Car imports from the UK to Malta
The short answer
You can import a car from the United Kingdom to Malta, but it is no longer an intra-EU move. Since the Brexit transition period ended, the UK has been treated as a non-EU (third) country. A car shipped from Britain must therefore clear Maltese customs before Transport Malta, the authority responsible for vehicle licensing, will register it for the road.
Two qualifications can change the answer significantly. The first is whether you are moving your residence to Malta and bringing a car you already own and use. The second is whether the vehicle qualifies as originating in the UK or EU under the EU–UK trade agreement. Both affect what you pay at the border.
What the process involves
A UK-to-Malta import generally passes through the following stages. The details and amounts depend on the vehicle and your circumstances.
Export from the UK: the vehicle leaves Britain, and the UK registration authority (the DVLA) is notified that it has been permanently exported. Customs declaration in Malta: the car is declared as an import from a third country. Customs duty: this may apply unless the car meets the agreement's rules of origin and valid proof of origin is provided. A vehicle built outside the UK and EU may not qualify for duty-free treatment. Import VAT: this is normally charged on entry, generally calculated on the vehicle's value plus related costs. Registration tax: Malta charges a one-off registration tax. It is calculated from factors such as the vehicle's emissions and value, under the schedule in force at the time. Technical approval and roadworthiness: the vehicle must meet Maltese and EU approval requirements and pass inspection before registration. Registration and licensing: Transport Malta issues Maltese plates, and an annual circulation licence must be paid to keep the car on the road.
How it differs from importing within the EU
A car bought in another EU member state moves to Malta without customs formalities. A car from the UK does not, which adds customs clearance, possible duty and import VAT to the process.
Type approval can also be a hurdle. Type approval is the certification that a vehicle model meets regulatory standards. Vehicles approved for the British market after Brexit may not carry an EU certificate of conformity. Some may need additional paperwork or an individual approval before they can be registered in Malta.
One practical advantage is shared with relatively few EU destinations: Malta drives on the left, like the UK. Right-hand-drive British cars therefore suit local roads without conversion.
Moving to Malta with your own car
EU customs rules provide relief from duty and import VAT on personal property, including a car, when someone transfers their normal residence from a third country. The relief is conditional. Typically the vehicle must have been owned and used by the person abroad for a minimum period, the person must have lived outside the EU for a qualifying period, and the car must not be sold soon after import. Malta's customs authority sets out the exact conditions and documents. Registration tax and licensing are handled separately, so customs relief does not automatically remove every charge.
Documents to have ready
UK registration certificate (V5C) or proof of export; Purchase invoice or other proof of ownership and value; Shipping and transport documents; Proof of origin, if claiming preferential duty treatment; Certificate of conformity or other approval evidence; Identity documents and, for residence relief, proof of your previous residence and your move to Malta
What this guide cannot confirm
No verified figures were available for this article. That includes current duty or VAT rates, registration tax amounts, fees, processing times and minimum ownership or residence periods. These figures change and depend on the individual vehicle, so check them with Maltese customs and Transport Malta, or a licensed customs broker, before buying or shipping a car.
Next step
Before committing, collect the specific car's details: model, manufacturing origin, emissions data, value and approval documents. Then ask the Maltese authorities or a customs agent to estimate the total of duty, VAT and registration tax. That figure, together with confirmation that the car can be approved for registration, tells you whether importing it from the UK makes sense compared with buying locally or within the EU.
