Driving in Greece with a Malta Driving Licence: IDP Requirements and Rules
A valid Maltese driving licence can be used in Greece because both countries are EU Member States and EU-issued licences are recognised across the EU. Transport Malta expressly states that Maltese licences are valid in EU Member States and that an International Driving Permit (IDP) is not required within the EU. No separate translation is required for an ordinary valid Maltese EU licence, and recognition is not limited to a fixed visitor-day period.
Quick answer
You can drive in Greece with a full, valid Maltese driving licence for the vehicle category shown on it. An IDP is not legally required for this Malta-to-Greece journey. Keep the original valid licence with you, because provisional and temporary documents do not receive the same automatic EU-wide recognition.
How Greece treats a Malta driving licence
Malta and Greece participate in the EU driving-licence recognition system. European Commission guidance states that a licence issued in an EU country can be used anywhere in the EU. Recognised EU categories include AM, A1, A2, A, B, BE, B1, C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D and DE, subject to the actual entitlements, restrictions and validity shown on the licence and applicable age rules.
IDP requirement, recommendation and model
Transport Malta states that an IDP is not required to drive within the EU because the Maltese driving licence is accepted there. No official recommendation was identified advising holders of a valid Maltese licence to obtain an IDP for Greece. Because an IDP is unnecessary for this EU-to-EU journey, no Geneva or Vienna Convention IDP model needs to be selected for ordinary driving in Greece.
Visitor and resident rules
EU recognition of a valid Maltese licence is not expressed as a fixed number of visitor days, so no maximum visitor-day figure is stated here. If you establish normal residence in Greece, an EU licence generally does not have to be exchanged simply because you moved, although EU rules provide circumstances in which exchange can become necessary, including certain cases involving expiry, loss, theft, damage or licences with indefinite validity. Renewal is normally handled in the EU country of normal residence.
Renting a car with a Malta licence
Rental-company conditions are contractual requirements rather than licence-recognition law. Autohellas Hertz accepts European licences for drivers from EU countries and states that a driver must generally have held the licence for at least 12 months, with age requirements varying by vehicle group. Avis Greece accepts licences issued by EU countries and requires the licence plus an identity card or passport at pickup, while also applying its own age and licence-tenure conditions. A Maltese renter therefore does not need an IDP merely because these checked companies require driving documentation.
Police documents and insurance
Carry the original valid Maltese driving licence when driving. EU guidance states that provisional or temporary licences are not automatically recognised in other EU countries. If using a private EU-registered vehicle, compulsory third-party insurance remains valid throughout the EU. European Commission guidance recommends carrying insurance papers because they can simplify checks or accident handling. Optional insurance coverage depends on the individual contract.
Exceptions that can change the answer
The normal recognition rule assumes a full and currently valid Maltese licence. A provisional or temporary document may not be recognised. Drivers must also comply with the categories, restrictions and relevant minimum ages attached to their entitlement. A further exception can arise where an EU licence was originally issued in exchange for a non-EU licence, because recognition after moving residence to another EU country can depend on that original licence.
Official sources used
- Transport Malta, Driving Abroad, verifying that Maltese licences are valid in EU Member States and that an IDP is not required within the EU, checked 2026-09-28: Transport Malta
- European Commission Your Europe, Driving licence and car insurance, verifying EU licence recognition, recognised categories and insurance guidance, checked 2026-09-28: Your Europe
- European Commission Your Europe, Driving licence exchange and recognition, verifying resident exchange principles and exceptions, checked 2026-09-28: Your Europe licence recognition
- Autohellas Hertz, Key facts about your rental, verifying its EU-licence and licence-tenure policy, checked 2026-09-28: Autohellas Hertz
- Avis Greece, FAQs, verifying its EU-licence, identity-document and licence-tenure requirements, checked 2026-09-28: Avis Greece
Practical recommendation for a Malta licence holder
Use the valid Maltese licence itself in Greece. An IDP and separate licence translation are unnecessary for ordinary use of that EU licence. Before collecting a rental car, check the chosen company's minimum age, required period of licence ownership, identification and payment requirements. For a private vehicle, make sure the vehicle and compulsory insurance remain valid and review the policy for any limits on optional cover abroad.
Last verified
This Malta-to-Greece licence and IDP information was checked against the listed official and first-party sources on 2026-09-28.