Driving in Germany vs. Malta: Key Differences Explained
Discover the driving landscape of Germany and Malta in this insightful comparison. Explore notable distinctions, such as driving sides—right in Germany versus left in Malta—and varying speed limits that range from 30 km/h in residential zones to 130 km/h on highways. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring your safety while navigating these unique roadways.
Lanes
| Germany | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are standard. | Marks the left edge on some divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Marks temporary lanes or roadworks. | Often used to indicate parking restrictions. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally prohibited, except in traffic jams or on multi-lane roads when the left lane is moving slower. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. Bicycles may be allowed. | Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared use with caution, marked on roads. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored lane. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
germany:
Right
malta:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
germany:
Not commonly used; white lines are standard.
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
germany:
Marks temporary lanes or roadworks.
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
Overtaking: On Left
germany:
Yes
malta:
No
Overtaking: On Right
germany:
Generally prohibited, except in traffic jams or on multi-lane roads when the left lane is moving slower.
malta:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
germany:
Use rightmost lane.
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
germany:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. Bicycles may be allowed.
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
germany:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with signs.
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
germany:
Exclusive for bicycles.
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
germany:
Bicycle symbols and colored lane.
malta:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
germany:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
germany:
Yes
malta:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
germany:
Electronic signs display current limits.
malta:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Germany | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Recommended 130 km/h, no fixed maximum | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
germany:
30 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
germany:
100 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
germany:
80-100 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
germany:
80 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
germany:
Recommended 130 km/h, no fixed maximum
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
germany:
100 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
germany:
80-100 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
germany:
Yes
malta:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
germany:
Electronic signs display current limits
malta:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
germany:
Common
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Germany | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles. |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates the light is about to change to green | Not used in Malta |
| Traffic Signs: Language | German; symbols are standard | English and Maltese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow. |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
germany:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
malta:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
germany:
Indicates the light is about to change to green
malta:
Not used in Malta
Traffic Signs: Language
germany:
German; symbols are standard
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
germany:
Triangle-shaped with red border
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
Turns
| Germany | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless a green arrow sign is present | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited in many areas; check for signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
germany:
Not allowed unless a green arrow sign is present
malta:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
germany:
Prohibited in many areas; check for signs
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Germany | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for up to 6 months; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory, every 2 years | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on rear license plate | Displayed on license plate or windshield. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
germany:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
germany:
Accepted for up to 6 months; International Driving Permit recommended
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
germany:
Mandatory, every 2 years
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
germany:
Displayed on rear license plate
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
germany:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
germany:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Germany | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
germany:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Germany | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial, varies by offense | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
germany:
0.00%
malta:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
germany:
0.00%
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
germany:
Common
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
germany:
Can be substantial, varies by offense
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Germany | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
germany:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Germany | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ADAC | Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
germany:
110
malta:
112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
germany:
Check with your insurance provider or ADAC
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
germany:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
germany:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Germany | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €10 to over €600, points on license | Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €30 to €60 | Typically around €50, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €100, points on license | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €90 to €200, points on license | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 1 to 4 weeks to pay | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
germany:
Varies; €10 to over €600, points on license
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
germany:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
germany:
€30 to €60
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
germany:
€100, points on license
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
germany:
€90 to €200, points on license
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
germany:
Common
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
germany:
Varies; typically 1 to 4 weeks to pay
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay