Getting Your Drivers Licence in Malta: Step-by-Step

Key Takeaways
The total cost for a Malta driving licence is approximately €108-125: learner's permit (€23.25) + theory test (€30.25) + practical test (€23.25-40.00) + probationary licence (€31.00) (Transport Malta).
Since October 2024, all learner permit applications must be processed online through the Driving Licence Portal.
The full process from application to licence takes 3-6 months on average. You'll hold a 3-year probationary licence before graduating to a full 10-year licence.
EU/EEA and UK licence holders can exchange their licence without taking tests. Non-EU holders can drive for up to 12 months before needing a Malta licence.

Who Can Apply for a Malta Driving Licence?

You must be at least 18 years old and a resident of Malta for at least 185 days in the past calendar year. Maltese nationals, EU citizens living in Malta, and third-country nationals with valid residency all qualify. The minimum age applies to Category B (cars). Motorcycles up to 125cc (Category A1) also require you to be 18 (Transport Malta).

Before you begin, you'll need: a valid Malta ID card or passport, proof of residential address, and willingness to complete a medical examination. The entire process is managed by Transport Malta and, since October 2024, runs primarily through their online portal.

Step 1: Apply for Your Learner's Permit Online

Since 1 October 2024, all learner permit applications in Malta must be processed online through the official Driving Licence Portal. Physical applications are only accepted in limited, specific cases (Transport Malta, 2024).

The online application has three phases:

Personal details and training choice: Fill in your information and select either a licensed motoring school or a non-licensed driving instructor. If you choose a school, the system automatically notifies them to accept you as a client and assign an instructor.
Transport Malta vetting + medical: Transport Malta reviews your application and photo quality. Once approved, you visit a registered doctor who completes the online medical form and confirms your identification photo.
Payment: When both the school and doctor have completed their parts, you pay the €23.25 fee online. You'll receive an email with your learner's permit.

The permit is valid for three years, which gives you plenty of time to complete your training and tests. That said, don't let it become an excuse to procrastinate. Most people who take longer than 6 months end up needing to retake parts of the process.

What Are the Learner's Permit Rules?

With your learner's permit, you can drive on public roads — but with restrictions:

You must be accompanied by a qualified person at all times. This is either your assigned driving instructor or someone aged 25+ who has held a full Malta licence for at least 3 years.
L plates must be displayed on the front and rear of the vehicle.
No driving on Sundays or public holidays — the permit explicitly excludes these days for practice driving.
You cannot carry passengers other than your instructor or accompanying driver.

The Sunday restriction surprises many people. It exists because Sunday traffic patterns are different (lighter traffic, more pedestrians in residential areas), and Transport Malta considers it a less suitable learning environment. Plan your practice sessions for weekdays and Saturdays.

Step 2: Pass the Theory Test

The theory test costs €30.25 (re-sits are cheaper at €22.50). It's a computer-based exam at the Theory Test Centre in Gwardamangia Hill (Transport Malta).

Questions: 35 multiple-choice (some require selecting multiple answers)
Time limit: 45 minutes
Pass mark: 30 out of 35 correct (85%)
Languages: English or Maltese

The 85% pass mark is one of the highest in Europe. You can only get 5 questions wrong. Multi-answer questions (MARK 2, 3, or 4) require you to select ALL correct options or the entire question scores zero. These trip up most candidates.

How should you prepare? Use the official Transport Malta theory handbook (free PDF from Transport Malta downloads) and practice exam-format questions on ExamReady. Aim for consistent scores above 90% before booking. For a detailed guide, see our How to Pass the Malta Driving Theory Test article.

Step 3: Learn to Drive

With your permit active and theory test passed, it's time to build road skills. You have two options for instruction:

Licensed Motoring School

Professional instruction from a licensed school. Lesson costs vary: typical rates are €20-30 per hour depending on the school and car type. Most schools offer package deals (10 or 20 lessons at a reduced rate). A licensed school is the safer choice, especially if you're completely new to driving.

Non-Licensed Driving Instructor

A private individual who holds a full Malta licence and meets the requirements (aged 25+, 3+ years of licence holding). This is often a family member or friend. It's cheaper but you miss out on professional teaching methods and knowledge of what examiners look for.

Whichever route you choose, practice regularly. Malta's roads present specific challenges: narrow village streets, aggressive driving culture, roundabouts everywhere, and left-hand traffic. Get comfortable with all of these before booking your practical test.

Step 4: Pass the Practical Driving Test

The practical test costs €23.25 on weekdays or €40.00 on weekends. It's a 30-40 minute on-road driving assessment conducted by a Transport Malta examiner (Transport Malta).

During the test, the examiner assesses your ability to:

Move off safely (mirror, signal, blind spot check)
Navigate roundabouts with correct lane positioning and signalling
Turn left and right safely at junctions
Reverse and park the vehicle (parallel parking, bay parking)
Perform a three-point turn or emergency stop
Maintain appropriate speed for road conditions
React safely to other road users, pedestrians, and unexpected situations

The overall driving test pass rate in Malta dropped to just 46% in 2024, with 10,598 out of 19,488 candidates failing (MaltaToday, 2024). Most failures happen at the practical stage, not the theory. Don't rush to book. Make sure you're genuinely confident before sitting the test.

Step 5: Receive Your Probationary Licence

After passing both tests, Transport Malta issues a probationary driving licence valid for 3 years. The fee is €31.00, payable online on the day of your practical test or shortly after.

During the probationary period, stricter rules apply:

Lower alcohol limit: 0.02% BAC (compared to 0.05% for experienced drivers)
Penalty points: Accumulating 12 points within the 3-year period leads to licence revocation
No additional endorsements — you cannot upgrade to higher vehicle categories during probation

After 3 years without disqualification, your probationary licence is replaced with a full driving licence valid for 10 years.

How Much Does the Whole Process Cost?

Here's the complete fee breakdown from Transport Malta:

Learner's permit: €23.25 (valid 3 years)
Theory test: €30.25 first attempt (€22.50 re-sits)
Practical test: €23.25 weekday / €40.00 weekend
Probationary licence: €31.00 (valid 3 years)

Total Transport Malta fees: €107.75 to €124.50

This doesn't include driving lessons. Budget an additional €400-600 for 20 professional lessons, which is what most new drivers need. So the realistic total cost is around €500-725 from start to licence.

Can You Exchange a Foreign Driving Licence?

If you already hold a valid licence from another country, you may be able to skip the tests entirely (Transport Malta, Foreign Licence Exchange).

EU/EEA and UK Licence Holders

If your licence was issued in an EU member state, EEA country (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein), or the United Kingdom, you can exchange it directly for a Malta licence. No tests required. You must be resident in Malta for at least 185 days, and you'll surrender your original licence during the exchange. The fee is €7 per year of validity remaining on your original licence.

Other Recognised Countries

Licences from Australia, Switzerland, and the UAE (for Maltese or UAE nationals only) can also be exchanged without tests.

Non-EU Licence Holders

Anyone holding a licence from outside the EU/EEA can drive in Malta for up to 12 months from their last entry date. After that, you'll need a Malta licence — which means going through the full process: learner's permit, theory test, practical test. An International Driving Permit is recommended if your licence isn't in English or Latin characters.

Tips for Getting Through the Process Quickly

Start studying before you apply. Begin learning theory while your permit application is being processed. By the time the permit arrives, you'll be closer to test-ready.
Book the theory test early. Slots fill up, especially in spring and early summer. Book 2-3 weeks ahead.
Take the practical test on a weekday. It's cheaper (€23.25 vs €40.00) and traffic is more predictable than Saturday driving.
Use the online portal for everything. The Driving Licence Portal handles permits, test bookings, and licence issuance. Avoid unnecessary trips to the office.
Don't rush the practical test. With a 54% failure rate, the cost of failing (€23.25 + more lessons + rebooking delay) is worse than spending an extra 2 weeks practising.

Explore more Malta driving resources:

Complete Guide to the Malta Driving Theory Test 2026 — everything in one place
Pass Rate & Statistics — why 53-66% of candidates fail
Speed Limits, Fines & Penalty Points — essential rules and penalties
Study Strategy — 3-week plan to pass first time

Frequently Asked Questions

How old do you have to be to drive in Malta?

You must be at least 18 years old to apply for a Category B (car) learner's permit. You also need to be a Malta resident for at least 185 days in the past calendar year (Transport Malta).

How much does it cost to get a Malta driving licence?

Transport Malta fees total approximately €108-125: learner's permit (€23.25) + theory test (€30.25) + practical test (€23.25 weekday or €40 weekend) + probationary licence (€31.00). Including driving lessons, budget €500-725 total.

How long does the process take?

Typically 3-6 months from first application to probationary licence. The learner's permit process takes 1-2 weeks (online), theory test preparation takes 2-4 weeks, and you'll need several weeks of driving practice before the practical test. Waiting times for practical test slots add another 2-4 weeks.

Can I drive in Malta with a UK licence?

Yes. UK licence holders who become Malta residents can exchange their licence directly for a Malta licence without taking any tests. Visit Transport Malta with your UK licence, passport, proof of address, and pay the exchange fee (€7 per remaining year of validity).

What happens during the probationary period?

Your probationary licence lasts 3 years with stricter rules: a 0.02% BAC alcohol limit (vs 0.05% for experienced drivers), a 12-point disqualification threshold, and no category upgrades. After 3 years without disqualification, you receive a full 10-year licence automatically.