MOTOR VEHICLES ġS.L.65.11 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 65.11
MOTOR VEHICLES REGULATIONS 
27th September, 1994
LEGAL NOTICE 128 of 1994, as amended by Legal Notices: 92, 98 109,
149 of 1995, 1 and 234 of 1997, 125 and 268 of 1998, and 68, 85 and 174
of 1999 and 206 of 2000, 91 of 2001, 58, 191, 236, 322 and 335 of 2002,
93, 162 and 407 of 2003, and 104 of 2004.
PART I
Preliminary
Title.
Regulations.
Interpretation.
Amended by:
L.N. 85 of 1999;
L.N. 93 of 2003.
Cap. 332.
2. In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise
requires - 
"Authority" means the Public Transport Authority established by
article 3 of the Public Transport Authority Act, and the expression
"Authority" shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the
same meaning;
"cattle" includes sheep and goats;
"invalid carriage" means any motor vehicle which is specially
designed and constructed, or efficiently adapted, for the use of a
person suffering from some physical defect or disability and is used
solely by such person;
"motor hearse" means any motor vehicle used for the conveyance
of corpses;
"car for hire" means a motor vehicle which is constructed to have
a seating capacity of not more than seven passengers, excluding the
driver, and which is licensed and/or registered to be hired from a
public service garage to be driven by the owner of such garage or
by such other person as is authorised by him;
"M1 motor vehicles" means motor vehicles used for the carriage
of passengers and comprising no more than eight seats in addition
to the driver’s seat;
"motor cycle" means any motor vehicle with not more than two
wheels designed for the use of the rider and not intended for the
carriage of goods:
Provided that a three-wheeled motor vehicle, the weight of
which does not exceed 500 kg., and a motor cycle equipped with
not more than two wheels and with a side-car attachment with only
one wheel, shall be classified as a motor cycle;
"motor cycle for hire" means a motor cycle which is licensed
and/or registered to be hired from a public service garage for the
purpose of being driven by the hirer;
"motor minibus" means a motor vehicle which is not externally
painted red, and which is licensed and/or registered to carry from
ten to eighteen passengers, excluding the driver;
2 ġS.L.65.11 MOTOR VEHICLES
"motor minibus for public transport" means a motor vehicle,
which is externally painted red, and which is licensed and/or
registered to carry against compensation from eleven to eighteen
passengers, excluding the driver;
"motor omnibus" means any motor vehicle which is licensed and/
or registered to carry more than eighteen passengers, excluding the
driver;
"motor route bus" means any motor vehicle which is licensed
and/or registered to carry more than eighteen passengers, excluding
the driver, and which is registered with the central office for
scheduled services to perform scheduled trips;
"motor tractor" means any motor vehicle which is not
constructed to carry any load, but is intended for towing or
agricultural purposes only:
Provided that in the case of a motor vehicle fitted with a
crane, dynamo, welding plant or other special appliance or
apparatus which is a permanent or an essentially permanent fixture,
the appliance or apparatus shall be deemed to form a part of the
vehicle;
"private car" means a privately owned vehicle not licensed or
registered for hire;
"public service garage van" means a motor vehicle, which is
externally painted white, and which is licensed and/or registered to
have a seating capacity and to carry against compensation not more
than ten passengers, excluding the driver;
"scheduled", in relation to a motor omnibus means performance
of a service on a public service route and the expression
"unscheduled" means performance of service on private hire;
"owner" means the person in whose name a motor vehicle is
licensed and/or registered;
"stop light" means a device fitted to a motor vehicle for the
purpose of intimating the intention of the driver of the vehicle to
stop or slow down;
"taxicar" means a motor vehicle fitted with a taximeter and
licensed and/or registered to ply for hire as a taxicar;
"trailer" means any wheeled vehicle without mechanical power
of its own, designed to be drawn by a motor vehicle for the purpose
of carrying persons or goods;
"public transport" means the conveyance in Malta by a motor
vehicle of passengers against compensation and includes the hire of
a self-drive vehicle; 
"road" means any road, street, lane, square, or other place of
public thoroughfare;
"goods vehicle" means any motor vehicle which is licensed and/
or registered solely for the carriage of goods and which is not
permitted to carry any person, except the driver and the person or
persons in charge of the goods;
MOTOR VEHICLES ġS.L.65.11 3
"motor vehicle" means a vehicle which is propelled by
mechanical power;
"motor vehicle for hire" means a motor vehicle including a
public service garage van, other than a taxicar, licensed and/or
registered to be hired from a public service garage, and driven by
the garage owner or by any person employed by him;
"self drive motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle which is
licensed and/or registered to be hired from a public service garage
for the propose of being driven by a hirer. It may, however, be
driven by the garage owner, or by any person in his regular
employment holding a special driving licence, to convey
passengers for hire, provided that any passenger hiring it consents
to the use of such self drive motor vehicle in lieu of a motor vehicle
for hire;
"public transport vehicle" means any motor vehicle used or
intended to be used for public transport;
"horse" includes mules and other beasts of burden.
PART II
Temporary Admission of Motor Vehicles into Malta and 
International Travelling
Conditions for 
temporary 
admission. 
