Make the most of your island vacation with these top car rentals in Malta
Photo Credit: Facebook
Malta is a popular holiday island, or should that be “islands”, once you’ve added a nifty side ferry trip to Gozo, the second biggest island in the Maltese archipelago.
Although public transportation on Malta is very good these days, nothing beats not having to fit everything in around bus schedules. The best way to get around Malta is to hire a car, which you can even take onto the ferry to Gozo.
Renting a car in Malta offers you the ultimate freedom, ensuring you get the most out of your time there.
Remember that backpackers can still be backpackers behind the wheel. You don’t have to wear your backpack when you drive through Malta.
But you can park up at a hotspot like Popeye Village, Mdina or indeed Victoria, the capital of the island of Gozo ( known locally as Ir-Rabat or Il-Belt Victoria).
From there, go backpacking as normal.
While you’re backpacking in Malta, don’t miss out on visiting Fort St Angelo and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, which is fully recognised as a United Nations Observer State. Sometimes they dub the SMOOM as “The only country in the world without any land”.
Without further ado, here are the 6 best car rentals in Malta.
1. First Car Rental Malta
What better company to list first than First Car Rental Malta? They got ahead of the game on Google stakes and with a good reputation, it looks like the safe bet for carpacking around Malta and Gozo.
They offer a wide range of vehicles and are located near Malta International Airport in the Park East building. As a first-time visitor, this would be a good option to get things started with a car all clean, cosy and ready for your arrival once your flight lands on this gem of an island.
2. SIXT Malta
Reliable car hire company SIXT are present in Malta and a great option for a hassle-free arrival. They have a wide range of fleet from small cars to larger people carriers to vans and flashy cars. It’s worth checking out their fleet in advance to ensure the car of your Maltese dreams doesn’t get taken by the earlybird backpacker. Global reputation precedes them, while their local knowledge has been built over years of experience.
3. Malta Car Hire
Let’s be honest here – this company have nailed the name, haven’t they? Malta Car Hire! If this was Ronseal and a 1990s UK advert, it does exactly what it says on the tin! As they are local experts in the field, they can organise both pick up and drop off at Malta International Airport, as well as hotel delivery.
So if you didn’t want a car immediately, you could chill at your hotel at the start and then get one ordered direct to your hotel early doors to make sure you’re first in the queue for Popeye! Keep tabs on their website too – as they often run a 5% off promotion if you get in early and use the code they list.
4. Drifter
If you see yourself as a bit of a wildcard – the vagabond nomad exploring Malta, then this company hits the spot with their name: Drifter. They are based in the north of Malta at Mellieha, which is a great choice for a quick day trip hire car to Gozo since the ferry is nearby. What I also love is that they are local experts – their website contains a handy tourist guide to the key spots to stick on your itinerary. They could just be the backpacker drifters for your Maltese adventure.
5. M Cabs & Car Rentals
M Cabs and Car Rentals is a family-owned business founded in 2012, offering car rentals, taxi services, and private tours. This makes it quite a unique and cool car business in the Malta jigsaw – if you don’t feel like driving, never fear, you’ll get a driver, and it can be a tailor-made tour.
Over the years, they have gained extensive experience serving customers from various countries around this sphere. This allows them to ensure that your travel around Malta is as smooth and convenient as possible.
Professionalism, punctuality, and reliability are the core values that define M Cabs and Car Rental —principles they continue to uphold in every service they provide. Their website states that they go the extra mile to deliver the best value for your money, turning first-time customers into loyal clients. Test them for yourself and live your carpacking dreams on magical Malta.
As another selling point, their team is entirely Maltese, carefully selected for their driving expertise, communication skills, professionalism, and attention to detail. Sounds superb!
6. Car Rentals Malta
Car Rentals Malta is a local company that acts on the spot – they compare prices across multiple providers in Malta, and look for seasonal discounts or promotional offers. They can also book in advance and send you all the paperwork to ensure a smooth time driving around the island.
One of their tips suggests that opting for longer rental periods (weekly or fortnightly, for example, instead of daily) often results in lower daily rates. They are experts in the field although it is worth noting it is a third party site and a different option from going direct. They are based in Siggiewi but of course they cover the whole island and will ensure your car is delivered to where you are, or that it is ready at the airport when you jet in.