Cost to Ship a Car from the UK to Malta in 2026

RORO shipping from Southampton or Sheerness to Valletta typically costs £750-£1,150 for a standard car, making it one of the more affordable European routes given the relatively short sea distance once vessels reach the Mediterranean. Container shipping is less common for this route but is used for classic or high-value cars, costing £1,300-£1,900. Since Malta drives on the left like the UK, right-hand-drive cars need no steering conversion, which keeps overall import costs down. Check pricing for your exact vehicle with our cost calculator.

RORO vessels from the UK to Valletta typically take 12-20 days, often routed via a hub port such as Antwerp, Genoa or Marseille before a shorter final Mediterranean crossing. Container shipments run a broadly similar 14-22 days. As an EU member state, Malta's customs process for cars arriving from the UK (a third country post-Brexit) still requires formal import declarations, but physical port clearance is usually completed within 2-5 working days given Malta's compact, efficient port operations at the Malta Freeport and Valletta Grand Harbour.

As Malta is in the EU, importing a UK car counts as an import from a third country post-Brexit, attracting 10% customs duty (waived if you can prove the car is of UK/EU preferential origin under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which most UK-manufactured or long-registered cars qualify for) and 18% Maltese VAT on the customs value. Malta additionally levies a Registration Tax based on CO2 emissions and vehicle value via Transport Malta's calculator, which can range from a few hundred pounds on efficient small cars to several thousand pounds on larger-engined vehicles — always run your specific reg plate details through Transport Malta's online calculator before shipping.

Because Malta drives on the left, UK right-hand-drive cars are fully compatible with Maltese roads without conversion, unlike most other EU destinations. Vehicles do need a VRT (Vehicle Roadworthiness Test) inspection through Transport Malta before registration, checking emissions, lighting and general condition, which typically costs €30-€50 and can usually be booked within a week of the car clearing customs.

You'll need the original V5C logbook, a commercial invoice or bill of sale, proof of UK/EU origin (for duty relief), the bill of lading, and your Maltese ID/residency documentation to complete registration with Transport Malta. If claiming preferential origin to avoid the 10% duty, a statement on origin referencing the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement should accompany the invoice — our team can guide you through this via our contact page.