Becoming a Licensed Driver
The training, testing and licensing of drivers are regulated by the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations (Subsidiary Legislation 65.18), “the Regulations”.
The Regulations stipulate that no person is allowed to drive any motor vehicle if that person is not in possession of either a valid driving licence or a Learner’s Permit which has been issued by the Authority.
Part III of the Regulations stipulate that one must satisfy the Authority that he possesses the necessary knowledge and skills and exhibits the behaviour required, for driving a motor vehicle. The test to this effect consists of:
- Theory Test;
- Test of Skills and Behaviour (the “Practical Test”).
Applicants must have their normal residence in Malta, or can produce evidence that they have been studying in Malta for at least six months prior to the submission of the application.
Identify a Trainer
The first step is to identify someone to train the candidate. This can either be done with a licensed Motoring School, or by a non-licensed Driving Instructor. A list of licensed Motoring Schools can be found in the Driving section of this website.
In the case of a non-licensed Driving Instructor, they must satisfy the following requirements:
- Is at least 25 years old;
- Is in possession of a valid driving licence covering the category of vehicle being used by the learner driver and shall have been in possession of such licence for at least five years;
- Must ensure that the vehicle used for the purpose of instructing the learner driver shall be covered by an appropriate insurance cover for such purpose, by submitting an endorsement letter by the Insurance Provider, covering the non-licensed Driving Instructor and the learner;
- The vehicle being used for driving lessons must have affixed to the front and rear, the letter 'L' in red on a white background.
Licensed Motoring Schools are required to use Student Record Sheet. This Student Record Sheet is designed to ensure that training is provided in a structured manner, to ensure that all the essential driving skills are taught. It is kept by the driving instructor during the course of training to indicate those lessons which have been covered, indicating the lesson being taught and the various stages of progress made in that particular lesson. The choice of lesson sequence is at the instructor’s discretion depending on the student’s progress and ability. However, all lessons indicated on the Student Record Sheet must be taught. Students may request a copy of the Student Record at any time from their Instructors.
Students can change their Motoring School at any time, but they must notify the Authority. No fees apply.
Apply for a Learner’s Permit
Before one applies for the Practical Test, applicants must apply for a Learner’s Permit using the DRV-02 form. The requirements for the Learner’s Permit are:
- Applicant must be at least 18 years old;
- A fee of €23.25 must be paid;
- Applicant must have undergone a medical fitness test, as specified on the DRV-02 form;
- Application must be endorsed by the licensed or non-licensed Driving Instructor;
- A photograph is to be submitted;
- A copy of the ID card is to be submitted.
The Learner’s Permit allows applicants to practice driving under instruction on all days, excluding Sundays and public holidays.
Learner Permits are issued for one year, and may be renewed for further periods of one year at a charge of €23.25.
At this stage, candidates are encouraged by the Authority to purchase a copy of the Highway Code at €2.30, and the Theory Test CD at €7, which are to be used to prepare for both tests. These can be obtained from the Transport Malta Offices, from the Theory Test Centre or accessed online from here.
Applying for the Theory Test
The requirements to apply to sit for the Theory Test are:
- Applicant must be at least 18 years old;
- A fee of €30.25 must be paid;
- ID card must be presented;
To book an appointment, candidates can call the Theory Test Centre on 2122 7190, or visit the Theory Test Centre located at Gwardamangia Hill, Blata l-Bajda with their ID Card. An appointment will be given there and then. If the candidates are unable to apply themselves, anyone else presenting their ID Card may make an appointment on their behalf.
The subjects covered by the Theory Test are defined in the Fourth Schedule of the Regulations. The test is made up of 35 multiple questions selected randomly from a question bank. In order to pass the test, one must answer at least 30 correctly in 45 minutes.
At the end of the test, the Testing Centre issues a certificate indicating the pass or fail, a copy of which is instantaneously printed at the Authority’s offices.
Applying for the Practical Test
The requirements to apply to sit for the Practical Test are:
- Applicant must be at least 18 years old;
- Applicant must have passed the Theory Test;
- Applicant must be in possession of a Learner’s Permit.
Once the training has been completed, candidates can apply for the Practical Test at the Authority’s offices, and also at the Theory Test Centre. This form needs to be accompanied with the following:
- Student Record Sheet (this is not required for those applying with a non-licensed Driving Instructor)
- A fee of €23.25 must be paid;
Once this application is submitted, the Authority will schedule the test as close as three weeks from the submittal date, therefore the Applicant must be ready to sit for the Practical Test.
The Authority will schedule candidates on a first come first serve basis, and a notification of the test date and time will be sent directly to the candidate and copied to the Motoring School.
Notifications will always be sent three weeks in advance to allow sufficient time for the candidate to make arrangements for the test. If the candidate needs to change the test date or time, this will only be possible in exceptional justified and proven cases at least two weeks before the test date, for not being able to attend due to pre-booked overseas travel, court requirements, and exam requirements. Candidates will need to submit a written request attaching evidence and justification. In this case, the candidate will normally be scheduled a test date within three weeks.
If the candidate attends the test, but does not pass, he or she will be provided with a new application form by the Driving Examiner, which will need to be resubmitted when he or she is ready for the test, but not before three weeks from the last test date, to allow for some time for the candidate to prepare.
If the candidate does not attend for the test, he or she will be recorded as a no show, will lose their slot, and will need to reapply including resubmitting the €23.25 fee.
Sitting for the Practical Test
The Practical Test is carried out as follows:
- Candidate arrives at test centre with accompanying driver (instructor)
- Examiner greets candidate, confirms I.D. (I.D. card or passport) and instructor signs declaration that vehicle meets requirements. (insurance etc)
- Candidate is requested to read vehicle license plate from a distance of 20.5 metres. If candidate is unable to read number plate a fail is recorded and they must re-apply at their own cost
- Examiner asks candidate a couple of vehicle safety check questions
- Candidate and examiner enter vehicle and examiner pre-briefs candidate regarding test process
- Test commences between twenty five and thirty minutes on road driving during which time a minimum of two maneuvers with an element of reversing are performed
- Test concludes and candidate signs test form to acknowledge receipt of result and debrief
- Candidate is de-briefed in presence of instructor (candidate can decline to have instructor present for de-brief if they choose)
- If result is a pass documents are given to candidate to collect licence
- If result is fail examiner offers to explain reasons for failure to candidate and candidate is given copy of test form which illustrates these points
The Practical Test is based on the subjects contained in the Fifth Schedule of the Regulations (Appendix XX).
The Regulations permit the candidate to be accompanied by a third party, as long as the third party does not communicate with the Examiner, or act in any way that may interfere with or influence the test procedure or outcome throughout the test.
It is important to note that in the case of non-licensed Instructors, the vehicles used in the Practical Test must comply with the minimum technical requirements as indicated in the Third Schedule, and must be covered by a valid VRT certificate, display a valid road licence disc, display the learner plates, and must have a valid insurance covering the specific use.
If the candidate is accompanied by a motoring school vehicle, this will be assumed to be up to specification, as the Authority has details of all motoring school vehicles. The examiner will have a cursory check of the vehicle and if standards are not met (like expired road tax, damaged tyres, broken light fittings etc) the test will not be performed. Private vehicles must display L plates (red letter L on a white background) visible from the front and rear of the vehicle, and have an additional interior rear view mirror for the examiner.
When sitting for the Practical Test, candidates are to bring an acceptable form of identification, such as identity card or passport. If spectacles are needed, they have to be worn from the start and throught the test.
After the test, the Driving Examiner will give a debriefing, wherein the candidate is given the pink copy of the DTR1 which is in triplicate form, and on which the failure points are indicated for the benefit of candidate and instructor. The examiner will explain the main reasons for failure, and offer guidance on how these can be avoided.
The Authority issues the Probationary Driving Licence
After the successful completion of the tests, the Authority issues the driving licence, which consists of two documents, the photocard driving licence and the counterpart driving licence. Driving licences state the conditions on which the driver is authorised to drive as indicated in the Seventh Schedule of the Regulations.
Probationary Licence
The Regulations provide that new drivers who pass their driving tests shall be granted a probationary driving licence, subject to a penalty point system.
For each contravention listed in the Sixth Schedule of the Regulations, penalty points shall be imposed by the Court of Magistrates or by the Commissioners for Justice, and recorded on the driver’s counterpart probationary driving licence. Where the holder admits the offence and pays the relative penalty, the Authority records the minimum penalty points for that offence.
A probationary driving licence is revoked if at any time during the three-year probationary period, its holder accumulates in aggregate twelve penalty points or more. A driver whose probationary driving licence has been revoked in virtue of the last preceding regulation, may only apply for a new probationary driving license after the expiration of three months from such revocation by submitting a fresh application in terms of Part III.
A full driving license for ten years is granted, if no penalty points are recorded or if the penalty points imposed are not sufficient for either a revocation or disqualification.
Applicants may start to learn to drive vehicles and motorcycles, as long as s/he is over 18. It is advised that preparation for the Theory Test is started as early as possible. Applicants may apply at any time to take the Theory Test (in Maltese or English) at the Theory Test Centre situated at 104, G'Mangia Hill, G'Mangia. Gozitan applicants will be given the opportunity to sit for the test in Gozo. The test is conducted with a touch-screen computer system. No writing is involved. Illiterate persons are given the necessary assistance.
The test may be re-taken as often as necessary should the candidate fail. However, a minimum of 3 working days must pass prior to taking a second or subsequent test. Copies of the Theory Test question bank, in CD format, are available from the Driver Licensing Unit (Hall C), LTD, for a fee of €7.
I would like to take driving lessons on an automatic vehicle, is this possible?
Yes, this can be done. However you will then be issued a driving licence valid for automatic vehicles only.
Is the instructor supposed to give me a receipt?
Receipts are always issued when fees are paid to the ADT. Therefore you can ask your Motoring School to provide the (official) receipts if you pay through them.
If I am sick that day of the test, what should I do?
You have to inform your Motoring School and submit a Medical Certificate. Three weeks have to pass before you will be appointed for another practical test date.
If I fail, how much will I have to pay to take the test once again?
Re-test fee is € 23.25
How will I know when to sit for my driving test?
On obtaining a Pass Certificate in the Theory Test for the relevant category of vehicle, the candidate may book directly or through the Motoring School and pay for the Test of Skills and Behavior (practical test).
As from May 2004, the practical driving test was upgraded both in quality and duration. The actual time spent driving was extended and certain obligatory maneuvers were updated. This test also included some technical questions about the test vehicle with consideration to road safety.
If you have applied with a licensed Motoring School and you are prepared to sit for your driving test, you may sit for your test against a fee of €23.25. Subsequently, you (or your instructor) will be given a driving test appointment. Payment for the test- €23.25 - has to be effected then.
The total cost will be €46.50 - for the learner’s permit and for the actual test.
The appointment notice which will be given to you (or your instructor) includes:
- a request for the payment of the test fee prior to the test date;
- the date, time and place of your test;
- information regarding the payment and collection of the Driving License.
The vehicles used in the driving test must comply with the minimum technical requirements as indicated in the Regulation 26 and the Third Schedule of the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licenses) Regulations 2002 (Legal Notice 191 of 2002, as amended by Legal Notice 14 of 2004, 25 and 408 of 2007, 105 of 2008 and 25 of 2009).
Test Vehicles
Minimum technical requirements for Vehicles used in the Tests of Skills and Behavior (S.L.65.18 MOTOR VEHICLES- DRIVING LICENCES - THIRD SCHEDULE)
A1 Motorcycles without sidecar with a cubic capacity of at least 75cc.
A Motorcycles without sidecar with a cubic capacity of at least 100cc
A+ motorcycle without sidecar with a cubic capacity of over 120cc capable of a speed of at least 100km/h (if candidate has a minimum of 2 years experience on motorcycles with lower specifications under an A license) OR Motorcycles without sidecar with engine-power of at least 35kw or 47bhp (if candidate is at least 21 years old)
B1 Motor-powered tricycles or quadricycles capable of a speed of at least 60km/h
B Four-Wheeled category B vehicles capable of a speed of at least 100km/h
B auto As in category b but fitted with automatic transmission.
B+E Combinations made up of a category B test vehicle and a trailer with a maximum g.v.w. of at least 1000kgs, capable of a speed of at least 100km/h, which do not fall within category B
C1 Sub-category C1 vehicles with a g.v.w. of at least 4000kgs and capable of a speed of at least 80km/h
C1+E Combinations made up of category C1 test vehicles and a trailer with a maximum g.v.w. of at least 2000kgs and at least 8 meters in length and capable of a speed of at least 80km/h
C Category C vehicles with a maximum g.v.w. of at least 10000kgs and a length of at least 7 meters, capable of a speed of at least 80km/h
C+E Either articulated vehicles with a maximum g.v.w. of at least 18000kgs and a length of at least 12 meters, capable of a speed of at least 80km/h; or combinations, made up of a category C test vehicle and a trailer at least 4 meters in length, with a maximum g.v.w. of at least 18,000kgs and a length of at least 12 meters, capable of a speed of at least 80km/h
D1 Sub-category D1 vehicles capable of a speed of at least 80km/h
D1+E Combination made up of a sub-category D1 test vehicle and a trailer with a g.v.w. of at least 1,250kgs and capable of speed of at least 80km/h
D Category D vehicles not less than 9 meters in length and capable of a speed of at least 80km/h
D+E Combinations made up of a category D test vehicle and a trailer with a g.v.w. of at least 1,250kgs and capable of a speed of at least 80km/h
f Category f vehicle.
g Category g vehicle
You will not be nominated for your practical test or issued with a test appointment unless you have presented a Pass certificate from the Theory Test under the licence category applied for.
Candidates must be well prepared for their practical test. A substantial amount of driving lessons must be taken before attempting the test in order to gain sufficient knowledge of driving skills and behavior.
What happens after I take my driving test?
If you pass your driving test, you will be issued with a 'passed test' certificate. You will be required to present this at the Driving Licensing Unit of the LTD - Hall B. Your first Driving License will then be issued as a 'Probationary' license for a fee of € 19.95 for a period of 3 years
If you apply with a private instructor and you fail your test, you will be given a new appointment for another test for a fee of € 23.25. However, if you have apply with a licensed motoring school, you will be re-nominated for the test by the latter for a fee € 23.25.
If you already hold a driving license and pass your test under another license category, this will be included in your license for a fee € 17.45.
How do I apply for a pedal or low-powered cycle
Persons who are over the age of 16 can apply for low-powered cycles provided that they have satisfied the Malta Transport Authority with the knowledge of the Highway Code through a theory test [Sections 1 and 2].
An application is to be submitted for a fee of €12. Successful candidates will be issued with an official tag.