Car hire in Malta under 25: what the age rules actually say

Renting a car under 25 in Malta is possible almost everywhere, but every company treats it a little differently, and few pages spell out what a "young driver" actually pays or qualifies for. This guide covers the market norm, sourced, and what our own records do and don't confirm about specific companies.

The market norm — not a company-specific figure

Malta rental-information sites describe the following as typical practice across the market:

• Minimum age: usually 21, though some companies restrict larger or premium vehicle classes to renters aged 23–25.
• Young-driver surcharge: typically applies between ages 21 and 24, on top of the standard rate.
• Licence held: generally a minimum of 1–2 years.
• Upper age limits: caps around 70–75 are common, with renters above that sometimes needing a medical certificate or facing a senior surcharge.

"Typical" isn't a promise from any specific company. Treat every figure above as the market pattern, not a quote you can hold a desk to.

What our own roster does and doesn't confirm

We publish an operator's minimum age only when a published source states one — the company's own terms, or its supplier listing on a booking partner such as DiscoverCars — and mark it "Not published" otherwise rather than estimate. Of the 31 operators we track, 28 have a published minimum age in our records (captured in August and September 2026; six of them from DiscoverCars supplier listings): 24 set it at 21, JS Car Hire at 23, Percius Car Rentals at 25, WheeGo Malta at 25 with no young-driver fee, and Roscar Malta at 18 for most of its rentals. The other three — Billy's Car Hire among them — show "Not published", which reflects a gap in what we could verify, not evidence that the market norm above doesn't apply to them.

Hertz Malta shows why one number understates the rule. Its own Malta rental terms say "The minimum age for Hertz rentals in Malta is 25 years for all vehicle groups and the maximum age is 75 years", then that it is "possible to rent all vehicle groups from 21 years on payment of a young driver surcharge of € 11.21 (including tax) per day". We record 21, because 21 is the age from which you can actually rent — but the surcharge is what decides the price.

A published minimum is not the whole rule. First Car Rental Malta sets its minimum age at 21, but its terms say its standard policy covers drivers aged 25 to 70, and that drivers aged 21 to 24 "may be insured at a daily premium charge". Whichever company you choose, ask for its age rules and any young-driver charge in writing before you book, rather than assuming the 21-year figure applies uniformly.

Documents, regardless of age

Whether you need an International Driving Permit depends on where your licence was issued and on the rental company's own terms — our licence guide sets out both. Bring your physical driving licence, held for whatever minimum period your company requires — most ask for 1–2 years, per the market norm above.

Before you book under 25

• Ask for the exact minimum age and young-driver surcharge in writing, not verbally at the desk.
• Ask whether the surcharge is charged per day or as a flat fee for the rental.
• If you're right at a common age boundary — 21, 23, or 25 — confirm which vehicle classes are actually open to you. Policies often gate specific classes, not just age in general.
• If you're travelling with a second driver as backup, check whether every named driver individually needs to meet the age and licence requirements, not just the lead booker.

Sources

carrentalsmalta.mt — Malta car rental age rules; carrentalsmalta.mt — driving licence requirements; maltauncovered.com — Malta car hire. Company minimum ages come from the operator records behind each profile, each with its source and capture date — including First Car Rental's terms, JS Car Hire's terms, Percius Car Rentals and Roscar Malta.