3. Motor cars or motor cycles which the owners thereof are in
possession of a valid Triptyque or Carnet de Passages en Douanes
issued by any of the associations forming part of the Alliance
Internationale de Tourisme or of the Association Internationale des
Automobile-Clubs Reconnus may be imported into Malta without
payment of the prescribed import duty, or of a deposit in lieu
thereof on the following conditions:
(a) that such motor cars or motor cycles are re-exported
within the period of one year of their importation or
within the period of validity of the Triptyque or Carnet
whichever period is the shorter;
(b) that the prescribed duty shall be levied if such motor
car or motor cycle is not re-exported within the period
aforesaid;
(c) that such motor cars or motor cycles are licensed only
for the conveyance of persons;
(d) that the motor cars or motor cycles are imported by
bona fide tourists or by persons coming to Malta for
short business or professional visits only;
(e) that the prescribed duty will be leviable should the car
or cycle be destroyed by fire or accident unless the
remains, if identifiable, are re-exported;
(f)that the  Triptyque or Carnet is issued to the actual
importer of the motor car or motor cycle who is also
the owner of the same;
(g) that the prescribed duty shall be leviable on spare parts
for motor cars or motor cycles imported under cover of
4 ġS.L.65.11 MOTOR VEHICLES
a Triptyque or Carnet.
International 
travelling 
requirements.
4. The owner of a motor vehicle licensed in Malta, who
desires to take such vehicle abroad may apply to the Commissioner
of Police for the issue of an international certificate for motor
vehicles and a fiscal permit in accordance with the provisions of
any international convention applicable to Malta. Whenever a fiscal
permit is required, such fiscal permit shall be issued jointly with
the international certificate for motor vehicles.
International 
driving permit.
5. Deleted by L.N. 191 of 2002.
Application 
requirements. 
6. Every application for an international certificate or permit
shall state the country or countries for which it is required.
Plate requirements. 7. Deleted by L.N. 191 of 2002.
Examination of 
vehicle.
8. Before an international certificate for motor vehicles is
issued under regulation 4, the motor vehicle in question shall be
examined by a person designated by the Commissioner of Police,
and the certificate shall not be granted except on the production of
a declaration signed by such person to the effect that the motor
vehicle conforms with the requirements of the international
convention under which the certificate is to be issued.
Examination of 
applicant.
9. Deleted by L.N. 191 of 2002.
Exemption from 
further test.
10. Deleted by L.N. 191 of 2002.
Driving by non-
resident persons.
11. Deleted by L.N. 191 of 2002.
Exception re 
temporary use of 
vehicle.
Amended by:
L.N. 191 of 2002.
S.L. 65.18
12. Notwithstanding the provisions of regulations 17 and 18, it
shall be lawful for a person to make use of motor vehicle, for a
period not exceeding ninety days from the last date of the last
importation of such vehicle into Malta, on any road, without being
in possession of the licence required in the Motor Vehicles (Driving
Licences) Regulations, subject to the following provisions:
(a) that the person importing the motor vehicle is a
resident outside Malta and holds a permit under the
preceding regulation to drive such motor vehicle;
(b) that he has now a principal place of business or usual
place of abode in Malta;
(c) that the motor vehicle is only temporarily in Malta;
(d) that he holds in respect of such motor vehicle a
certificate in accordance with the provisions of the
Convention on Road Traffic, 1949, and that the vehicle
is in all respects in accordance with the provisions of
that Convention;
Cap. 104.
(e) that he is in possession of a certificate of insurance in
accordance with the Motor Vehicles Insurance (Third
Party Risks) Ordinance:
Provided that, saving the conditions laid down in
paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (e) of this regulation, if the motor
vehicle is registered in the territory of a Party to the Convention on
MOTOR VEHICLES ġS.L.65.11 5
the Taxation of Road Vehicles for Private Use in International
Traffic, 1956 or is allowed to be brought into circulation on such
territory and is exempted on that territory from the obligation to be
registered, the period of exemption from the necessity of being
licensed in Malta shall be one year and not of ninety days as
hereinbefore provided.
Persons stationed 
in Malta.
Amended by:
L.N. 191 of 2002.
13. For the purposes of the provisions of regulation 12, a
person posted or stationed in Malta in the course of his employment
for a period exceeding ninety days shall be deemed to be a person
having a principal place of business in Malta.
Exception re public 
transport vehicles.
Amended by:
L.N. 191 of 2002.
14. The provisions of regulation 12 shall not be applicable in
respect of motor vehicles used or licensed for the carriage of
persons or goods for hire or reward.
Production of 
certificates. 
15. A person bringing a motor vehicle into Malta under the
provisions of regulation 12 shall within two working days produce
either at a Police passport office or at Police Headquarters, the
certificates referred to in paragraphs (d) and (e) of that regulation.
Persons 
disqualified from 
driving.
16. Deleted by L.N. 191 of 2002.
PART III
Licences and Registration of Motor Vehicles
Registration of 
motor vehicles.
Amended by:
L.N. 93 of 2003.
17. (1) Every motor vehicle in Malta shall be registered with
the Malta Transport Authority whether or not it is licensed to be
used on the road. For the purpose of this registration, the owner of a
motor vehicle shall furnish in writing the make, year, engine
capacity, engine number, chassis number, tonnage, seating capacity
and colour of the vehicle and his name and address:
Provided that when the colour of a motor vehicle is altered,
the owner shall give notice thereof to the Malta Transport
Authority within seven days.
