How is the toll collected in Malta?
Malta has no nationwide toll system. The road network is therefore not subject to a general toll obligation (neither a vignette requirement nor a distance-based toll). A toll applies only in the city of Valletta. This toll is also called the city toll, but it applies only to domestic vehicles. Vehicles with foreign licence plates as well as motorcycles and electric and hybrid vehicles are therefore exempt from the city toll. So the city toll only affects you if you use a rental car with Maltese licence plates.
The CVA zone in Valletta
The entire city centre is signposted as the CVA zone (“Controlled Vehicular Access”). Within this zone the fee is charged by the hour and collected automatically by licence plate recognition when entering and leaving.
| Criterion | Details |
|---|---|
| Zone in force | Mon–Fri, 8:00 am–6:00 pm (weekends and public holidays free) |
| Entry after 2:00 pm | free of charge if the zone is left by 8:00 am the next day |
| First 30 minutes | free of charge |
| Price per started hour | €0.82 |
| Daily cap | max. €6.52 per day |
Source: Vehicle Access Zones (Control) Regulations (Malta, Subsidiary Legislation 65.31). As of: 06.10.2026. Without guarantee; please check the current values with Transport Malta before you travel.
Driving to Malta: the route via Italy
Malta is an island – you can only reach it by car via a ferry, usually from Sicily. The journey therefore necessarily leads through Italy. You can find all information on tolls and vignettes there in our guide Toll in Italy.
Does your route lead through other countries as well?
If your route also leads through e.g. Austria, Bulgaria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Slovenia or Slovakia: with our Vignette Flat Rate for just €12.80 per month you are covered in 8 European countries. For each trip you simply select the right vignette – and the flat rate is cancellable at any time via your account.
- One flat rate, 8 countries
- Travel flexibly
- Cancellable at any time via your account
The Europamaut team wishes you a pleasant journey
We wish you a safe trip and an unforgettable travel adventure. Feel free to use our route planner for your planning. If you have any questions, you can reach us at any time by email.
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FAQ for your trip to Malta
Answers to the most frequently asked questions on this topic.
Is there a toll or vignette requirement in Malta?
No, Malta has no nationwide toll system. There is neither a vignette requirement nor a distance-based toll for the entire road network. The only exception is the city toll in the city of Valletta.
Where does a toll apply in Malta?
A toll is charged exclusively in the city of Valletta. This so-called city toll applies to the so-called CVA zone (“Controlled Vehicular Access”) in the city centre.
As a tourist, do I have to pay the Valletta city toll with my own car or a rental car?
With your own car with a foreign licence plate you do not pay the city toll: in practice it only affects vehicles registered in Malta, and the invoice goes to the keeper in the Maltese vehicle register. With a rental car on site it usually applies: rental cars in Malta have Maltese licence plates, the invoice goes to the car rental company and is passed on to you. Motorcycles and electric and hybrid vehicles are exempt.
When does the city toll apply in Valletta?
The zone is in force Monday to Friday between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm. No fee is charged on weekends and public holidays. From 2:00 pm entry is free of charge if you leave the zone again by 8:00 am the next day. Anyone who enters before 2:00 pm and stays beyond 2:00 pm also pays for the time until 6:00 pm.
How is the toll calculated in Valletta?
The first 30 minutes in the zone are free of charge. After that it costs €0.82 per started hour, but no more than €6.52 per day. What matters is the length of stay in the zone, which is measured by licence plate recognition.
How is the toll collected?
The toll is collected automatically by licence plate recognition when entering and leaving the CVA zone. For a rental car, the car rental company receives the toll invoice and passes it on accordingly.
What are the toll revenues used for?
The fees are collected by the operator and passed on to the Maltese transport authority Transport Malta. The purpose of the system is to reduce traffic in the centre of Valletta. The regulation does not specify a fixed use of the revenues.
What does toll obligation mean in Europe?
Toll obligation means that fees are charged for the use of many motorways, expressways and certain tunnels and bridges. These revenues are invested in the construction and maintenance of the transport infrastructure to ensure safe and smooth travel.
About the author
Michelle Albrecht