Driving in Malta vs. North Macedonia: Key Differences
When navigating the roads of Malta and North Macedonia, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their journeys. Key differences include driving sides, speed limits, and road markings, all of which are crucial for ensuring safety and compliance. This guide provides insights to help travelers adapt and drive securely in both nations.
Lanes
| Malta | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on some divided roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Often used to indicate parking restrictions. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Not typically allowed in North Macedonia. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared use with caution, marked on roads. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and marked paths. |
Driving Side
malta:
Left
north macedonia:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
north macedonia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
north macedonia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
malta:
No
north macedonia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
malta:
Yes
north macedonia:
Not typically allowed in North Macedonia.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
north macedonia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
north macedonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
malta:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
north macedonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
north macedonia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
malta:
N/A
north macedonia:
Bicycle symbols and marked paths.
Speeds Limits
| Malta | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
malta:
50 km/h
north macedonia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
malta:
70 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
malta:
70 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
malta:
80 km/h
north macedonia:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
malta:
80 km/h
north macedonia:
100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
north macedonia:
Yes
Signals
| Malta | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles. | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Malta | Prepare to go |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Prohibited in urban areas at night |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not to be used to signal other messages | Not to signal other messages |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Maltese; symbols are standard | Macedonian; standard symbols |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow. | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
malta:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
north macedonia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
malta:
Not used in Malta
north macedonia:
Prepare to go
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
malta:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
north macedonia:
Prohibited in urban areas at night
Headlight Flash: Usage
malta:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
north macedonia:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
malta:
Not to be used to signal other messages
north macedonia:
Not to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
north macedonia:
Macedonian; standard symbols
Traffic Signs: Warning
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
north macedonia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Malta | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless specified by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Allowed when not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
malta:
Not allowed
north macedonia:
Prohibited unless specified by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
north macedonia:
Allowed when not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Malta | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield. | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
north macedonia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
north macedonia:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
north macedonia:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malta:
Recommended
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malta:
Recommended
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Malta | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
malta:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
north macedonia:
Common practice
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
north macedonia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Malta | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in some areas | Conducted at checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
malta:
0.02%
north macedonia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
north macedonia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
north macedonia:
Conducted at checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
north macedonia:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Malta | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
north macedonia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Malta | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 for emergencies | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta | Contact local service providers |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
malta:
112 for emergencies
north macedonia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
north macedonia:
Contact local service providers
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Malta | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license | Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Typically around €50, points may apply | 50 EUR |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Typically around €100, points on license | 40 EUR |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Typically around €100, points on license | 250 EUR, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Yes, often required |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 days to pay | Varies; typically within 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
north macedonia:
Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
north macedonia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
north macedonia:
50 EUR
Common Fines: Phone Use
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
north macedonia:
40 EUR
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
north macedonia:
250 EUR, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
north macedonia:
Yes, often required
Payment: Deadline
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
north macedonia:
Varies; typically within 15 days to pay