(2) In the case of newly imported motor vehicles or bodies of
motor vehicles, the owner or importer shall produce to the Malta
Transport Authority -
(a) documentary evidence, which will be retained by the
Malta Transport Authority, to show that the vehicle or
body has been released by the Comptroller of
Customs, and
(b) the manufacturer’s certificate or a certificate from the
manufacturer’s representatives or agents showing the
carrying capacity of such vehicle or body:
Provided that in the case of a newly imported vehicle or
body of a public transport vehicle, the owner or the importer
thereof shall only be required to produce to the Malta Transport
Authority such information and documents as the said Authority
may direct.
(3) In the case of second hand M1 motor vehicles and motor cycles
that were ordered on or after the first of April 2003, the owner or
importer shall, inter alia, provide the Malta Transport Authority, prior to
6 ġS.L.65.11 MOTOR VEHICLES
importation, a single vehicle type approval certificate based on
standards established by the Malta Transport Authority and issued by an
internationally recognized inspecting agency chosen by the owner or
importer and approved by the Malta Transport Authority for the
purpose.
(4) The provisions of this regulation shall not apply to any
motor vehicle or body of a motor vehicle which is the property of
any visiting force.
(5) (a) Every used motor vehicle imported into Malta by a
person who is resident in Malta or has his principal
place of business in Malta shall, before the vehicle is
released by the Comptroller of Customs, be registered
and be licensed in accordance with regulation 18.
(b) The motor vehicles referred to in paragraph (a) which
are subject to an initial examination by the Malta
Transport Authority examiners shall be licensed for a
period of six months from the date of registration for
effecting the necessary repairs to undergo such
examinations:
Provided that this shall also apply to all other vehicles
which were imported into Malta and allotted temporary
identification plates by the Malta Transport Authority to effect the
necessary repairs.
(c) The motor vehicle to which paragraph (b) applies may
be used on the road on any day, not being a public
holiday, from 6.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. only for the
purpose of effecting repairs thereon; and the owner
shall keep the Malta Transport Authority informed of
the place where the vehicle is kept.
(d) If at the date of expiry of the period referred to in
paragraph (b), the motor vehicle fails the examination
or is not submitted for examination, the licence issued
in respect of such vehicle as provided in paragraph (a)
shall be deemed to be revoked without any right to the
refund of payments made, and in the case of the motor
vehicle which fails the examination such vehicle shall
be re-exported or disposed of within such time and
under such conditions as the Malta Transport Authority
may determine.
S.L. 65.13
(e) Where the motor vehicle is not re-exported or disposed
of as provided in paragraph (d) or where the motor
vehicle has not been submitted for examination in
accordance with the provisions of paragraph (b), the
Malta Transport 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 Malta Transport Authority a removal
fee and a storage fee as established in the Traffic
Regulation (Clamping and Removal of Encumbering
Objects) Regulations.
MOTOR VEHICLES ġS.L.65.11 7
Licensing of motor 
vehicles.
Amended by:
L.N. 93 of 2003.
18. (1) No motor vehicle shall be on the road without a
licence issued by the Malta Transport Authority.
(2) The Malta Transport Authority may give to the licensee of
any motor vehicle a certificate of motor vehicle in respect of such
vehicle.
(3) Saving the provisions of subregulation (4), when the
licensee of a motor vehicle has been given such a certificate, he
shall cause such certificate to be kept at all times within the said
vehicle.
(4) The owner of any motor vehicle which has been once
licensed shall see that, subject to the other provisions of these
Regulations regarding the suspension, withdrawal or cancellation
of licences, such vehicle is always and at all times covered by a
licence issued by the said Authority:
Provided that if the owner 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 in the road
for one or more quarters of a year 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 will hand
over to the said Authority the relative certificate of motor vehicle
and the number plates of the relative motor vehicle, the said owner
shall not be bound to renew the relative licence in respect of the
said quarter or quarters:
Provided further that if the owner of a motor vehicle who
does not intend using such vehicle for one or more quarters fails to
comply with the conditions set out in the previous proviso prior to
the lapse of the relative licence but gives his written notice and
complies with the other said conditions at a later date, and
moreover confirms on oath that he has not made use of the said
vehicle since the lapse of its licence, he shall be bound to pay that
proportionate part of the annual licence as shall represent the
number of quarters from the date of its lapse up to and including
the quarter then current but shall not be liable for the payment of
the prescribed fine if such notice is given not later than one month
immediately after the relative licence had lapsed.
(5) Where a motor vehicle is on the road without being covered
by a licence, the Commissioner of Police or the Malta Transport
Authority, as the case may be, may move such vehicle and place it
at the Police garage or at any other secure premises at the expense
of its owner.
Renewal or 
transfer of licence.
Amended by:
L.N. 93 of 2003.
19. 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 Malta Transport Authority, such details as to
the vehicle or its engine as shall be contained in a form supplied to
him for the purpose by the said Authority.
Licence fees.
Amended by:
L.N. 93 of 2003.
Cap. 128.
Cap. 332.
20. The licence fees for the various classes of motor vehicles
are those fixed under the provisions of the Police Licences Act or
the Malta Transport Authority Act. 
8 ġS.L.65.11 MOTOR VEHICLES
Particular licence 
for each vehicle.
21. Saving the provisions of regulation 26, 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.
Duplicate licence 
and certificate.
22. When a licence or a certificate of motor vehicle is lost,
destroyed or defaced, the Commissioner of Police or the Authority,
as the case may be, may issue a duplicate licence or a duplicate
certificate of motor vehicle: 
Provided that the said Commissioner, or Authority, may,
before issuing any such duplicate, require the production of a
sworn affidavit to prove such loss, destruction or defacement.
Validity of 
licences.
Amended by:
L.N. 191 of 2002.
23. Licences granted under these Regulations shall be liable to
be cancelled or suspended by the Commissioner of Police or by the
Authority, for a period not exceeding one month where this is
required in the interest of public safety or public order.
If the holder of a licence makes use of it during the time it
has been suspended, the licence shall be liable to cancellation.
Production of 
licences.
24. Every person licensed under these Regulations shall carry
his licence when acting in the capacity for which he is licensed and
produce same to the Police on demand or at an appointed place
within two days of the date of such demand:
Provided that every person licensed under these
Regulations with regard to public transport vehicles shall also,
when acting in the capacity for which he is licensed, produce his
licence on demand or at an appointed place within two days of the
date of such demand to an officer of the Authority.
Production of 
certificate of motor 
vehicle.
Amended by:
L.N. 104 of 2004.
25. No motor vehicle shall be driven unless its driver carries
with him the relative certificate of motor vehicle, which certificate
he shall produce on demand to any police officer or local warden or
at an appointed place within two days of such demand:
Provided that the driver of a public transport vehicle shall
also produce the said certificate of motor vehicle to an officer of
the Authority on demand or at an appointed place within two days
of such demand.
Transfer of motor 
vehicles and 
licences.
Amended by:
L.N. 1 of 1997.
26. (1) Any person who agrees to sell, sells, scraps or
otherwise disposes of his motor vehicle shall, within seven days,
give notice thereof in writing to the Commissioner of Police,
including the name and address of the person who buys, or agrees
to buy, the said motor vehicle and shall also deliver to the said
Commissioner the relative licence. Such notice shall be given by
means of a form supplied by the said Commissioner.
Any person -
(a) who sells or otherwise transfers to another person any
motor vehicle, shall deliver to such other person,
together with the motor vehicle, the relative certificate
of motor vehicle, or
(b) who scraps any motor vehicle, shall immediately
MOTOR VEHICLES ġS.L.65.11 9
deliver to the Commissioner of Police the relative
certificate of motor vehicle.
(2) (a) The person who buys, or to whom such vehicle is
transferred, shall, within a period of seven days from
the date of such sale or transfer, request the
Commissioner of Police in writing to transfer the
licence of such vehicle onto his name.
(b) The Commissioner of Police may, for reasons of public
interest, withhold the transfer of a motor vehicle.
(3) 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 he has
complied with sub-regulation (1)of this regulation and the notice
he has so given has been found to be true and correct.
(4) A motor omnibus may not be sold or transferred separately
from its licence to another person, nor may a licence in respect of a
motor omnibus be transferred separately from the vehicle to which
it refers:
Provided that the Authority shall not allow the transfer of
any motor omnibus 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.
(5) The Authority may allow a new omnibus to be built in
substitution of an old omnibus, and, in such case, the licence in
respect of the old omnibus shall be valid for the new omnibus.
(6) An omnibus which has been substituted by a new omnibus
may be sold or transferred to another person, holding a licence for a
motor omnibus, in substitution of that omnibus, provided that the
Authority is satisfied that the omnibus so sold or transferred is still
fit for the public service. In such a case the licence shall be valid
for the omnibus substituting the old vehicle.
(7) In all other cases an old omnibus may only be disposed of
for conversion into a commercial vehicle, if it is found on
examination to conform to the requirements of these Regulations,
or for scrap.
(8) The powers and functions exercised by the Commissioner
of Police under sub-regulations (1), (2) and (3) of this regulation
shall, with regard to public transport vehicles, be exercised solely
by the Authority which shall, for the said purpose, be vested with
all the powers and functions vested in the Commissioner of Police
under the said sub-regulations of this regulation with regard to
public transport vehicles.
Cancellation of 
motor vehicle 
licence.
27. Any motor vehicle licensed for the transport of passengers
which has been withdrawn from public service for a continued
period of six months shall be deprived of its licence. The licence
shall be suspended if any alteration whatsoever, made in any form
is carried out on any vehicle engaged on public transport without
the approval of the Authority. In special cases and in special
circumstances the Authority may, with the approval of the Minister
responsible for public transport, depart from this provision.
10 ġS.L.65.11 MOTOR VEHICLES
Position of licence 
on motor vehicles. 
28. (1) In every motor vehicle the licence 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; in the case of a motor cycle the licence
shall be fixed on the handle-bar.
(2) The provisions of sub-regulation (1) of this regulation shall
not apply to any motor vehicle assigned to a Minister and bearing,
instead of its identification number, the letters G.M.
Licence contents to 
be easily legible.
29. The owner, driver and/or person in charge of a motor
vehicle shall be responsible that the said licence is constantly kept
in such a state as to make its contents easily legible.
Vehicle to be used 
according to 
specific licence.
30. The owner and/or person in charge of a motor vehicle shall
not suffer or permit its use for purposes other than those for which
it is specially licensed.
Identification 
numbers.
31. Every motor vehicle shall bear an identification number
which will be allotted to it and issued by the Commissioner of
Police or, in the case of public transport vehicles, by the Authority,
provided that if the licence of any motor vehicle is not renewed by
the date fixed for its yearly renewal, the Commissioner of Police or
the Authority may order the cancellation of such identification
number and its allocation to any other motor vehicle.
A motor vehicle without such identification number
assigned to it shall be deemed to be an unregistered vehicle:
Provided that the Commissioner of Police or, in the case of
public transport vehicles, the Authority may, in their discretion,
permit the use of motor vehicles with an identification mark either
in addition to or in lieu of an identification number. Such
identification mark shall not be used on any other vehicle than the
one in respect of which its use has been so permitted.
Particular 
identification 
numbers.
32. Each identification number and letter shall be assigned to a
motor vehicle by the Commissioner of Police. The dimensions of
any letter figure of the identification number of any motor vehicle,
the total width of the space taken by any such letter figure and the
space between any two such letter figures shall be those determined
from time to time by the Commissioner of Police on the advice of
the Traffic Control Board or, in the case of public transport
vehicles, by the Authority.
Plates bearing 
identification 
numbers.
33. (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of regulations 31 and
32, the Commissioner of Police or the Authority may give to the
licensee of any motor vehicle two new plates bearing a new
identification number in respect of his vehicle against payment of
the cost of such plates as may be fixed by the said Commissioner or
by the Authority.
(2) When such new plates are given to a licensee, he shall
cause them to be affixed immediately to the vehicle to which they
refer, one at the front and one at the back of the vehicle and shall
remove the old plates:
Provided that the Commissioner of Police or the Authority
may cause the old plates to be returned.
(3) When any such new plates are given to a licensee, they
MOTOR VEHICLES ġS.L.65.11 11
shall not be replaced by other plates unless these other plates are
obtained from the said Commissioner or Authority on payment.
(4) Any such plates obtained from the said Commissioner or
Authority shall belong to the Government and shall be returned to
the said Commissioner or Authority if and when the vehicle has
been scrapped or has been permanently exported.
Plates to be seen 
clearly on vehicle.
34. The identification number on a motor vehicle, including an
invalid carriage, a pedestrian controlled vehicle and a three-
wheeled vehicle, shall be shown on two rectangular plates. These
shall be fixed, one on the front, and the other on the rear of the
motor vehicle in such a position that every letter and figure on the
plate is upright, easily visible and distinguishable. In the case of a
motor cycle, the identification number is to be shown on a
rectangular plate fixed on the rear.
Whenever a motor vehicle is being used to draw one or
more trailers, the identification number of such motor vehicle shall
also be shown on a plate which shall conform with these
Regulations in all respects, fixed, on the rear of the trailer or of the
rearmost trailer.
No other letter, number or mark, except those authorised by
the Commissioner of Police or by the Authority shall be permitted.
The Commissioner of Police with the advice of the Traffic
Control Board or, in the case of public transport vehicles, the
Authority, may permit, in writing, departures from the requirements
in respect of identification numbers and number plates in cases
where they are satisfied that such departures are justified by the
restricted space or the peculiarities which a particular vehicle may
have, in which case the number plates and the identification
numbers shall be as directed in writing by the Commissioner of
Police or by the Authority.
Plates to be 
decipherable.
35. The identification number shall not be obstructed from
clear view by bumpers or other attachments, and shall be kept clear
of mud or dust and easily decipherable.
Licence to use a 
"Trial Run" plate.
36. The Commissioner of Police or, in the case of public
transport vehicles, the Authority, may issue "Trial Run" plates for a
period of one day on application in writing under the following
conditions:
"Trial Run" plates shall have white numbers on a red
background.
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.
No "Trial Run" plates other than those issued and stamped
by the Police or by the Authority shall be used.
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
12 ġS.L.65.11 MOTOR VEHICLES
convoy, such representative shall be present in the rearmost
vehicle.
"Trial Run" plates may only be used:
(i) on newly imported motor vehicles for sale or for
exhibition purposes;
(ii) on motor vehicles in the custody of a dealer or an
importer of motor vehicles, for purpose of sale; or on
motor vehicles purchased by a dealer or importer for
resale, the licences of which have expired;
(iii) 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.
"Trial Run" plates shall not be used for any purpose other
than for trial trips.
"Trial Run" plates shall not be used on Sundays or public
holidays unless specially authorised by the Commissioner of
Police.
A deposit of Lm1 for each set of plates shall be made on
their withdrawal.
In case of loss of, or damage to, any of the said plates, the
licensee shall forfeit fifty cents for each plate so lost or returned in
such a damaged condition as to be unfit for use.
The Commissioner of Police or the Authority may authorize
the issue of an annual licence for the use of "Trial Run" plates to
dealers in or importers or exporters of motor vehicles.
Licence to learn to 
drive a motor 
vehicle.
