies: Hertz, Europcar, Auto Europe, Avis, Budget, Sixt.

Rental brokers: Eavtoprokat, Novacarhire, Economy Car Rentals, Instantcars.eu.

All prices are in December 2012.