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.

maltanorth macedonia

LEFT

Driving Side

The driving side in malta is the Left Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in malta is 94

1.391 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for malta is 1.391 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

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	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:

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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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