37. Deleted by L.N. 191 of 2002.
Motoring school to 
be licensed. 
38. Deleted by L.N. 191 of 2002.
Application for 
keeping of 
motoring school.
39. Deleted by L.N. 191 of 2002.
Discretion of 
Commissioner of 
Police.
40. Deleted by L.N. 191 of 2002.
Only authorised 
vehicles to be used.
41. Deleted by L.N. 191 of 2002.
Licensee to keep 
journal.
42. Deleted by L.N. 191 of 2002.
Instructor to have 
requisite licence.
43. Deleted by L.N. 191 of 2002.
Only instructor to 
sit with learner.
44. Deleted by L.N. 191 of 2002.
Withdrawal or 
suspension of 
licence for keeping 
of school.
45. Deleted by L.N. 191 of 2002.
MOTOR VEHICLES ġS.L.65.11 13
Withdrawal or 
suspension of 
licence to act as 
instructor. 
46. Deleted by L.N. 191 of 2002.
Requirement of 
learner licence.
47. Deleted by L.N. 191 of 2002.
Public transport 
vehicles.
48. Deleted by L.N. 191 of 2002.
Certificate of 
competency. 
49. Deleted by L.N. 191 of 2002.
Motor driving 
licences.
Amended by:
L.N. 149 of 1995;
L.N. 68 of 1999;
L.N. 174 of 1999.
50. Deleted by L.N. 191 of 2002.
Application on 
appropriate form.
51. Deleted by L.N. 191 of 2002.
Licence to specify 
class, bear 
photograph.
52. Deleted by L.N. 191 of 2002.
Renewal of 
licences.
53. Deleted by L.N. 191 of 2002.
Cancellation or 
suspension of 
driver’s licence. 
54. Deleted by L.N. 191 of 2002.
Immediate delivery 
of cancelled 
licence, etc.
Amended by:
L.N. 149 of 1995.
55. Deleted by L.N. 191 of 2002.
Delivery of 
identification tag.
Cap. 10.
56. Any person whose licence has been suspended in terms of
article 91 of the Code of Police Laws, shall also deliver his
identification tag to the Authority.
Court conviction. 
Unlawful driving.
Responsibility for 
licence.
59. The licensee of a motor vehicle is responsible that the
driver and/or conductor employed by him are in possession of the
requisite licences. The driver of a vehicle is responsible that the
motor vehicle under his charge is provided with the necessary
licence for the service which it is required to perform.
Licence for motor 
vehicles for the 
conveyance of 
corpses.
60. No motor vehicle shall be used for the conveyance of
corpses without a special licence for the purpose which shall not be
granted unless the motor vehicle is constructed in such form and is
provided with such furniture, fittings and lamps as may be directed
by the Chief Government Medical Officer.
Licence for motor 
vehicles to enter 
Valletta.
61. (1) No motor vehicle shall enter Valletta without a licence
for that purpose issued by the Commissioner of Police:
Provided that in the case of public transport vehicles such
licence shall be issued by the Authority.
(2) Notwithstanding the provision of sub-regulation (1) of this
regulation, no motor tractor and attached trailer and no commercial
vehicle, in either case being over 8 metres long, shall enter Valletta.
14 ġS.L.65.11 MOTOR VEHICLES
Licence to keep a 
garage.
62. (1) No person shall garage more than four motor vehicles
in any premises without a private garage licence, or a motor vehicle
licensed for hire without a public service garage licence.
(2) The number of motor vehicles garaged in any premises
shall be determined by the number of such vehicles using a
common exit or entrance to the road:
Provided that, for the purpose of determining the number of
such vehicles, two motor cycles shall be deemed equivalent to one
motor vehicle.
(3) The licensee of a private garage shall keep a register
containing the registration number, and the name and the address of
the owner or owners of the vehicles garaged therein.
(4) A public service garage licence shall authorise the holder
thereof to garage therein motor vehicles licensed for hire, the
registration number of which shall appear on the public service
garage licence itself:
Provided that, subject to the requirements of sub-regulation
(3) of this regulation, a public service garage licence shall be
deemed to include a private garage licence.
(5) A public service garage licence shall authorise the licensee
to hire from such garage only motor vehicles registered and
licensed in his name for hire as may be garaged therein in
accordance with the provisions of sub-regulation (4) of this
regulation.
(6) No person shall have registered and licensed in his name
any motor vehicle for hire unless he is licensed to keep a public
service garage.
(7) No person holding a public service garage licence, and no
member of his family residing with him in the same house, shall
have registered in his name more than two private cars.
(8) The licensee of a public service garage shall keep a register
containing the following information:
(a) the date and the time of departure and arrival of each
motor vehicle hired therefrom;
(b) the name, licence number and identification tag
number of the driver; and
(c) the name, address and licence number of any person
hiring a motor vehicle to be driven by the hirer.
(9) No person may hire a motor vehicle licensed for hire except
from a public service garage.
(10) Licences to keep a private garage or a public service garage
shall be issued by the Commissioner of Police and the Authority
respectively, provided that a public service garage licence shall
cease to be valid when the holder thereof holds no licences in his
name in respect of motor vehicles licensed for hire and authorised
to be garaged therein.
(11) The Authority shall at the request of the holder of a public
service garage licence, grant him a special licence authorising him
MOTOR VEHICLES ġS.L.65.11 15
to utilize additional premises, which are suitable for the storage of
motor vehicles, for the sole purpose of garaging motor vehicles for
hire registered in the holder’s name:
Provided that it shall be a condition in the said special
licence that no hire services whatsoever are to be offered from, and
no offices installed in, the additional premises so licensed.
(12) For the purposes of this regulation, "motor vehicles
licensed for hire" means motor cars for hire, self-drive cars and
motor cycles for hire, but does not include taxi-cars or motor
omnibuses.
Workshop garage.
Garage licence.
Cap. 10.
64. All licences to keep premises wherein vehicles licensed for
hire are usually kept or a workshop garage shall be subject to the
provisions of article 130 of the Code of Police Laws.
Car park 
attendants.
Substituted by:
L.N. 93 of 2003.
65. (1) No person shall act as a car park attendant without a
licence issued by the Malta Transport Authority.
(2) An application for a licence under this regulation shall be made
on the prescribed form.   The completed form, accompanied by two
recent passport size photographs of the applicant, shall be deposited or
sent to the offices of the Malta Transport Authority.
(3) New licences will be issued by the Malta Transport Authority in
accordance with the priority order that the said Authority received them.
(4) A licence issued under this regulation shall be -
(a) personal and non-transferable;
(b) applicable only for the times and the scheduled car
park that the car park attendant is licensed to attend;
(c) valid up to the 31st day of December of the year
during which it is issued, but may thereafter be
renewed from year to year; and
(d) subject to the payment of Lm5 payable upon the issue
of the licence and each year following the year in
which the licence was issued.
The Malta Transport Authority shall also provide licensed
car park attendants with a photocard tag indicating the name,
identity document number and the licence number, the car park he
is licensed to attend and the times during which he can act as a car
park attendant in that car park.
(5) No licensee shall act as a car park attendant unless the
licence fee payable every year or for any period as specified has
been paid.
(6) The Malta Transport Authority shall not issue to any person
a licence under this regulation unless it is satisfied that such person
is of good character and is fit to carry out his duties.
(7) A car park attendant shall, while on duty, wear the
photocard tag issued by the Malta Transport Authority in a
conspicuous place and shall observe the dress code set out by the
said Authority.
16 ġS.L.65.11 MOTOR VEHICLES
(8) A car park attendant shall be authorised to operate only in
the car park or parks indicated in his licence. He shall attend at
such car park or parks during the times indicated in his licence.
The licensee is responsible for the cleaning of the parking site
during the time he is operating.
(9) The Malta Transport Authority shall put up a conspicuous
sign at the entrance of each scheduled car park indicating that:
(a) the place is a scheduled car park; and
(b) the times during which a car park attendant shall be in
attendance.
(10) A car park attendant shall be permitted to keep any
gratuities he may receive from motorists using the car park.
(11) A car park attendant shall use all care and diligence to
ensure the orderly entry, parking and exit of vehicles in any car
park under his charge, and to prevent all thefts from, or damage to,
such vehicles. He shall note down in writing the registration
number of any vehicle involved in a collision or other incident at
such car park, and report the particulars to the Police.
(12) Every person making use of a car park shall comply with
the lawful signals or instructions of the car park attendant in
connection with the entry, parking and exit of the vehicle in or from
such car park.   No person shall park a vehicle nearer than 750mm
to the side of another vehicle and car park attendants shall ensure
that this provision is complied with by drivers.
(13) The Malta Transport Authority may attach to any licence
issued or renewed under this regulation such other conditions, as it
may deem fit, to ensure the proper execution of the duties of a car
park attendant.
(14) Without prejudice to any other liability incurred by a car
park attendant under the provisions of these Regulations or of any
other law, the Malta Transport Authority may, in any of the
following cases, suspend for such time as it may deem fit or cancel
the licence of a car park attendant or refuse its renewal:
(a) if it is satisfied that the licensee is no longer fit to
carry out his duties;
(b) if the licensee is convicted of a crime;
(c) if the licensee is proved to the Malta Transport
Authority’s satisfaction to have misbehaved or
misconducted himself while on duty or to have
infringed any of the provisions of this regulation, or
any of the conditions attached to his licence;
(d) if the licensee has failed to meet any civil liability
incurred by him towards any user of the car park under
his charge.
(15) The exercise by the Malta Transport Authority of its
functions under this regulation shall not render the Government
subject to any liability in respect of the loss of, or damage to any
vehicle, or its contents or fittings, in a parking place or in any other
respect.
MOTOR VEHICLES ġS.L.65.11 17
(16) (a) Where a photocard tag issued under these regulations
has been lost or stolen, or the car park attendant is
otherwise no longer in possession of such tag, the car
park attendant shall notify the Malta Transport
Authority within five days from the date on which he
becomes aware of such event.
(b) The Malta Transport Authority shall, within ten days
from the receipt of such notification, issue a duplicate
tag in replacement of the original. The fee for such
replacement tag shall be of Lm5.
(17) (a) The Malta Transport Authority shall keep a Register of
all licensed car park attendants.
(b) The Register shall show the name, residential address
and identity document number of each licensed car
park attendant and his licence number, the location of
the car park he is licensed to operate in and the time he
is licensed to operate in that car park.
