Malta

At a glanceRequirements at a glance

Road Haulage Operator Licence Required

Yes

Yes, where the mover operates its own goods vehicles. Carriage of goods for third parties for hire and reward, using vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight exceeding 3,500kg, requires an operator licence, applied for through Transport Malta’s Road Transport Licensing Unit. The licence attaches to the company operating the vehicles. Where a mover subcontracts the transport, the carrier’s own licence covers the transport it performs, and the mover should use carriers that hold the licences that transport requires.

Two Licence Categories

Yes. National Operations (permitting service only within Malta) and European Authorisations (permitting service anywhere within the EU, via the Community Licence).

Eligible Applicants

Sole traders, companies, partnerships, or any other legal entity entitled to carry out commercial activity.

Qualifying Conditions

Required for the licence: clean police conduct, genuine establishment in Malta (an office and at least one vehicle registered in Malta), a qualified Transport Manager (or one engaged externally), and financial standing of at least €9,000 for the first vehicle and €5,000 for each subsequent vehicle.

Transport Manager Certificate Categories

Yes, for licence holders. National CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence, entitling management of transport operations within Malta only) or International CPC (entitling management of transport operations anywhere in the EU).

Application Fee

An administrative charge applies (the specific current amount should be confirmed directly with Transport Malta).

Driver Requirements

Yes, where the mover operates its own vehicles. Drivers of goods-carrying vehicles need the relevant Driver CPC, including periodic training, with specific transitional deadlines that applied to those who held their licence before September 2008/2009.

EU Driving Time Rules

Yes, where the mover operates its own vehicles. EU Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 applies directly, governing driving times, breaks, and rest periods, enforced through mandatory digital tachographs.

Consumer Protection

Yes. The Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (MCCAA), established in 2011, is responsible for ensuring conformity with Consumer Rights Regulations generally.

Consumer Complaint Resources (For Movers Not Vetted as ITMs)

Yes, through a structured process. Consumers must first attempt direct resolution with the trader, then submit a complaint form (online or by post) to MCCAA’s Complaints and Conciliation Directorate, which evaluates the complaint and, if justified, assigns a complaint handler to conduct conciliation, typically within 15 working days. For disputes with businesses in other EU countries, the European Consumer Centre (ECC Malta) provides separate assistance.

Industry Association

None found. No dedicated Maltese moving-industry trade association was identified in this research.

OverviewOverview & Scope

Malta licenses road haulage under the standard EU 1071/2009 framework, with Transport Malta issuing the Road Haulage Operator Licence in National or European Authorisation categories, requiring good repute, genuine Maltese establishment, a qualified Transport Manager, and the standard EU financial-standing thresholds. Drivers need the relevant Driver CPC with periodic training, and EU driving-time rules apply directly with mandatory tachograph use. These obligations attach to whichever company operates the vehicles; where a mover subcontracts the transport, the carrier’s own licence covers the transport it performs, and the mover should use carriers that hold it. On the consumer side, MCCAA administers a structured conciliation process with a defined timeframe, backed by ECC Malta for cross-border EU disputes. There is no dedicated Maltese moving-industry trade association.

RegistrationRegistration & Compliance Essentials

Company licensing (where the mover operates its own vehicles)

1. Apply to Transport Malta for a Road Haulage Operator Licence, choosing the National or European Authorisation category as appropriate.
2. Demonstrate clean police conduct, genuine Maltese establishment, and financial standing.
3. Engage a Transport Manager holding the appropriate National or International CPC.

Subcontracted transport

4. Where transport is subcontracted, use carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they perform.

Vehicles and drivers (where the mover operates its own vehicles)

5. Ensure drivers hold the relevant Driver CPC, completing periodic training as required.
6. Comply with EU driving-time rules, using mandatory digital tachographs.

Customer practices

7. Ensure consumer-facing practices comply with Malta’s Consumer Rights Regulations.

ChecklistCompliance checklist

Company licensing

• Road Haulage Operator Licence held from Transport Malta in the correct category (National Operations or European Authorisation), with its good repute, establishment and financial standing conditions metWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles over 3,500kg GVW to carry goods for hire and reward)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Transport Manager holding the appropriate National or International CPC engagedWhere applicable (mover holds a Road Haulage Operator Licence)Verified by DocumentRequired

Subcontracted transport

• Where transport is subcontracted, the mover uses carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they performWhere applicableVerified by AffirmationRequired

Vehicles and drivers (where the mover operates its own vehicles)

• Each driver holds the relevant Driver CPC, with periodic training currentWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by DocumentRequired
• EU driving-time rules (Regulation (EC) No 561/2006) observed, with tachograph complianceWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by AffirmationRequired

Customer practices

• Consumer-facing practices comply with Malta’s Consumer Rights RegulationsVerified by AffirmationRequired