Driving in Malta vs. Portugal: Key Safety Differences
When embarking on a road trip from Malta to Portugal, understanding the nuances of their driving regulations is crucial for a secure journey. Key distinctions include driving on the left in Malta versus the right in Portugal, alongside varying speed limits and vehicle requirements. Stay informed to ensure your travels remain safe and enjoyable!
Lanes
| Malta | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Prohibited. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles. | Reserved for buses and taxis. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared use with caution, marked on roads. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
malta:
Left
portugal:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
malta:
Marks the left edge on some divided roads.
portugal:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
malta:
Often used to indicate parking restrictions.
portugal:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
malta:
No
portugal:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
malta:
Yes
portugal:
Prohibited.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
malta:
Use leftmost lane.
portugal:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
malta:
Reserved for buses and emergency vehicles.
portugal:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
malta:
Shared use with caution, marked on roads.
portugal:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
malta:
N/A
portugal:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
malta:
N/A
portugal:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
malta:
No
portugal:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malta:
N/A
portugal:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Malta | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70 km/h | 90 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 |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Possible |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
malta:
50 km/h
portugal:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
malta:
70 km/h
portugal:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
malta:
70 km/h
portugal:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
malta:
80 km/h
portugal:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
malta:
80 km/h
portugal:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
malta:
80 km/h
portugal:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
malta:
No
portugal:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
malta:
N/A
portugal:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
malta:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
portugal:
Possible
Signals
| Malta | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Malta | Not used in Portugal |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Maltese; symbols are standard | Portuguese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow. | Triangular-shaped with white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
malta:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
portugal:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
malta:
Not used in Malta
portugal:
Not used in Portugal
Traffic Signs: Language
malta:
English and Maltese; symbols are standard
portugal:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
malta:
Triangular-shaped with a white background or yellow.
portugal:
Triangular-shaped with white background and red border
Turns
| Malta | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit |
Right Turn On Red
malta:
Not allowed
portugal:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
malta:
Varies by location; check for signs
portugal:
Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit
Documentation
| Malta | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; no additional permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Periodic inspections required; proof may be 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: E U/ E E A
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
portugal:
Accepted; no additional permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
malta:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
portugal:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
malta:
Annual vehicle inspection required
portugal:
Periodic inspections required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
malta:
Displayed on license plate or windshield.
portugal:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malta:
Recommended
portugal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malta:
Recommended
portugal:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Malta | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
malta:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
portugal:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Malta | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Reasonably enforced; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Underage Drivers
malta:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
portugal:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
malta:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
portugal:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
malta:
Reasonably enforced; can be substantial
portugal:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Malta | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
malta:
Signal left when preparing to exit
portugal:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Malta | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 for emergencies | Contact local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta | Check with your insurance provider or ACP |
| 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
portugal:
Contact local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
malta:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Malta
portugal:
Check with your insurance provider or ACP
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
portugal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
malta:
Recommended but not mandatory
portugal:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Malta | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license | Varies; €60 to €2,500, 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 | €120 to €600 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Typically around €100, points on license | €240 to €1,200 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Typically around €100, points on license | €120 to €600 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Possible |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
malta:
Varies; typically €35 to €70, points on license
portugal:
Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
malta:
Varies; substantial fines and possible jail time
portugal:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
malta:
Typically around €50, points may apply
portugal:
€120 to €600
Common Fines: Phone Use
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
portugal:
€240 to €1,200
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
malta:
Typically around €100, points on license
portugal:
€120 to €600
Payment: On The Spot
malta:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
portugal:
Possible
Payment: Deadline
malta:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
portugal:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay