Driving in Luxembourg vs. Malta: Key Differences Revealed
Explore the intriguing contrasts in road regulations between Luxembourg and Malta. From driving sides and lane usage to speed limits and alcohol policies, understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring a secure journey. Discover how each country’s unique approach to vehicle operation contributes to overall travel safety.
Lanes
| Luxembourg | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not typically used. | Marks the left edge on some divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not typically used. | Often used to indicate parking restrictions. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared use with caution, marked on roads. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | 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
luxembourg:
Right
malta:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
luxembourg:
Not typically used.
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
luxembourg:
Not typically used.
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
Overtaking: On Left
luxembourg:
Yes
malta:
No
Overtaking: On Right
luxembourg:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
malta:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
luxembourg:
Use rightmost lane.
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
luxembourg:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
luxembourg:
Exclusive for bicycles.
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
luxembourg:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
malta:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
luxembourg:
N/A
malta:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
luxembourg:
Yes
malta:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
luxembourg:
Electronic signs display current limits.
malta:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Luxembourg | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 75 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 75 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 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 | Yes | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
luxembourg:
30 km/h
malta:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
luxembourg:
90 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
luxembourg:
75 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
luxembourg:
75 km/h
malta:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
luxembourg:
130 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
luxembourg:
90 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
luxembourg:
90 km/h
malta:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
luxembourg:
Yes
malta:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
luxembourg:
Electronic signs display current limits
malta:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
luxembourg:
Yes
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Luxembourg | 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 | Not used in Luxembourg | Not used in Malta |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French, German, and Luxembourgish; symbols are standard | English and Maltese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red borders | Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow. |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
luxembourg:
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
luxembourg:
Not used in Luxembourg
malta:
Not used in Malta
Traffic Signs: Language
luxembourg:
French, German, and Luxembourgish; symbols are standard
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
luxembourg:
Triangular with red borders
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
Turns
| Luxembourg | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not typically allowed | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signage indicates otherwise | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
luxembourg:
Not typically allowed
malta:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
luxembourg:
Permitted unless signage indicates otherwise
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Luxembourg | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; must have a valid national license | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; regular intervals | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | 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
luxembourg:
Accepted; must have a valid national license
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
luxembourg:
International Driving Permit recommended
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
luxembourg:
Mandatory; regular intervals
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
luxembourg:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
luxembourg:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
luxembourg:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Luxembourg | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
luxembourg:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Luxembourg | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Conducted regularly; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Results in license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Underage Drivers
luxembourg:
0.00%; zero tolerance
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
luxembourg:
Conducted regularly; checkpoints used in some areas
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
luxembourg:
Can be substantial
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
Test Refusal
luxembourg:
Results in license suspension
malta:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Luxembourg | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
luxembourg:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Luxembourg | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider or automobile club | 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
luxembourg:
113
malta:
112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
luxembourg:
Contact your insurance provider or automobile club
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
luxembourg:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
luxembourg:
Mandatory
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Luxembourg | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; up to €145 for minor infractions | 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 | Up to €145 | Typically around €50, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Up to €145 | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; severe penalties | Typically around €100, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines often collected immediately | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; usually a specific period | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
luxembourg:
Varies; up to €145 for minor infractions
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
luxembourg:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
luxembourg:
Up to €145
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
luxembourg:
Up to €145
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
luxembourg:
Varies; severe penalties
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
luxembourg:
Yes; fines often collected immediately
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
luxembourg:
Varies; usually a specific period
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay