REGISTRATION AND LICENSING OF MOTOR VEHICLES REGULATIONS

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 368.02

REGISTRATION AND LICENSING

OF MOTOR VEHICLES REGULATIONS

1st January, 2009;

1st August, 2009

LEGAL NOTICE 198 of 2009, as amended by Act XV of 2009; Legal

Notices 110 and 195 of 2011, 127 of 2013, 178 and 342 of 2015 and 125 of

2017, 139 of 2018, 265 of 2022 and 340 of 2024 and Act XXI of 2020 and

Legal Notices 160 and 262 of 2025 and 21 of 2026.

The title of these regulations is the Registration and

Licensing of Motor Vehicles Regulations.

Part I

PRELIMINARY

Amended by

L.N. 110 of 2011.

(Regulation 30)

Substituted by

L.N. 195 of 2011.

Amended by

L.N. 178 of 2015;

L.N. 139 of 2018.

Motor Vehicles’ Registration Marks and Fees payable to the Authority

for the issue of plates

DESCRIPTION

Composed of two sets of three characters each, the first set

composed of three Roman Alphabet characters and the

second set composed of three Arabic numerals, e.g. XXX

Fee for a pair of vehicle registration plates: €70. However, the

fee for the replacement of vintage vehicle plates carrying green

characters with new plates carrying silver characters shall be

€17.50 per plate.

Composed of two sets of three characters each, the first set

composed of three Roman Alphabet characters and the

second set composed of three Arabic numerals, e.g. XXX

111, where the choice of the characters and numerals shall

lie with the person requesting the Numbers.

Fee for a pair of plates: €200

N u m e r i c Composed solely of any Arabic numeral.

Fee payable for a pair of plates: €1,500

Special Alphabetical Composed of any character of the Roman Alphabet.

Fee for a pair of plates: €1,500

Special Numeric and Composed of a mixture of numeric and alphabetical.

Alphabetical Format Fee for a pair of plates: €1,500

R e g i s t r a t i o n m a r k s Composed as prescribed in the Taxi Services Regulations.

(S.L. 499.59)

Fee for a pair of plates: €60

I s s u e o f d u p l i c a t e Fee for each plate: €35

registration mark

Where the registration mark is of the Standard Alphanumeric Format (Random)

type, the first letter shall stand for the month in which the licence of the vehicle shall

REGISTRATION AND LICENSING OF MOTOR VEHICLES

In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires

"the Act" means the Motor Vehicles Registration and Licensing

Act;

"accredited vintage vehicle certification body" means the

Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens (FIVA) and, or the

National FIVA Authority (ANF) in the particular country or any other

approved equivalent vintage vehicle certification body as shall be

designated by the Authority from time to time;

"agricultural tractor" means a tractor used primarily for work on

land in connection with agriculture;

"amateur built motor vehicle" means a vehicle constructed for

the personal use of an individual and -

(a) the construction or assembly or substantial part of

which was carried out by the individual and, or

persons acting on his behalf, and

(b) the individual and, or other persons acting on his

behalf during the period of construction or assembly

did not have a business in which motor vehicles are

normally constructed or assembled.

An amateur built vehicle is considered to be a new vehicle if, at

least, the following parts of the vehicle are new: the chassis, the

engine, the steering mechanism, the axles and the gearbox;

"authorised dealer" means a person who is authorised by the

Authority to sell or buy motor vehicles for profit;

"auth orised in sp ecti ng offi cer" means a Police officer, a

community officer or an officer of the Authority;

"authorised treatment facility" means an undertaking or

establishment in possession of a valid permit from the Malta

Environment and Planning Authority in accordance with the Waste

Management (End-of-Life Vehicles) Regulations;

"the Authority" means the Authority for Transport in Malta as

established by the Authority for Transport in Malta Act;

"brought into Malta" has the same meaning as assigned to it in

article 2 of the Act;

"circulation licence fee" means the circulation licence fee paid in

terms of the Act;

"circulation permit fee" has the same meaning as assigned to it in

article 2 of the Act;

"certificate of conformity" means a certificate of conformity

issued by a manufacturer of a motor vehicle under any provision of

the law of a member State transposing Directive 70/156/EEC on the

approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the

type-approval of motor vehicles and their trailers, as amended;

"certificate of conformity" means the document issued by the

manufacturer which certifies that a produced vehicle conforms to the

approved type of vehicle and complies with all regulatory acts that

were applicable at the time of its production;

"certificate of destruction" means a certificate issued by an

authorised treatment facility in accordance with regulation 6(3) of

the Waste Management (End-of-Life Vehicles) Regulations;

"company" has the same meaning as is assigned to it in article 2

of the Companies Act;

"co-operative society" means a co-operative society registered or

provisionally registered under the Co-operative Societies Act;

"CO 2 emissions" shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in

article 2 of the Act;

"cycle" means, for the purpose of these regulations, a cycle fitted

with an engine having a cylinder capacity of more than 50 cm 3 if of

the internal combustion type and, or a maximum design speed of

more than 45 km/h, and includes motor cycles, motor tricycles and

quadricycles;

"Directive 1999/37/EC" means Council Directive 1999/37/EC of 29

April 1999 on the registration documents for vehicles as amended by

Directive (EU) 2022/362 of the European Parliament and the Council

of 24th February 2022, as amended from time to time;

"Directive 2006/42/EC" means Directive 2006/42/EC of the

European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2006 on

machinery, and amending Directive 95/16/EC;

"Directive 2014/45/EU" means Directive 2014/45/EU of the

European Parliament and of the Council of 3 April 2014 on periodic

roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers and repealing

Directive 2009/40/EC;

"driver" means any person who drives a motor vehicle even for a

short period;

"EC declaration of conformity" means the document drawn up by

the manufacturer or his authorised representative in accordance with

Directive 2006/42/EC;

"end-of-life vehicle" shall have the same meaning as assigned to it

in Article 2 of Directive 2000/53/EC;

"EU individual vehicle approval certificate" means the certificate

issued by an approval authority of a Member State in accordance with

Regulation (EU) 2018/858, which certifies that a particular vehicle,

whether unique or not, satisfies the relevant administrative provisions

and technical requirements for EU individual vehicle approval;

"the European Union" has the same meaning as is given to it in

the European Union Act and includes Norway, Icelan d and

Liechtenstein;

"goods carrying motor vehicle" or "goods vehicle" means any

N1, or N2 or N3 motor vehicle;

"hire" shall include the long-term lease of a vehicle covered by a

lease agreement;

"hire or reward" means any payment or compensation made for

the carrying of passengers or goods, whether such payment or

compensation is made directly or indirectly;

"imported into Malta" means the entry into Malta of a motor

vehicle from a third country;

"licence" means the circulation licence issued on a motor vehicle

to be driven on the road and which is to be renewed annually;

"light passenger transport vehicle" means any M1 motor vehicle

licensed to be used for the carriage of persons against payment,

other than a taxi;

"machinery" shall have the same meaning assigned to it in Directive

2006/42/EC;

"maximum authorised mass" means the maximum technically

permissibl e laden m ass of a motor vehicle as st ated by the

manufacturer;

"M1 vehicle" means a motor vehicle used for the carriage of

passengers and comprising no more than eight seats in addition to

the driver’s seat;

"M2 vehicle" means a motor vehicle used for the carriage of

passengers, comprising more than eight seats in addition to the

driver’s seat, and having a maximum mass not exceeding 5 tonnes;

"M3 vehicle" means a motor vehicle used for the carriage of

passengers, comprising more than eight seats in addition to the

driver’s seat, and having a maximum mass exceeding 5 tonnes;

"Member State" means a Member State of the European Union;

"the Minister" means the Minister responsible for land transport;

"motor caravan" or "motor home" shall have the same meaning as

assigned to it in article 2 of the Act;

"motor cycle" means any two-wheeled vehicle, with or without a

sidecar, fitted with an engine having a cylinder capacity of more

than 50cm 3 if of the internal combustion type and, or having a

maximum design speed of more than 45 km/h;

"motor hearse" means any motor vehicle used for the conveyance

of corpses;

"motor tricycle" means a motor cycle with three symmetrically

arranged wheels;

"motor vehicle" means any mechanically self-propelled vehicle

intended for use on the road, other than a vehicle running on rails,

the maximum designed speed of which exceeds 45 kilometers per

hour;

"motor vehicle for hire" means a motor vehicle which is registered

and licensed to be hired or leased from a vehicle hire services operator,

and for the purpose of being driven by such hirer or lessee in

accordance with the Light Passenger Transport Services and Vehicle

Hire Services Regulations;

"motor vehicle on resale" means a motor vehicle which is

transferred to an authorised motor vehicle dealer for resale;

"N1 vehicle" means a motor vehicle used for the carriage of

goods and having a maximum mass not exceeding 3.5 tonnes;

"N2 vehicle" means a motor vehicle used for the carriage of

goods and having a maximum mass exceeding 3.5 tonnes but not

exceeding 12 tonnes;

"N3 vehicle" means a motor vehicle used for the carriage of

goods and having a maximum mass exceeding 12 tonnes;

"national holidays" has the same meaning as assigned to it in article

2 of the Act;

"new motor vehicle" means, for the purpose of these regulations,

a motor vehicle which has never been registered in any country;

"normal residence" has the same meaning as is assigned to it in

the Act;

"O1, O2, O3 and O4 motor vehicles" have the same meaning

assigned to them by the Motor Vehicles (Weights, Dimensions and

Equipment) Regulations;

" o ff - r o a d v e h i c l e " m e a n s a m o t o r v e h i c l e d e s i g n e d a n d

constructed primarily for use other than on roads;

"owner" means the person, whether as an individual or in

representation of a company, partnership or cooperative society, in

whose name a motor vehicle is registered and licensed;

"partnership" includes an association, not registered under the

Companies Act, between two or more persons;

"passenger transport vehicle" means any M2 or M3 motor

vehicle used for the carriage of persons against payment;

"public highway" means any national arterial, distributor, access

and local access road;

"public holidays" has the same meaning as assigned to it in article 2

of the Act;

"quadricycle" means a vehicle with four wheels whose unladen

mass is not more than 400 kg (550 kg for vehicles intended for

carrying goods), not including the mass of batteries in the case of

electric vehicles, and whose maximum net engine power does not

exceed 15 kW;

"rebuilt motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle which has been

rebuilt using a replacement chassis or integrated chassis or body

which is of the same design and construction as that of the original

vehicle and which was supplied for the purpose without having

been previously used, or previously formed part of a registered

vehicle. For registration purposes it shall be considered as a used

vehicle;

"reference mass" means the mass of the vehicle in running order

less the uniform mass of the driver of 75 kg and increased by a

uniform mass of 100 kg;

"register" means the record kept electronically by the Authority of

data on all the motor vehicles registered and licensed by it;

"registered user of a motor vehicle" means a person who, not

being the owner of a motor vehicle, makes habitual use of that

motor vehicle and is registered as such in terms of regulation 7A;

"registered users of motor vehicles register" means the register kept

by the Authority of all persons and/or companies who, not being the

owners of a motor vehicle, make habitual use of that motor vehicle and

are registered as such in terms of regulation 7A;

"registration certificate" means the document which certifies that

the vehicle is registered;

"registration mark" means the registration number assigned to a

motor vehicle;

"registration plate" means a plate or other device displaying the

registration mark of a motor vehicle;

"registration tax" means the registration tax paid under the Act;

"Regulation (EU) No 167/2013" means Regulation (EU) No 167/

2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 February

2013 on the approval and market surveillance of agricultural and

forestry vehicles;

"Regulation (EU) No 168/2013" means Regulation (EU) No 168/

2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 January

2013 on the approval and market surveillance of two- or three-

wheel vehicles and quadricycles;

"Regulation (EU) No 2018/858" means Regulation (EU) No 2018/

858 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on

the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their

trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units

intended for such vehicles, amending Regulations (EC) No 715/2007

and (EC) No 595/2009 and repealing Directive 2007/46/EC;

"re-use" means an operation by which components of end-of life

vehicles are used for the same purpose for which they were

conceived;

"Single Vehicle Approval" means the procedure whereby a Malta

certifies that a particular vehicle, whether unique or not, satisfies

the relevant administrative provisions and technical requirements

and "Single Vehicle Approval certificate" means the certificate

issued in respect of a single type approved vehicle;

"taxi" means a passenger motor vehicle which may carry no more

than five passengers in addition to the driver, which is fitted with a

taximeter, and which is licensed to stand and ply for hire as a taxi;

"third country" shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in

article 2 of the Act;

"trailer" means any vehicle without mechanical power of its own

designed to be drawn by a motor vehicle and intended for the

purpose of the carriage of goods;

"treatment" means any activity after the end-of-life vehicle has

been handed over to an authorised treatment facility for de-

pollution, dismantling, shearing, shredding, recovery or preparation

for disposal of the shredder wastes, and any other operation carried

out for the recovery and, or disposal of the end-of life vehicle and

its components;

"used motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle which is not a new

motor vehicle;

"vehicle hire undertaking" has the same meaning as assigned to it in

article 2 of the Act;

"vintage vehicle" has the same meaning as assigned to it in article 2

of the Act.

Part II

REGISTRATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES

Amended by

L.N. 178 of 2015.

(Regulation 34)

L.N. 139 of 2018.

Specifications of Vehicle Registration Plates

The registration mark of a motor vehicle registered and licensed in Malta shall be

displayed on a rectangular plate which shall correspond with either diagram No 1 or

diagram No 2 shown below.

The plate on which a registration mark is exhibited shall not contain any words,

letters, numbers, emblems or other marks of any kind other then those required under

these regulations.

The plate on which a registration mark is exhibited shall exhibit the flag of the

European Union and the Letter M.

The specifications for the distinguishing sign on the registration plate shall be

Colours: 1. Retro-reflecting blue background (Munsell reference 5, 9 pb 3,4/

15,1)

2. 12 retro-reflecting yellow stars

3. Retro-reflecting distinguishing sign of Malta, of a white colour

Composition and dimensions

1. The blue background shall be not less than 98mm in height, with a

width of not less than 40 mm and not more than 50 mm

2. The centrepoints of the 12 stars shall form a circle with a 15 mm

radius and the straight forming the apexes of the stars shall be 4 mm

to 5 mm in length

3. The distinguishing sign of Malta shall have a height of 20 mm and a

stroke width of between 4 mm and 5 mm, and shall appear

underneath the circle of stars.

Where the dimensions of the blue background have been reduced for registration

plates taking up two lines (as in diagram 2) and, or for registration plates intended

for two or three-wheel motor cycles, the dimensions of the stars and of the

distinguishing sign may be proportionately reduced.

The periphery of the plate shall be marked all around by a black border having a

stroke width of 5 millimetres.

The plate shall be made from metal material.

The registration mark, with the exception of vintage vehicles and vehicles registered

in terms of article 8(4) of the Act, shall be formed of black characters and shall be

exhibited on white reflective material in such a way that the black characters will at

all times appear on a white background. There shall be a watermark in the space

REGISTRATION AND LICENSING OF MOTOR VEHICLES

between the letters and the numbers.

The plate on which the registration mark of a vintage vehicle is exhibited shall carry

silver characters on a black background.

The plate on which the registration mark of a vehicle registered for use on the road

in Malta solely and exclusively on Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays and other

public holidays in terms of article 8(4) of the Act shall carry red characters.

The plates for vintage vehicles and vehicles registered in terms of article 8(4) of the

Act shall, with the exception of the colour of the characters, the periphery of the plate

and, in the case of vintage vehicles, the colour of the plate, have the same dimensions

and composition of all other registration plates as defined in this Schedule.

No person shall have in his possession or charge any motor

vehicle which has not been registered with the Authority unless -

(a) that person is an authorized manufacturer, agent or

dealer of motor vehicles and the vehicle in his

possession or charge is not being used on the road, or

(b) the vehicle is the subject of an exemption under the

Act; or

(c) the vehicle is registered in another country and is used by

a person who has his normal residence in Malta for a

period of not more than thirty consecutive calendar days

which are to be reckoned from the date of arrival of such

vehicle in Malta and such vehicle has not been used on

the road in Malta during the last three hundred and sixty

five days prior to its arrival in Malta.

(1) For the purpose of the registration of a new vehicle, the

owner or importer of a new motor vehicle shall be required to

submit to the Authority the Registration Form for New Vehicles

(Form VEH. 01), duly completed, together with the following

documents

(a) a valid certificate of conformity in accordance with: -

- Regulation (EU) No 2018/858 in respect of M, N and

O category vehicles,

- Regulation (EU) No 168/2013 in respect of cycles,

and

- Regulation (EU) No 167/2013 in respect of

agricultural tractors

Provided that vehicles designed and constructed

or adapted for use by the Armed Forces of Malta

shall be exempted from this requirement

Provided further that for the following vehicles,

a valid EU individual vehicle approval

certificate shall be accepted in lieu of a

certificate of conformity

(i)

vehicles designed and constructed

for use principally on construction sites or in

quarries, port or airport facilities,

(ii)

vehicles designed and constructed

or adapted for use by civil protection, fire services

and forces responsible for maintaining public

order,

(iii) any self-propelled vehicle designed

and constructed specifically to perform work and

that, because of its construction characteristics, is

not suitable for carrying passengers or for

transporting goods, and that is not machinery

mounted on a motor vehicle chassis,

(iv) vehicles intended exclusively for

racing on roads,

(v)

prototypes of vehicles used on the

road under the responsibility of a manufacturer to

perform a specific test programme provided they

have been specifically designed and constructed

for that purpose,

(b) a valid EC declaration of conformity in accordance with

Directive 2006/42/EC in respect of machinery used on

the road,

(c) Repealed by Legal Notice 265 of 2022.

(d) Repealed by Legal Notice 265 of 2022.

(e) evidence of payment of duties to Customs if the

vehicle is imported from a third country,

(f)

an invoice issued by the manufacturer or by an

authorized agent of the manufacturer showing the cost

of vehicle and, in the case of a goods vehicle or an off-

road vehicle the engine capacity and maximum

authorised mass, and other documents showing the

CIF price,

REGISTRATION AND LICENSING OF MOTOR VEHICLES

(g) a legally valid identification document issued in terms of

the Identity Card and other Identity Documents Act, or

some other legally valid identification document or a

residence permit document issued in terms of the

Immigration Act

Provided that where a new motor vehicle is imported or

brought in permanently by a person for his own use, the application

for the registration of the said motor vehicle together with the

required documents shall be submitted to the Authority within

thirty days following the motor vehicle’s arrival in Malta

Provided further that where such a person, for unjustified

reasons, fails to comply with the preceding proviso, he shall be

liable to an administrative fine of thirty euro (€30) for each day the

vehicle, not being an agricultural tractor, remains not registered on

the expiry of the said thirty days.

(2)

The registration of new vehicles shall only be made -

(a) in the case of a new motor vehicle brought in from a

Member State, upon the presentation of the documents

referred to in sub-regulation (1) and upon payment of -

(i)

a fifteen euro (€15) administrative fee payable to

the Authority,

(ii) the prescribed registration tax in accordance

with the Act, and

(iii) the prescribed VAT in accordance with the Value

Added Tax Act,

(b) in the case of a new motor vehicle imported from a

third country upon the presentation of the documents

referred to in sub-regulation (1) and upon the payment

of -

(i)

a fifteen euro (€15) administrative fee payable to

the Authority,

(ii) the prescribed vehicle registration tax,

(iii) the prescribed import duty in accordance with

the Import Duties Act, and

(iv) the prescribed VAT;

(c) in the case of motor vehicles constructed in Malta not

in low volume upon the presentation of a Certificate of

Conformity in the case of an M1 motor vehicle or a

cycle or a Single Vehicle Approval certificate in the

case of motor vehicles manufactured in low volumes

or in the case of an amateur built motor vehicle,

invoices showing the cost of production of the motor

vehicle excluding VAT and upon the payment of -

(i)

aa fifteen euro (€15) administrative fee payable

to the Authority,

(ii) the prescribed vehicle registration tax, and

(iii) VAT

Provided that where the owner of the vehicle is an exempt

person from the payment of the said vehicle registration tax or from

the payment of duty prescribed under the Import Duties Act, or

from the payment of the prescribed VAT, the registration of the

vehicle shall be made upon the payment of a fifteen euro (€15)

administrative fee payable to the Authority, and the presentation of

the documents referred to in paragraph (c) and sub-regulation (1)

Provided further that where the application for the

registration of a motor vehicle under this regulation is made online,

the administrative fee payable to the Authority under this sub-

regulation shall be of ten euro (€10) and where such application for

registration is made by a motor vehicle importer, agent or dealer on

behalf of the purchaser, the importer, agent or dealer shall give to

the purchaser the original receipt issued by the Authority for the

said payment of the administrative fee. Where an importer, agent or

dealer fails to give the said receipt to the purchaser, he shall be

guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine

(multa) of one hundred euro (€100).

(3) Before registering a motor vehicle under this regulation, the

Authority may require the owner or importer of the said motor

vehicle to produce the vehicle for inspection or to produce other

documentation as necessary. For an inspection there shall be

charged an administrative fee of fifty euro (€50).

(4) A new motor vehicle which has been imported or brought

into Malta may only be used on the road, prior to registration by the

Authority, from the port of entry to the place where it is to be

garaged until it is so registered and licensed, if that vehicle carries

a ‘Trial Run’ plate in accordance with regulation 36.

(5) The provisions of this regulation shall not apply to any

motor vehicle which is the property of any visiting military force.

(1) Where a vehicle chassis, whether new or used, which

has been imported or brought into Malta, is used to replace the

chassis of a motor vehicle which is already registered with the

Authority, the owner of that motor vehicle shall, within seven days,

notify the Authority on the prescribed form of such replacement.

(2) Where a vehicle chassis is replaced by another vehicle

chassis, whether new or used, which is of the same make and

model, no registration tax shall be payable to the Authority.

(3) Where a vehicle chassis is replaced by another vehicle

chassis, whether used or not, which is not of the same make and

model of the replaced vehicle chassis, the payment of registration

tax as prescribed in the First Schedule or the Second Schedule of

the Act, as the case may be, shall be incurred as if the vehicle on

which the replacement vehicle chassis will be fitted is being

brought to tax in Malta in terms of the Act for the first time.

(1) Every used motor vehicle imported or brought into

Malta by a person who is a resident of Malta or has his normal

residence in Malta or has his principal place of business in Malta,

and every rebuilt and amateur built motor vehicle which is

classified as a used vehicle shall be registered with the Authority.

(2) A person who imports or brings into Malta a used motor

vehicle as provided for under this regulation shall file an

application and provide all the relevant documents as provided for

in sub-regulation (4), for the registration of the said vehicle with

the Authority within thirty days from the motor vehicle’s arrival in

Malta.

(3) Where a person, who is not an authorised dealer, fails, for

unjustified reasons, to comply with the preceding sub-regulation he

may be liable to an administrative fine of thirty euro (€30) for each

day that vehicle remains not registered on the expiry of the thirty-

day period referred to in sub-regulation (2)

Provided that no such administrative fine shall be paid

where the vehicle is an agricultural tractor.

(4) For the purpose of registering an imported used motor

vehicle or a used motor vehicle which had been brought into Malta

or a rebuilt motor vehicle or an amateur built vehicle, the owner or

importer or authorized dealer of that vehicle shall be required to

submit to the Authority the Registration Form for Used Vehicles

(VEH 01), duly completed, together with the following documents

(a) a vehicle registration certificate or an export certificate

and, where appropriate, an English or Maltese translation

thereof, issued by the competent authority of the country

from where the vehicle has been registered and imported

or brought into Malta,

(b) in the case of M2, M3, N1, N2, N3, O1, O2, O3 and

O4 vehicles an invoice showing the price, chassis

number, engine capacity and maximum authorised

mass, a declaration of origin and technical data or

specifications,

(c) certificate of roadworthiness issued in terms of the

Motor Vehicle Roadworthiness Test Regulations,

(d) motor insurance policy,

(e) inspection form issued by the Authority upon the

valuation of the vehicle, where applicable,

(f)

Single Vehicle Type approval certificate in the case of

an M1 vehicle or a cycle imported from a third

country, unless such M1 vehicle or cycle has a valid

certificate of conformity

Provided that a used M1 vehicle or a cycle that is

imported into Malta from the United Kingdom on or after

the 1 st January 2021 and that was already registered in

the United Kingdom on or before the 31 st December 2020

shall be exempted from this requirement,

(g) Single Vehicle Type approval certificate based on

standards established by the Authority in the case of

used 4-wheel-drive N1 vehicles with a maximum

authorised mass of up to 3,000 kgs imported from a

third country, unless such vehicles have a valid

certificate of conformity, and in the case of rebuilt or

amateur built motor vehicles

Provided that a used 4-wheel-drive N1 vehicle with a

maximum authorised mass of up to 3,000 kgs that is

imported into Malta from the United Kingdom on or after

the 1st January 2021 and that was already registered in

the United Kingdom on or before the 31st December

2020 shall be exempted from this requirement,,

(h) in the case of M1 and N1 vehicles imported from a

third country, documentation approved by the Authority

and which shows that the vehicle has an authentic

odometer reading,

(i)

in respect of M1 vehicles purchased from another

Member State and brought into Malta on the 1st April,

2011 or thereafter, a documentation approved by the

Authority showing the vehicle’s authentic odometer

reading

Provided that where a Certificate of Authenticity is not

provided, the Authority may always request any

additional documentation besides the documentation

submitted by the applicant and may also carry out any

checks and verifications in order to confirm the

authenticity of the odometer reading

Provided further that the Authority may verify the

odometer reading of any used vehicle brought into

Malta from another Member State on or after the 1st

January, 2010, with any approved body and where it

results that a discrepancy exists between the vehicle’s

actual odometer reading recorded at inspection stage

by the Authority and the authentic certificate, the

registered owner of the vehicle shall pay -

(i)

the additional registration tax due being the

difference between the registration tax paid

upon the registration of the vehicle and the

registration tax which would have been due if

the discrepancy did not exist, and

(ii) an administrative fine, to the Authority, which

shall be equal to the amount of the additional

registration tax as specified under sub-paragraph

(i),

(j) a legally valid identification document issued in terms of

the Identity Card and other Identity Documents Act, or

some other legally valid identification document or a

residence permit document issued in terms of the

Immigration Act;

(k) a document attesting the date of the vehicle’s first

arrival in Malta, together with the fiscal receipt,

bearing the same date, issued in terms of the Value

Added Tax Act specifying the foreign registration

number of the vehicle, both of which are to be issued

by the shipping organization having transported the

vehicle to Malta.

(5) Before registering a used motor vehicle brought into Malta

from another member State, or a rebuilt or amateur built motor

vehicle, the Authority shall carry out a verification to confirm that

the motor vehicle details are consistent with those in the

registration certificate, and to establish the registration value of the

motor vehicle where applicable, for which there shall be charged an

administrative fee of fifty-five euro (€55). The Authority may as

part of that verification, require the owner of the said motor

vehicle, to produce the vehicle for an inspection and, or to produce

other documentation as necessary.

(6) The registration of an imported used motor vehicle or a

used motor vehicle which had been brought into Malta, or a rebuilt

or amateur built motor vehicle shall be made by the Authority

upon -

(a) the payment by the owner, importer or authorized

dealer of an administrative fee of fifteen euro (€15)

payable to the Authority,

(b) the payment by the owner, importer or authorised dealer

of any fines incurred by the motor vehicle in question in

Malta;

(c) the presentation of the documents mentioned in sub-

regulation (4) and upon payment of the prescribed

vehicle registration tax, if the vehicle is acquired from

a Member State, or it is a rebuilt or amateur built

motor vehicle, and

(d) the presentation of the documents mentioned in sub-

regulation (4) and upon payment of the prescribed

import duty under the Import Duties Act, and the

prescribed vehicle registration tax, if the vehicle is

acquired from a third country

Provided that where the application for the registration of a

motor vehicle under this regulation is made online, the

administrative fee payable to the Authority under this sub-

regulation shall be of ten euro (€10) and where such application for

registration is made by a motor vehicle importer, agent or dealer on

behalf of the purchaser, the importer, agent or dealer shall give to

the purchaser the original receipt issued by the Authority for the

payment of the said administrative fee. Where an importer, agent or

dealer fails to give the said receipt to the purchaser, he shall be

guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine

(multa) of one hundred euro (€100)

Provided further that the Authority shall have the right to

refuse the registration of an imported used motor vehicle or of a used

motor vehicle which has been brought into Malta in the event that the

recorded history of such vehicle shows that it had suffered irreparable

damage.

(7) An imported used motor vehicle or a used motor vehicle

which had been brought into Malta may be used on the road, prior

to registration by the Authority, from the port of entry to the place

where it is to be garaged until it is so registered and licensed, and to

and from a garage for repairs thereon if the vehicle, on inspection,

fails the roadworthiness test if that vehicle has a valid registration,

carries the registration plate issued in the country where it had

previously been registered and is covered by an insurance policy.

That vehicle may also be driven if it carries a ‘Trial Run’ plate in

accordance with regulation 36.

(8) Where an imported used motor vehicle or a used motor vehicle

which has been brought into Malta does not satisfy the provisions of

this regulation, or where the Authority has sufficient evidence showing

that such motor vehicle is not safe to be used on the road, the said

motor vehicle shall not be registered and shall be re-exported or

disposed of within such time and under such conditions as the

Authority may determine.

(9) Where the motor vehicle is not re-exported or disposed of

as provided for in sub-regulation (8) or where the motor vehicle has

not been submitted for examination in accordance with the

provisions of sub-regulation (6), the Authority may take possession

of the vehicle and may remove it from the place where it is kept to

a place designated by it, and the owner shall be liable to pay the

Authority a removal fee and a storage fee as established in the

Clamping and Removal of Motor Vehicles and Encumbering

Objects Regulations, and an administrative fine of thirty-five euro

(€35).

(10) Where the Authority, by virtue of this regulation, refuses to

register a vehicle, it shall give notice of its decision to the person

who appears to it to be the owner, importer or authorized dealer of

the vehicle.

(11) Where the Authority refuses to register a motor vehicle, the

person who appears to be the owner, importer or authorized dealer

may appeal to the Administrative Review Tribunal, in accordance

with the procedure laid down under the Administrative Justice Act.

(12) (a) Without prejudice to sub-regulation (9), where the

Authority has reasonable suspicion that a motor

vehicle is on the road in breach of the provisions of

regulation 3, the Authority may take possession of,

remove and store the said vehicle in accordance with

the Clamping and Removal of Motor Vehicles and

Encumbering Objects Regulations, and shall request

the Commissioner of Police to institute criminal

proceedings against the registered owner or possessor

of the same.

(b) Such vehicle shall not be returned to its registered

owner or possessor, unless and until he has been

acquitted by the Court of the alleged offence, or has

remedied his position at law and settled any

registration tax and other fees which may be payable,

including the removal and storage fees stipulated by

the said Clamping and Removal of Motor Vehicles and

Encumbering

Objects

Regulations,

and

an

administrative fee of thirty-five euro (€35).

(c) Acquittal from the charges pressed against the owner

or possessor of the vehicle shall not give rise to a right

to claim damages against the Authority or the

Commissioner of Police, or both, unless it can be

proven that the Authority acted in bad faith when it

requested the removal of the vehicle

Provided that prosecution for the offence in question is

initiated not later than fourteen days after the date of removal, and

where the registered owner or possessor of the vehicle is not

known, the fourteen day period shall commence to run from the day

when the owner or possessor is identified.

(1) A person who has his normal residence in Malta may

apply with the Authority for an exemption in terms of article

18(1)(g) of the Act to make use on the road in Malta of a vehicle

r e g i s t e r e d i n a n o t h e r c o u n t r y f o r a p e r io d n o t ex c e e d i n g a

maximum of thirty consecutive calendar days to be reckoned from

the date of the vehicle’s arrival in Malta.

(2) The application for the said exemption shall be submitted to

the Authority on the prescribed form by not later than one working

day after the arrival of such vehicle in Malta upon -

(a) the payment of an administrative fee of twenty euro

(€20) payable to the Authority; and

(b) the presentation of a valid motor insurance policy and

any other document which may be prescribed by the

Authority

Provided that the thirty day permit shall commence from

the date of the vehicle’s first arrival in Malta.

(3) Where an exemption is granted, the Authority shall issue to

the applicant a temporary licence disc which is to be fixed on the

windscreen of the vehicle or on the left side of the motor cycle,

motor tricycle or quad bike in terms of these regulations.

(4) The temporary licence disc shall indicate the period,

commencing from the date of the vehicle’s first arrival in Malta, for

which such temporary licence shall be valid and the exemption

granted shall cease to have effect upon the expiration of the period

indicated on the temporary licence disc.

(1) Any motor vehicle brought into Malta by a person

residing in Malta or by any person other than a person residing in

Malta and who does not qualify under any of the exemptions

specified in article 18 of the Act from another Member State under

a contract of lease or hire exceeding thirty days shall be registered

with the Authority and shall be subject to the payment of

registration tax in accordance with article 3 of the Act.

(2) Every motor vehicle which is brought into Malta and which

qualifies under any of the exemptions specified in article 18 of the

Act and which continues to be used on the road in Malta following

the expiry of the period for which such motor vehicle has been

exempt shall also be registered with the Authority and shall be

subject to the payment of registration tax in accordance with article

3 of the Act.

(3) A person residing in Malta or a person other than a person

residing in Malta who does not qualify under any of the exemptions

specified in article 18 of the Act who brings into Malta a motor

vehicle from another Member State under a contract of lease or hire

for a period exceeding thirty days shall be required to file an

application with the Authority for the registration of the said motor

vehicle and to provide all the relevant documents as provided for in

sub-regulation (4) within thirty days to be reckoned from the date

of arrival of the said motor vehicle in Malta.

(4) The application shall be submitted to the Authority on the

prescribed form together with the payment of an administrative fee

of fifty euro (€50) and the presentation of the following documents

(a) a document of identification of the applicant;

(b) a vehicle registration certificate and, where

appropriate, an English or Maltese translation of it,

issued by the competent authority of the country from

which the vehicle has been leased or hired or of the

country from which it has been brought into Malta;

(c) a certificate of roadworthiness issued in Malta or in

the Member State from which the vehicle has been

leased or hired or from which it has been brought into

Malta, in the event that such a certificate is required

according to law;

(d) a document issued by the shipping organization having

transported the vehicle to Malta which shows the date

of the vehicle’s first arrival in Malta;

(e) the contract of lease or hire issued by the vehicle hire

undertaking from which the vehicle has been leased or

hired; and

(f)

a motor insurance policy which shall be valid for not

less than one year.

(5) The registration of a motor vehicle brought into Malta from

another Member State under a contract of lease or hire shall be

made by the Authority following the submission of the application,

payment of the administrative fee and production of the documents

referred to in sub-regulation (4) and upon the payment of the

applicable registration tax in terms of the Fifth Schedule to the Act.

(6) Where the Authority, by virtue of this regulation, refuses to

register a motor vehicle which has been brought into Malta from

another Member State under a contract of lease or hire, such motor

vehicle may not be used on the road in Malta beyond the period of

thirty days to be reckoned from the date of arrival of such motor

vehicle as stipulated in sub-regulation (2). In such an event the

applicant may appeal the decision before the Administrative

Review Tribunal in accordance with the procedure laid down under

the Administrative Justice Act.

(7)

(a) Where the Authority has reasonable suspicion that a

motor vehicle brought into Malta from another

Member State under a contract of lease or hire is being

used on the road in Malta beyond the period of thirty

days referred to in sub-regulation (1) without the

holder of the vehicle having filed the application for

registration in terms of these regulations, the Authority

may take possession of, remove and store the said

vehicle in accordance with the Clamping and Removal

o f M o t o r Ve h i c l e s a n d E n c u m b e r i n g O b j e c t s

Regulations, and shall request the Commissioner of

Police to institute criminal proceedings against the

person who has hired or leased the said motor vehicle

and against the person in possession of the vehicle (if

such person is different from the person having hired

or leased the motor vehicle) in terms of article 21 of

the Act.

(b) Such vehicle shall not be returned to the person who

has hired or leased the vehicle or to the possessor of

the said vehicle unless and until such person has been

acquitted by the Court of the alleged offence, or has

remedied his position at law and settled any

registration tax and other fees that may be payable,

including the removal and storage fees stipulated by

the Clamping and Removal of Motor Vehicles and

Encumbering Objects Regulations.

(c) Acquittal from the charges pressed against the person

who has hired or leased the vehicle or is in possession

of the vehicle shall not give rise to a right to claim

damages against the Authority or the Commissioner of

Police, or both, unless it can be proved that the

Authority acted in bad faith when it requested the

removal of the vehicle

Provided that prosecution for the offence in question is

initiated not later than fourteen days after the date of removal, and,

where the person who has leased or hired the vehicle and brought

such vehicle into Malta from another Member State is not known,

the fourteen day period shall commence to run from the day when

such person is identified.

(1) M1 motor vehicles with CO₂ emission levels equal to or

higher than two hundred (200) according to NEDC standard, or two

hundred and twenty (220) or higher according to WLTP standard, and

having an emission level equivalent to the latest European Standard, or

latest European Standard minus one, or latest European Standard

minus two, and motor cycles with an engine capacity equal to or

higher than eight hundred and one (801cc) which are to be registered

for the first time with the Authority may be registered for use on the

road in Malta solely and exclusively on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays,

national holidays and other public holidays

Provided that such vehicles may not be parked on the road

between Monday and Thursday (both days included) and on Friday

before 18:00hrs

Provided further that the Authority may, upon an

application submitted by the owner or the registered user of a

vehicle which has been registered for use on the road in Malta in

terms of this sub-regulation, issue a special permit allowing the use

of such vehicle on the road on a day other than the days stipulated

in this sub-regulation if it deems, in its absolute discretion, that

such use is justified as a result of particular circumstances. The

application is to be submitted to the Authority on the prescribed

form together with an administrative fee of fifty Euro (€50) and the

presentation of such other documentation as may be requested by

the Authority by not later than three working days prior to the day

for which such permit is being sought

Provided further that one special permit within a 365-day

period will be free of charge for each vehicle registered under this

scheme.

(2) The registration of such M1 motor vehicles and motor

cycles under this regulation shall be made upon payment of the

prescribed registration tax in accordance with the Act.

(3) The registration mark allotted by the Authority to M1 motor

vehicles and motor cycles registered in terms of article 8(4) of the

Act is to be displayed on a vehicle registration plate having such

specifications as established in the Second Schedule.

(4) When the owner or registered user of a motor vehicle which

satisfies the criteria and standards referred to in sub-regulation (1), and

which has already been registered for unrestricted use on the road in

Malta on all days of the week, decides to change the registration of the

said vehicle for use on the road in Malta solely and exclusively on

Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays and other public

holidays, he shall be entitled to receive a refund of the licence fee from

the Authority .

(5) Any refund as is referred to in sub-regulation (4) shall be one

or more quarters of the fee paid for the licence which shall correspond

to the complete quarter or quarters of the year or period for which the

licence had been paid as a vehicle registered for unrestricted use on all

days of the week.

(1)

The owner of any authentic and genuine motor

vehicle which is older than thirty (30) years, which shall commence to

run from the date of manufacture, and which satisfies the criteria

established by the Authority for the classification of a vintage vehicle

may apply with the Authority to have the vehicle classified vintage by

the vintage vehicle classification committee as established by the Act

for such motor vehicle, whether it has already been registered in Malta

or whether it has been imported or brought into Malta but has not yet

been registered in Malta, for the vehicle to be classified as an authentic

vintage vehicle

Provided that the registration value of a motor caravan or

a motor home shall not, in any case, be less than twenty thousand euro

(€20,000).

(2)

An application for a vehicle which is already registered

in Malta shall be submitted to the Authority on the prescribed form

together with the payment of an administrative fee of two hundred and

fifty euro (€250) and the submission of such documents as may be

prescribed by the Authority from time to time

Provided that when such application is accepted and the

vehicle is classified as an authentic vintage vehicle, part of the said

administrative fee paid in the amount of two hundred euro (€200) shall

be refunded to the applicant.

(3)

The application of an imported vehicle shall be submitted

to the Authority on the prescribed form together with the payment of

an administrative fee of one hundred and five euro (€105) and the

submission of such documents as may be prescribed by the Authority

from time to time.

(4)

The Authority shall have the right to carry out a physical

inspection of all vehicles for which an application has been made prior

to the approval or rejection of an application for a vehicle to be

classified as an authentic vintage vehicle.

(5)

(a)

All vehicles which are classified as authentic

vintage vehicles by the vintage vehicle classification committee shall

be subject to re-classification every five (5) years in order to confirm

the continued compliance with the established vintage vehicle criteria

of the Authority from time to time

Provided that vehicles classified as vintage and aged fifty

(50) years or more shall be exempt from the re-classification

requirement provided that a valid certificate issued by an accredited

vintage vehicle certification body is submitted to the Authority.

(b)

Applications for the re-classification of a vintage vehicle

shall be submitted on the prescribed form at least three (3) months

prior to the expiry of the circulation licence when such re-

classification is required in accordance with paragraph (a), together

with the payment of an administrative fee of twenty-five euro (€25)

and the submission of such documents as may be prescribed by the

Authority from time to time.

(6)

(a)

All vehicles falling under categories M, N or L

which are brought or imported from a third country shall require a

Single Vehicle Approval certificate for registration purposes

Provided that for vehicles intended to be classified as

vintage, the importer may, instead of a Single Vehicle Approval

certificate, submit a valid vintage authentication certificate issued by

an accredited vintage vehicle certification body to confirm that the

vehicle is vintage.

(b)

Upon importation, the importer or authorised motor

vehicle dealer shall be obliged to pay to the Authority the full

registration tax applicable to the imported vehicle

Provided that in case that the vehicle is classified by the

vintage vehicle classification committee as an authentic vintage

vehicle, the importer or authorised motor vehicle dealer shall be

entitled to a refund from the Authority of a sum corresponding to the

difference between the original registration tax paid and the

registration tax actually payable for the said vehicle classified as an

authentic vintage vehicle.

(c)

The minimum registration tax shall not apply to vehicles

that are over thirty (30) years at the time of importation and which

shall be submitted for vintage certifications.

(7) The registration mark allotted by the Authority to vehicles

which are registered as vintage vehicles in accordance with article 25

of the Act is to be displayed on a vehicle registration plate having such

specifications as established in the Second Schedule.

(1) On registering a motor vehicle, the Authority shall

issue to the owner a registration certificate containing such

particulars relating to the vehicle in conformity with Directive

1999/37/EC, as amended, on the registration documents for

vehicles.

(2) When the owner of a motor vehicle has been given the

registration certificate, he or she shall cause such document to be

kept at all times within the said vehicle while it is being used on the

road once such motor vehicle is licensed in accordance with these

regulations.

(1) The Authority shall set up and maintain a register to be

known as the Registered Users of Motor Vehicles Register.

(2)

The owner of a motor vehicle who does not make regular

use of a motor vehicle which is registered in his name may, where such

motor vehicle is habitually used by another person and/or company,

apply with the Authority to register the said vehicle in the said register.

(3)

In the register there shall be registered the make, model

and registration number of the motor vehicle, the name, surname,

address and identification number of the owner and/or company and

the name, surname, address and identification number of the registered

user, that is, the person and/or company who habitually makes use of

the said motor vehicle.

(4)

The application shall be filed on the form and according

to such procedures which may be established by the Authority from

time to time and shall bear the signature of both the registered owner

as well as the registered user of the motor vehicle.

(5)

Upon registration of the motor vehicle in the register, the

Authority shall issue to the registered user a declaration confirming

that he is the registered user of the motor vehicle in question and that

he is duly registered as the registered user thereof in the register.

(6)

For such time as he is so registered in the register, the

registered user of a motor vehicle shall, for all effects and purposes at

law, carry all duties and responsiblities in relation to such motor

vehicle which were previously borne by the owner of the said motor

vehicle.

(7)

The registration of a person and/or company as a

registered user of a motor vehicle in the register shall be cancelled

when an application to such effect is filed by the owner and the

registered user bearing the signature of both on the form and according

to such procedures which may be established by the Authority from

time to time.

(8)

Furthermore, the registration of a person and/or company

as a registered user of a motor vehicle shall automatically be cancelled

in any of the following events

(i)

if the motor vehicle is transferred by the owner to

the registered user or to a third party;

(ii)

if the motor vehicle is garaged or de-registered.

(9) Where a request for the removal of the name of a person and/

or company from the register as the registered user of a motor vehicle

is submitted to the Authority either by the owner or by the registered

user but not under the signature of both parties, the Authority shall

proceed to remove the registered user from the register with regard to

such motor vehicle when the request is made by means of a sworn

declaration confirming that the registered user of the motor vehicle no

longer makes habitual use of the motor vehicle in question. Such a

request is to be made on the form and against such payment as may be

established by the Authority from time to time and the removal of the

name of the registered user from the register shall be communicated by

the Authority to the other concerned party by means of registered mail.

No motor vehicle shall be driven on the road unless its

driver carries with him the relative registration certificate of that

vehicle, which certificate that perso n sh all prod uce to any

authorised inspecting officer, on demand

Provided that, with regard to a motor vehicle which is

registered in the register established by virtue of regulation 7A, the

registered user thereof shall be obliged, in addition to the registration

certificate, also to carry with him the declaration issued by the

Authority in terms of sub-regulation (5) of regulation 7A, which

declaration he shall be obliged to produce to any authorised inspecting

officer on demand.

Where any alteration is made to a motor vehicle that affects

the particulars in the registration certificate in respect of that

vehicle, including a change in colour of the vehicle, the owner of

the vehicle shall inform the Authority of such alteration on the

applicable form and at the same time deliver to the Authority the

registration certificate for amendment as may be necessary. There

shall be charged an administration fee of ten euro (€10) for the

issue of duplicate registration certificate.

Where a motor vehicle, registered under these regulations,

is garaged, scrapped, destroyed, dismantled, irreparably damaged,

lost or permanently removed from Malta, the owner shall forthwith

notify the Authority and surrender to the said Authority the

vehicle’s registration certificate

Provided that where the registration certificate of a motor

vehicle is surrendered by the owner to the Authority, in the event that

such motor vehicle was also registered in the register established by

virtue of regulation 7A, the Authority shall de-register the said motor

vehicle from the said register.

On a change of name and surname or residential address

the owner of a motor vehicle shall forthwith inform the Authority

and deliver to the Authority the vehicle registration certificate for

the necessary amendment. There shall be charged an administration

fee of ten euro (€10) for the issue of duplicate registration

certificate

Provided that where a motor vehicle is registered in the

register established by virtue of regulation 7A, on a change of name

and surname or residential address of the registered user, the owner

shall forthwith inform the Authority and deliver to the Authority the

registered user declaration for the necessary amendment in the register.

(1) The Authority shall set up and maintain a register in

which it shall record electronically data on all vehicles registered

and licensed in accordance with these regulations.

(2)

That data shall include the following

(a) all mandatory elements in accordance with point II.5

of Annex I of Directive 1999/37/EC, as well as the

elements of points II.6(J) and II.6(V.7) and (V.9) of

that Annex, where the data are available;

(b) other non-mandatory data listed in Annex I or data

from the certificate of conformity as provided for in

Directive 2007/46/EC, where possible;

(c) the outcome of periodic roadworthiness tests in

accordance with the Motor Vehicle (Roadworthiness

Test) Regulations and the period of validity of the

roadworthiness certificate;

(d) the validity of the licence issued in accordance with

Part III of these regulations;

(e) the details of the registered owner of the motor vehicle

and, where the motor vehicle is also registered in the

register established by virtue of regulation 7A, the details

of the registered user of the motor vehicle.

(3) The Authority may disclose any particulars contained in the

register available to the Police or community officers or judicial

authority or any other authority responsible for vehicle registration

or for the enforcement of motor vehicles regulations in another

M e m b e r St a t e f o r a n y p u r p o s e c o n n e c t e d w i t h o ff e n c e s o r

contraventions of traffic and motor vehicle regulations, or to any

person who can show to the satisfaction of the said Authority that

he or she has reasonable cause for wanting the particulars to be

made available to him or her.

(4) The processing of personal data in the context of these

regulations shall be carried out in accordance with Directives 95/

46/EC and 2002/58/EC of the European Parliament and of the

Council.

(5) Technical vehicle data shall be made available to VRT stations

for the purpose of periodic roadworthiness testing.

Part III

LICENSING OF MOTOR VEHICLES

(1) A circulation licence fee shall be due on the licensing

of a motor vehicle registered under these regulations and a

circulation permit fee shall be due on motor vehicles brought into

Malta from another Member State under a contract of lease or hire

and registered in terms of the Act

Provided that a vehicle registered in another country may

be on the road, whether parked or in use, for a period not exceeding

a maximum of thirty consecutive calendar days to be reckoned

from the date of the vehicle’s arrival in Malta on condition that the

said vehicle displays a valid temporary licence disc issued by the

Authority in terms regulation 6A(3).

(2) No motor vehicle may be on the road, whether parked or in

use, without a valid circulation licence, or a circulation permit or a

temporary licence disc, as applicable, issued by the Authority, unless

the motor vehicle is an exempt vehicle under the provisions of the Act.

(3) A motor vehicle shall only be licensed by the Authority to

be used on the road if that vehicle is covered by a certificate of

registration and an insurance policy in respect of third-party risks

i n c o m p l i a n c e w i t h t h e r e q u i r e m en t s o f t h e Mo t o r Ve h i c l e

Insurance (Third-Party Risks) Ordinance.

(4) The owner of a motor vehicle who desires to obtain a

circulation licence for that vehicle shall make an application on the

prescribed form issued by the Authority. The said application may

be signed by the owner or by a duly authorised agent acting on his

behalf or by the registered user.

(1) Upon the receipt by the Authority of an application for

a licence as provided for in regulation 13 and after the Authority

ensures that the applicant satisfies all other requirements and upon

payment by the owner or registered user of the relevant circulation

licence fee as provided for in the Fourth Schedule to the Act, the

Authority may issue to the owner or registered user of any motor

vehicle a licence disc in respect of such vehicle.

(2) The licence disc referred to in the preceding sub-regulation

shall bear the identification mark of the vehicle and the expiry date

of the licence.

(3) The owner or registered user of any motor vehicle which has

been once licensed shall see that, subject to the other provisions of

t h e s e r eg u l a t i o n s r e g a r d i n g th e su sp e n s i o n , w i t h d r a w a l o r

cancellation of licences, such vehicle is always and at all times

covered by a licence issued by the Authority

Provided that if the owner or registered user of a motor

vehicle, prior to the lapse of the validity of the relative licence,

informs in writing the said Authority that the vehicle is not going to

be used on the road for a period of time beginning on the date of the

said lapse and is going to be garaged in a specified place during the

said period of non-use, and provided also that the said owner or

registered user will hand over to the said Authority the relative

certificate of the motor vehicle and the number plates of the

relative motor vehicle, the said owner or registered user shall not be

bound to renew the relative licence in respect of the said period of

time.

(4) Where the owner of a motor vehicle, licensed by the

Authority, fails to renew the applicable licence for that vehicle

within three months from the expiry of the said licence, he shall be

liable to an administrative fine, payable to the Authority, of ten

euro (€10) for each month the applicable licence fee remains

unpaid up to a maximum of not more than one hundred euro (€100),

notwithstanding any other action which may be taken in terms of

the Clamping and Removal of Motor Vehicles and Encumbering

Objects Regulations

Provided that in the case of a motor vehicle registered in the

register established by virtue of regulation 7A , the registered user and

not the owner shall be liable for the payment of the administrative fine.

(5) Where a motor vehicle is on the road without having a

licence disc, the Commissioner of Police or a Local Council may

remove such vehicle from the road as provided for in the Clamping

a n d R e m o v a l o f M o t o r Ve h i c l e s a n d E n c u m b e r i n g O b j e c t s

Regulations.

No motor vehicle shall be registered and licensed to be

used for the conveyance of corpses unless the motor vehicle is

constructed in such form and is provided with such furniture,

fittings and lamps as may be directed by the Director General

Health Division.

The circulation licence fees for the various classes of

motor vehicles are those fixed in the Fourth Schedule to the Act.

(1) A vehicle which is classified as a vintage vehicle by

the vintage vehicle classification committee shall be exempt from

the payment of a circulation licence fee and in lieu the

administrative fee established in the Fourth Schedule to the Act

shall apply.

(2)

In the event that, upon the renewal of its circulation

licence after having undergone a vehicle roadworthiness test, it results

that a vintage vehicle has registered three-thousand kilometres (3,000

km) or more on its odometer in one (1) year since the last renewal of

its circulation licence, or an average of three-thousand kilometres

(3,000 km) or more per year with regard to such vehicles which

undergo a vehicle roadworthiness test once every two (2) years, then,

in addition to the administrative fee established in the Fourth Schedule

to the Act, the owner of the said vehicle shall also be obliged to pay

the circulation licence fee established in the Fourth Schedule to the

Act for such year or years during which the said vehicle had registered

three thousand kilometres (3,000 km) or more on its odometer in one

(1) year or an average of three thousand kilometres (3,000 km) or more

per year with regard to such vehicles which undergo a vehicle

roadworthiness test once every two (2) years

Provided that, nevertheless, such vehicle shall not lose its

status as a vintage vehicle and shall continue to pay solely the

administration fee established in the Fourth Schedule to the Act

unless, upon renewal of the circulation licence, it results that the owner

thereof shall also be obliged to pay the circulation licence fee

established in the Fourth Schedule to the Act as a result of the fact that

such vintage vehicle has registered three thousand kilometres (3,000

km) or more in one (1) year or an average of three thousand kilometres

(3,000 km) or more per year if it is a vehicle which undergoes a

roadworthiness test once every two (2) years.

(3)

The owner of a vintage vehicle who wants to travel

abroad with the said vehicle may apply with the Authority in order for

the mileage which shall be registered on the odometer of the said

vehicle during such time that the vintage vehicle is being driven

outside Malta not to be computed in the calculation of such vehicle’s

mileage for the purpose of sub-regulation (2).

(4)

Such application is to be submitted, free of charge, on

such form as may be prescribed by the Authority from time to time

together with photographic evidence showing the mileage on such

vehicle’s odometer on a date which shall not be earlier than ten

calendar days prior to the date of departure as well as documentary

evidence which shows that the said vehicle shall be taken abroad. The

said document must indicate the date of departure, the registration

number of the vehicle and the details of its registered owner, and the

applicant shall be obliged to provide the Authority with photographic

evidence of the mileage on such vehicle’s odometer upon its return to

Malta

Provided that the vintage vehicle classification

committee established under the Act shall have the right to make

physical inspections of any vehicle with regard to which an application

in terms of sub-regulation (4) is submitted, both prior to its departure

from Malta as well as after its return to Malta in order to verify and

confirm the veracity of the declarations made by the applicant with

regards to the mileage on the vehicle’s odometer.

(5) Motor vehicles of fifty (50) years and over and motorcycles

which have been classified as vintage by the vintage vehicle

classification committee shall continue to be exempt from the payment

of a circulation licence fee and shall only be subject to the payment of

the administrative fee established in the Fourth Schedule to the Act,

irrespective of any mileage considerations.

(1) The licence disc issued in respect of a vehicle shall be

carried on the vehicle at all times when the vehicle is used, parked

or otherwise kept at any time in a public place.

(2)

(a) In every motor vehicle fitted with a glass windscreen

the licence disc shall be fixed in a frame on the left

hand side of the windscreen in such a position as to be

visible from the front; and

(b) in the case of a motor cycle, motor tricycle, quad bike

or invalid carriage the licence disc shall be fixed on

the left side of the vehicle.

(3) The provisions of sub-regulation (2) shall not apply to any

motor vehicle assigned to a Government Minister and bearing,

instead of its identification number, the letters G.M.

The owner, or registered user, driver and, or person in

charge of a motor vehicle shall be responsible to ensure that the

said licence disc is constantly kept in such a state as to make its

contents easily legible.

Where any person applies for the renewal of, or for the

transfer of any licence in respect of a motor vehicle, he shall give,

if so requested by the Authority, such details as to the motor

vehicle as shall be contained in a form supplied to him for the

purpose by the said Authority.

Saving the provisions of regulation 25, the licence issued

in respect of a particular motor vehicle shall not be used for any

other motor vehicle and shall be subject to any regulations in force

when the licence is issued. These licences shall only be issued in

the name of one person.

(1) Licences granted under these regulations are to be

renewed annually upon the payment of the relevant fee as provided

for in the Fourth Schedule to the Act and the presentation of a copy

of the vehicle insurance policy.

(2) Where the registered owner of the motor vehicle, prior to

the lapse of the validity of the vehicle licence, informs the

Authority that the vehicle is not going to be used on the road and is

going to be garaged during the said period of non-use, and provided

that the said owner hands over to the Authority the certificate of

registration and plates of the relative motor vehicle, the licence of

that the vehicle vehicle may not be renewed after its expiry date

until that time that it remains kept in a garage. The Authority shall

return to the owner the registration certificate and plates of the

vehicle upon the renewal of the licence of the said vehicle

Provided that the registered owner shall be obliged to provide

the Authority with a written declaration indicating the address where

the said motor vehicle shall be kept garaged.

(3)

(a) A refund in respect of the licence fee shall be allowed

by the Authority if it is proved to its satisfaction that

that vehicle as been scrapped or garaged or has been

stolen and not recovered during the currency of the

relative licence or has been exported and has not been

re-imported or brought into Malta during the currency

of the relative licence.

(b) Any refund as is referred to in paragraph (a) shall be

one or more quarters of the fee paid for the licence

which shall correspond to the complete quarter or

quarters of the year or period for which the licence had

been issued during which year or period the vehicle

had been scrapped, stolen or exported.

(4)

(a) Where the licence of a motor vehicle on resale expires

while the vehicle is still in the possession of an

authorised dealer, the licence may not be renewed until

the vehicle remains in the possession of the said

dealer

Provided that, the said vehicle shall not be used on the

public highway until that time that its licence is

renewed.

(b) The licence of a motor vehicle on resale shall be

renewed upon the transfer of the vehicle from the

authorized dealer to the purchaser and there shall be

paid the licence fee applicable to that vehicle from the

date of transfer.

(1) A motor vehicle licence may be withdrawn if the

vehicle is declared to be unfit for use on the road. The said licence

shall be returned or, if lapsed, renewed when the motor vehicle is

put in order to the satisfaction of the Authority.

(2) The motor vehicle licence may also be withdrawn by an

order made by the competent court or tribunal.

(3) Licences granted under these regulations shall be liable to

be cancelled or suspended by the Authority for a period not

exceeding one month where this cancellation or suspension is

required in the interest of public safety or public order.

(4) Where the licence of a particular vehicle has been

suspended in accordance with regulation 18E(5) of the Motor

Vehicle (Roadworthiness Test) Regulations, that suspension shall

be recorded electronically in the register and shall be effective until

the vehicle has passed a new roadworthiness test. On successful

completion of the roadworthiness test, the Authority shall without

delay remove the suspension and re-authorise the use of the vehicle

on the road.

(5) If a licensee of a motor vehicle makes use of the said motor

vehicle or allows or permits any other person to make use of the

said motor vehicle during the time the motor vehicle licence has

been suspended, the licence may be liable to cancellation.

(6) Where the Authority suspends or withdraws a licence of a

motor vehicle, the person who appears to be the owner may appeal

to the Administrative Review Tribunal, in accordance with the

procedure laid down under the Administrative Justice Act.

Any motor vehicle licensed for the transport of passengers

a g a i n s t h i r e o r r e w a r d m a y b e su s p e n d e d i f a n y a l t e r a t i o n

whatsoever, made in any form, is carried out on any vehicle

engaged in passenger transport for hire or reward without the

approval of the Authority

Provided that in special cases and in special circumstances

the Authority may depart from this provision.

The owner , and, or registered user, and, or person in charge

of a motor vehicle shall not allow or permit the said motor vehicle

to be used for purposes other than those for which the said vehicle

is specifically licensed.

Part IV

GENERAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO REGISTRATION

AND LICENSING OF MOTOR VEHICLES

(1) Where a licence disc or registration certificate of a

motor vehicle has been, or may have been, lost, destroyed, stolen or

defaced, or contains any particulars which have become illegible,

the owner or registered user of the vehicle shall apply to the

Authority for the issuance of a duplicate licence or duplicate

registration certificate, as the case may be.

(2) The application for the issuance of a duplicate licence or

duplicate registration certificate shall be accompanied by a fee of

ten euro (€10), together with the licence disc or registration

certificate to be replaced if the reason for replacement is that it has

been defaced or contains any particulars which have become

illegible.

(3) The Authority shall issue a duplicate licence disc or a

duplicate registration certificate of a motor vehicle if it is satisfied

that the licence disc or registration certificate, as the case may be,

has been lost, destroyed, stolen or defaced

Provided that the said Authority may, before issuing any

such duplicate, require a declaration from the owner or registered

user of the vehicle to prove such loss, destruction, theft or

defacement. An administrative fee of eight euro (€8) shall be

charged by the Authority for such a declaration.

(4) If the duplicate licence disc or duplicate registration

certificate has been issued on the grounds that the original licence

disc or the registration certificate has been, or may have been, lost

or stolen, and the original licence or original registration certificate

is subsequently found or recovered, the owner or registered user or

person who found the said document shall forthwith return the

original licence disc or original registration certificate to the

Authority.

(1) The Authority shall issue to the owner of a new motor

vehicle purchased in Malta for export purposes a provisional

registration certificate, registration plate and licence disc if the

owner of that motor vehicle is to drive that vehicle out of Malta and

to its destination outside Malta

Provided that the amount of licence fee payable in respect

of that vehicle shall be at the rate of twelve per cent of the annual

licence fee applicable to that vehicle for every month of the

licensing period. Such licensing period shall not be less than a

month.

(2) The Authority may issue provisional registration plates and

licence discs for new motor vehicles to be licensed in the name of

diplomatic representations or in the name of members of staff of

diplomatic missions in Malta, without the need to register those

vehicles in accordance with Part II of these regulations

Provided that such provisional registration plates and licence

discs shall only be valid in Malta for a period of one year, which may

be renewed annually thereafter. The provisional registration plates and

licence discs shall be returned to the Authority prior to the vehicles

being exported or taken out of Malta.

(1) Any person who agrees to sell, or sells, or otherwise

disposes of his or her motor vehicle shall, within seven days, give

notice of the disposal of the vehicle to the Authority, including the

name and address of the person who buys, or agrees to buy, the said

motor vehicle and shall also deliver to the Authority the relative

registration certificate.

(2)

(a) Any person who sells, or otherwise transfers to another

person any motor vehicle, shall complete and deliver to

the Authority the Transfer of Vehicle Form of the

registration certificate. The Authority shall then

license the vehicle in the name of the new owner and it

shall issue a new registration certificate to the new

owner.

(b) The new registration certificate shall be issued to the

new owner upon the payment of an administrative fee

of ten euro (€10).

(3) The Authority may, for reasons of public interest, withhold

the transfer of a passenger transport vehicle

Provided that where the Authority withholds such transfer,

the person who appears to be the registered owner or the

prospective owner may appeal to the Administrative Review

Tribunal, in accordance with the procedure laid down under

Administrative Justice Act.

(4) The sale or transfer of a motor vehicle shall imply the

transfer of the motor vehicle but the original licensee shall for all

intents and purposes of law remain responsible until such licensee

has complied with sub-regulation (1) and the notice by such

licensee so given shall have been found by the Authority to be true

and correct.

(5) An M2 or an M3 vehicle registered and licensed to be used

for the carriage of passengers for hire or reward may not be sold or

transferred separately from its licence to another person, nor may a

licence in respect of such a vehicle be transferred separately from

the vehicle to which it refers

Provided that the Authority shall not allow the transfer of

any M2 or M3 vehicle registered and licensed to be used for the

carriage of passengers for hire or reward or of the relative licence if

the price or other compensation payable by the transferee in respect

of such transfer is not deemed to be fair and reasonable.

(6) The sale or transfer of a passenger transport vehicle shall

not be construed to imply the transfer of an Operator’s Licence

issued under the Passenger Transport Services Regulations.

(7) The sale or transfer of a passenger transport vehicle shall

not be construed to imply the transfer of an Operator’s Licence

issued under the Passenger Transport Services Regulations and the

Light Passenger Transport Services and Vehicle Hire Services

Regulations.

(8) A motor vehicle may not be sold or transferred by a registered

user but only by the owner thereof.

(1) Where it is intended to use a vehicle in respect of

which a licence is in force in a condition or manner or for a purpose

which would, if it was used solely in that condition or manner or

for that purpose, render it chargeable with a registration tax at a

rate higher than that at which tax has been paid, the owner shall

return to the Authority the licence disc and registration certificate

issued in respect of the vehicle and shall make an application on the

prescribed form to the Authority for a new licence disc appropriate

to the new condition, manner or purpose.

(2) The Authority shall issue a new licence disc and

registration certificate upon the payment by the owner of the

vehicle to the Authority of the balance in the amount of registration

tax which would have been paid on the basis of the new condition,

manner or purpose.

(3) A motor vehicle which has been registered as an M1 vehicle

shall not be converted into an N1 vehicle.

Part V

REGISTRATION AND LICENSING

OF GOVERNMENT VEHICLES

Applications for the registration and licensing under these

regulations of vehicles to be kept and used by Government

Ministries or Government Departments or the Armed Forces of

Malta shall be made to the Authority as follows

(a) in the case of Government Ministries, by the Director

of Corporate Services;

(b) in the case of Government Departments by the

Directors or Heads of the said Departments, as the case

may be;

(c) in the case of the Armed Forces of Malta by the

Commander of the Armed Forces or his representative.

Part VI

MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION MARKS

(1) On being registered, a motor vehicle shall be allotted

by the Authority a registration mark and a licence disc, provided

that if the licence of that vehicle is not renewed by the date fixed

for the yearly renewal, the Authority may order the cancellation of

such registration mark and its allocation to any other motor vehicle.

(2) The registration mark may take any of the special numeric,

special alphabetical or special alphanumeric formats specified in

the First Schedule and can be composed of up to a maximum of

nine characters.

(3) Registration marks in the Alphanumeric Format, the

Special Numeric Format and the Special Alphabetical Format shall

be made available to the public in such manner as the Authority

may from time to time establish by means of a notice in the

Gazette.

(4)

(a) Random Standard Alphanumeric Format registration

marks shall not be transferred independently from the

vehicle to which they are allocated.

(b) Personalised

Standard

Alphanumeric

Format

registration marks shall be transferable independently

from the vehicle to which they are allocated.

(c) A transfer of registration marks other than those

mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b), may be effected

independently of the transfer of the relative vehicle

upon the fulfilment of the necessary procedure as may

be prescribed by the Authority and the payment of a

transfer fee of four hundred and sixty-six euro (€466)

payable to the said Authority

Provided that any transfer causa mortis as well as any

transfer inter vivos in favour of spouses, ascendants and

direct collaterals shall be exempt from the payment of

the four hundred and sixty-six euro (€466) referred to

in this paragraph

Provided further that any transfer by a company in favour

of a physical person who is a director or majority

shareholder of the said company, or vice versa, shall be

exempt from the payment of the four hundred and sixty-

six euro (€466) referred to in this paragraph.

(5) A motor vehicle without a registration mark assigned to it

under these regulations shall be deemed an unregistered vehicle

Provided that the Authority may, in its discretion, permit

the use of the motor vehicle with an identification mark either in

addition to or in lieu of a registration mark. Such identification

mark shall not be used on any other motor vehicle other than the

one in respect of which its use has been so permitted.

(1) Registration marks allotted to vehicles used for hire or

for reward shall include the following Roman Alphabet letters

followed by three numbers

(i)

a letter followed by the letters BUS in the case of

route buses;

(ii) a letter followed by the letters PY in the case of

passenger transport vehicles other than route

buses;

(iii) a letter followed by the letters LY in the case of

light passenger transport vehicles;

(iv) a letter followed by the letters XY in the case of

vintage buses;

(v) the letters TAXI M followed by three numerical

figures in respect of taxis operated in Malta;

(vi) the letters TAXI G followed by three numerical

figures in respect of taxis operated in Gozo;

(vii)

the letters CABS in the case of electric mini

cabs;

(viii) a letter followed by the letters QZ in the case of

motor vehicles used for hire or leasing;

(ix) a letter followed by the letters HQ in the case of

vehicles used for the carriage of goods by

hauliers operating nationally;

(x)

the letters HRS in the case of motor hearses;

(xi)

a letter followed by the letters OY in respect of

open-top buses;

(xii)

a letter followed by the letters RY in respect of

trackless trains;

(xiii) the letters TEY in respect of electric trolley

vehicles;

(xiv) the letters MHY in respect of Malta heritage

buses; and

(xv) the letters CSH in respect of car sharing vehicles.

(2) Motor vehicles registered and licensed in the name of a

Government Department shall be allotted registration marks with

the three Roman Alphabet letters GVH followed by three numbers

in the case of heavy vehicles and the letters GVN followed by three

numbers in the case of other vehicles.

(3) Motor vehicles registered and licensed in the name of the

Police Department shall be allotted registration marks with the

three Roman Alphabet letters GVP followed by three numbers.

(4) Motor vehicles registered and licensed in the name of the

Armed Forces of Malta shall be allotted registration marks with the

three Roman Alphabet letters GVA followed by three numbers.

(5) Motor vehicles registered and licensed in the name of

diplomatic representations in Malta shall be allotted registration

marks with the letters CD followed by another letter and three

numbers.

(6) Motor vehicles registered and licensed in the name of

members of the staff of diplomatic missions shall be allotted

registration marks with the letters DMS followed by three numbers.

(7) The registration marks for N1 vehicles with a seating capacity

of not more than two persons shall be a letter followed by the letters

GV and three numbers.

(1) The Authority shall give to the licensee of any motor

vehicle two registration plates bearing the registration mark in

respect of his or her vehicle against payment of the cost of such

plates as provided for in the First Schedule.

(2) Besides the registration mark, the plate shall also bear the

international distinguishing sign of Malta in accordance with

Council Regulation (EC) No 2411/98 on the recognition in intra-

Community traffic of the distinguishing signs of the Member States

in which motor vehicles and their trailers are registered.

(3) No other letter, number, mark or sign, except those

authorised by the Authority shall be permitted on the registration

plate.

(4) When such new plates are given to a licensee, such licensee

shall cause them to be imm ediately securely affi xed to the

satisfaction of the Authority on the vehicle to which they refer, one

fixed vertically on the front and one on the rear of the vehicle in

such a position that every letter and figure on the plate is upright,

easily visible and distinguishable

Provided that where the vehicle is towing a trailer or more

trailers, the plate behind the vehicle shall be fixed on the rear of the

trailer or the rearmost trailer as the case may be

Provided further that in the case of a motor cycle or motor

tricycle the registration plate shall only be fixed at the rear of the

vehicle.

(5) No plates may be affixed to any motor vehicle unless such

plates have been issued by the Authority and they refer to and

belong to that particular vehicle.

(6) Any such registration plates obtained from the Authority on

payment of the appropriate fee shall belong to the said Authority

and shall be returned to the said Authority if and when the vehicle

has been garaged for a period of time, scrapped or has been

permanently exported. New plates shall only be re-issued for

vehicles which had been so garaged upon the payment of the

stipulated fee.

(7) Any motor vehicle standing or plying not having the plates

referred to in sub-regulation (1) or plates issued by any other

competent authority in the case of vehicles brought temporarily

into Malta shall be deemed to be an unlicensed vehicle.

The registration mark and plate of a motor vehicle shall not

be obstructed from clear view by bumpers or other attachments,

and shall be kept clear of mud or dust and easily decipherable

Provided that the owners of such vehicles which have no

place on the front part of the vehicle where the registration plate may

be affixed shall have the right to apply with the Authority in order to

be issued with an alternative registration plate or sticker. The cost of

such plate or sticker shall be in accordance with the First Schedule.

The registration plate referred to in regulation 32 of these

regulations shall conform with the provisions set out in the Second

Schedule.

Where the motor vehicle is being used on a public highway

between sunset and sunrise the registration plate fixed on the rear

of the vehicle, or on the rear of a trailer or the rearmost trailer, as

the case may be, must be lit by a lamp so that it is easily

distinguishable.

(1) The Authority may issue to authorised dealers ‘Trial

Run’ plates for motor vehicles which have not yet been registered

and licensed, for a period of one year , upon the payment to the

Authority of a fee of fifty euro (€50) and the presentation of the

licence to act as a vehicle trader or dealer issued under the Police

Licences Regulations

Provided that such Trial Run plates shall not be issued for

motor vehicles registered for use on the road in Malta in terms of

regulation 6C(1).

(2) ‘Trial Run’ plates, having black numbers on a white

background, shall be used only by licensed motor vehicle traders

and dealers.

(3) Two ‘Trial Run’ plates shall be used, one in the front and

another in the rear of the vehicle

Provided that, when two or more vehicles are being driven

in convoy, one such plate shall be displayed at the front of the

foremost vehicle and another at the rear of the rearmost vehicle.

(4) No ‘Trial Run’ plates other than those issued and stamped

by the Authority may be used.

(5) Where ‘Trial Run’ plates are issued to a licensed vehicle

trader or dealer, a representative of the person to whom such plates

have been issued shall be present in the vehicle on which the ‘Trial

Run’ plates are used, and when two or more vehicles are being

driven in convoy, such representative shall be present in any one of

those vehicles.

(6)

‘Trial Run’ plates may only be used

(a) on imported motor vehicles or vehicles brought into

Malta for sale or for exhibition purposes;

(b) on locally produced motor vehicles while those

vehicles are being test driven or driven from the

garage, factory or any other place where they had been

produced to the place where they are to be kept until

such vehicles are licensed under regulation 14;

(c) on motor vehicles in the custody of a motor vehicle

trader or dealer, for purpose of sale, or on motor

vehicles purchased by a motor vehicle trader or dealer,

the licences of which vehicles have expired;

(d) on motor vehicles which are being driven from a

garage, a factory or other place where the vehicle is

kept, to the docks for shipment of such vehicle

intended to be exported.

(7) ‘Trial Run’ plates shall not be used for any purpose other

than for trial trips or for testing purposes.

(8) ‘Trial Run’ plates shall not be used on Sundays or public

holidays unless specially authorised by the Authority.

(9) A deposit of fifty euro (€50) a each set of ‘Trial Run’ plates

shall be made on the withdrawal of such plates from the Authority.

(10) In case of loss of, or damage to, any of the said plates, the

licensee shall forfeit the deposit for each plate lost or returned in

such a damaged condition as to be unfit for use.

(11) The Authority may withdraw any ‘Trial Run’ plates issued

to an authorised dealer where the dealer has committed a breach of

any of the conditions set down in this regulation.

(12) Where ‘Trial Run’ plates are withdrawn by the Authority,

the authorised dealer shall be obliged to return the plates to the

Authority by not later than two working days from the date of

notification of the notice of withdrawal of the ‘Trial Run’ plates.

(13) Any authorised dealer who contravenes sub-regulation (12)

shall be guilty of an offence.

(14) Any authorised dealer from whom ‘Trial Run’ plates issued by

the Authority have been withdrawn may not apply for the issuance of

new ‘Trial Run’ plates before the lapse of six months from such

withdrawal.

(1) The Authority may issue temporary special plates for

a period not exceeding six months for motor vehicles which have

not as yet been registered or which are not licensed for use on the

road in Malta for filming, exhibition or other exceptional purposes

Provided that in the event that such plates are not returned

to the Authority within the prescribed time, there shall be charged a

fee of one hundred euro (€100) per plate payable to the Authority

Provided further that such temporary special plates shall

not be issued for motor vehicles registered for use on the road in

Malta in terms of regulation 6C(1).

(2) Such special plates may be issued subject to the payment of

an administrative fee of two hundred euro (€200) to the Authority

and upon the presentation of all such documents as may be required

by the Authority, including an insurance certificate which shall be

valid for the period for which such special plates are issued.

Part VII

GENERAL

The owner of a motor vehicle licensed in Malta, who

desires to take such vehicle abroad to a third country shall apply to

the Authority for the issue of a motor vehicle export certificate.

When a motor vehicle, which is registered in Malta, is

taken out of Malta for more than twelve months, that vehicle shall

be deemed to have been permanently exported and the owner shall

surrender to the Authority the registration certificate issued by the

said Authority.

Part VIII

DE-REGISTRATION OF END-OF-LIFE VEHICLES

(1) All end-of-life M1 and N1 motor vehicles and three-

wheel motor vehicles registered in the register of the Authority

shall be transferred to an authorised treatment facility in

accordance with regulation 6(3) of the Waste Management (End-of

Life Vehicles) Regulations

Provided that M1 and N1 motor vehicles which have been

disposed of prior to the 1st November, 2013, whether garaged or

not, may be de-registered with the Authority upon presentation of a

sworn affidavit stating such fact by not later than the 30th October,

2027

Provided further that an administrative fee of fifty euro (€50)

shall be payable to the Authority for the de-registration of any vehicle

which is not disposed of at an authorised treatment facility in

accordance with regulation 6(3) of the Waste Management (End-of-

Life Vehicles) Regulations by not later than the 31st October, 2027,

which administrative fee shall increase to three hundred euro (€300)

after such date.

(2) When an authorised treatment facility accepts delivery of

an end-of-life vehicle transferred to it for treatment, it shall issue a

certificate of destruction to the last holder or owner of the vehicle.

(3) An end-of-life motor vehicle and any other motor vehicle

which has been scrapped or de-registered in accordance with these

regulations after the 1st November, 2013 shall not be re-registered

with the Authority

Provided that an end-of-life motor vehicle and any other motor

vehicle which has been scrapped or de-registered in accordance with

these regulations prior to the 1st November, 2013, may be registered

anew with the Authority upon payment of the applicable registration

tax and any other sums which may be due to the Authority.

Certificates of destruction validly issued by an authorised

treatment facility in another Member State in accordance with the

relative national legislation analogous to the provisions of

regulation 39, shall be mutually recognised and accepted.

Where a vehicle to which regulation 39 applies is

transferred to an authorised treatment facility -

(a) if that facility is in Malta, the owner or operator

thereof shall notify the Authority of the issue of the

certificate of destruction and at the same time shall

surrender to the Authority the vehicle’s registration

certificate, except where the registration certificate has

been lost, stolen or destroyed; and

(b) if that facility is in a Member State other than Malta,

the registered owner of the vehicle shall notify the

Authority of the issue in that other Member State of

the certificate of destruction and at the same time the

registered owner shall surrender to the Authority the

vehicle’s registration certificate except where the

registration certificate has been lost, stolen or

destroyed.

Notwithstanding the provisions on the re-use of

components which are suitable for re-use and on the recovery of

components which cannot be re-used contained in the Waste

Management (End-of-Life Vehicles) Regulations, it shall not be

lawful to continue to use or otherwise re-use in any manner

whatsoever the chassis number of an end-of life vehicle which has

been transferred or delivered to an authorised treatment facility.

An end-of-life vehicle shall be de-registered upon

presentation to the Authority, by the owner or operator of the

authorised treatment facility, or by the vehicle’s last registered

owner, of the certificate of destruction as provided for in regulation

39. Such de-registration shall be recorded in the register.

Part IX

FINES

(1) No person shall deface or mutilate any vehicle

registration certificate or any motor vehicle licence or alter or

obliterate any entry made therein.

(2) A person who, with intent to deceive forges, alters, uses,

produces, provides or sends a document to which regulations 4 to 6

apply, or makes a statement which he knows to be false or deface or

mutilate a registration certificate shall be guilty of an offence.

(3) A person who, either by writing, drawing or in any other

manner, alters, defaces, mutilates or adds anything to any licence

for any motor vehicle, or exhibits upon any vehicle any licence disc

which has been altered, defaced, mutilated or added to as aforesaid

shall be guilty of an offence.

(4) A person who alters, rearranges or defaces a vehicle

registration mark on a motor vehicle or otherwise tampers with the

registration plates of a motor vehicle commits an offence.

(5) Any person who makes use of a motor vehicle registration

mark other than that allotted by the Authority in relation to a

particular vehicle shall be guilty of an offence.

(6) A person who is found guilty of an offence under sub-

regulations (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) shall be liable, on conviction, to

a fine not exceeding one thousand and two hundred euro (€1,200),

or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to both

such fine and imprisonment, unless a higher punishment is

applicable under any other law, in which case the Court shall apply

that other punishment or this punishment increased by one or two

degrees, whichever is the higher.

(7) Fines for other offences under these regulations shall be the

following

(a) driving a motor vehicle

without being covered by a

valid vehicle licence............. not exceeding €235

or imprisonment for

a term not exceeding

three months

(b) driving a motor vehicle with a

vehicle

licence

altered,

defaced, mutilated or added to

or with a licence belonging to

another vehicle ....................... €70

(c) driving, or causing to stand, a

motor vehicle without the

vehicle licence disc being

affixed

to

the

vehicle

windscreen or motor cycle

handlebar ............................... €25

(d) driving a motor vehicle not

bearing registration plates ....... €25 to €60

(e) driving a motor vehicle

bearing registration plates

altered, defaced, mutilated or

added to .................................. €25 to €60

(f) using a motor vehicle not in

accordance to specific licence . €35

(g) driving a motor vehicle

bearing registration plates

obstructed from clear view by

bumpers or other attachments,

or which are not easily

decipherable ........................... €25 to €60

(h) driving a motor vehicle

without the driver being in

possession

of

vehicle

registration certificate and

insurance document ................ €25 to €60

(i) owner fails to give notice to

the Authority within the

stipulated

time

of

any

alteration made to a motor

vehicle ................................... €25 to €60

(j) driving an unregistered motor

vehicle without Trial Run

plates ..................................... €25 to €60

REGISTRATION AND LICENSING OF MOTOR VEHICLES

(k)

failure by authorised motor car

dealer to return Trial Run plates

following their withdrawal by

the Authority......

€235

(l)

driving a motor vehicle without

the driver being in possession of

registered user documentation,

where applicable .................

€25 to €60.

REGISTRATION AND LICENSING OF MOTOR VEHICLES