(c) The Register shall be available for public inspection.
Licence to act as 
motor omnibus 
conductor.
66. (1) No person shall act as a ticket inspector or as a motor
omnibus conductor without a licence issued, and an identification
tag allotted to him, by the Authority. 
(2) The Authority shall not issue or renew any such licence
unless the applicant is of good character, fit to carry out his duties
and -
(a) in the case of a ticket inspector, is not under the age of
eighteen years;
(b) in the case of a motor omnibus conductor, is not under
the age of sixteen years.
(3) The Authority may, from time to time, attach to any licence
such conditions as it may deem fit.
(4) Any licence issued or renewed by the Authority under this
regulation may be suspended or withdrawn by it if the Authority
has reason to believe that the holder thereof is no longer of good
character or no longer fit to carry out his duties or has contravened
any condition attached to such licence by the Authority.
(5) Any person acting as a ticket inspector or as a conductor
shall, while so acting, wear his Authority identification tag in a
conspicuous manner on the left side of his chest.
(6) Where any person licensed to act as a ticket inspector or as
a motor omnibus conductor ceases so to act for any reason
whatsoever including sickness (other than sickness of a short
duration), he shall immediately surrender his identification tag to
the Authority and he shall be deemed to have renounced to his
relative licence.
18 ġS.L.65.11 MOTOR VEHICLES
PART IV
Driving of Motor Vehicles
Duty to stop in 
case of accident.
Substituted by:
L.N. 234 of 1997.
Amended by:
L.N. 104 of 2004.
67. (1) If in any case, owing to the presence of a motor
vehicle on a road, an accident occurs involving personal injury to
another person or damage to any vehicle, animal or other property,
the driver of the motor vehicle must stop and, if required to do so
by a police officer, a local warden or by any person having
reasonable grounds for so requiring, give his name and address, the
name and address of the owner of the motor vehicle, the details of
the insurer of the vehicle as well as its registration mark or number.
(2) Saving the provisions of the other subregulations hereunder
of this regulation, where any case to which subregulation (1)
applies consists in an accident fitting the description in the Second
Schedule, but not involving personal injury or damage to public
property, the persons involved in the accident shall take steps to
ensure the immediate removal of anything which may be
obstructing the free course of traffic and immediately thereafter
exchange such information as is required by these regulations and
give the relevant information on the circumstances of the incident
on such appropriate forms supplied by the driver’s or owner’s
insurers, which form shall be delivered to the respective insurers by
not later than two working days following the date of the accident.
(3) Saving the other provisions of the subregulations hereunder
of this regulation, where any case to which subregulation (1)
applies consists in an accident which does not fit the description in
the Second Schedule, but not involving personal injury or damage
to public property, and the persons involved agree on the
circumstances of the accident then, the persons involved in the
accident shall exchange such information as is required by these
regulations and give the relevant information on the circumstances
of the incident on such appropriate forms supplied by the driver’s
or owner’s insurers, which form shall be delivered to the respective
insurers by not later than two working days following the date of
the accident, and they shall take steps to ensure the immediate
removal of anything which may be obstructing the free course of
traffic immediately thereafter.
(4) Saving the provisions of the other subregulations of this
regulation, where any case to which subregulation (1) applies
consists in an accident which does not fit the description in the
Second Schedule, but not involving personal injury or damage to
public property, and the persons involved do not agree on the
circumstances of the accident then, the persons involved in the
accident shall immediately notify the local warden to whom they
shall give such information as is required by these regulations.
(5) Saving the provisions of the other subregulations of this
regulation, where any case to which subregulation (1) applies
consists in an accident which involves personal injury or damage to
public property, the persons involved in the accident shall
immediately notify the local warden and, or the Police, to whom
they shall give such information as is required by this regulation.
(6) The form referred to in subregulation (2) shall not be
MOTOR VEHICLES ġS.L.65.11 19
admissible in evidence in criminal proceedings except -
(a) in criminal proceedings in respect of any false
declaration or information in the aforesaid form; or
(b) at the instance of the accused who is the driver or
owner who gave the relevant information in the
aforesaid form.
Control of motor 
vehicle.
68. A person driving a motor vehicle shall be so seated as to
have complete control of the motor vehicle, and a full view of the
road and of the traffic ahead of the motor vehicle. He shall not
leave the motor vehicle unattended without having taken due
precaution against its being moved in his absence or allow the
motor vehicle to stand on such street or be handled so as to cause
any unnecessary obstruction thereof or any inconvenience to the
public.
A person in charge of a motor omnibus, taxi-car, motor-car
for hire or goods vehicle shall at all times conduct his vehicle under
the power of its own motor and shall in no circumstances resort to
free-wheeling along any stretch of road either in the forward or in
the reverse direction, beyond a distance of 6 metres.
Overloading of 
vehicles.
69. (1) Saving the provisions of any other regulation limiting
the number of passengers or the maximum load that may be carried
in or on any vehicle, no person shall drive any motor vehicle which
is so overloaded with passengers or goods as to constitute danger
either to the passengers carried therein or thereon or to third
parties.
(2) No person shall drive any motor car for hire, taxi-car or self
drive car on which there are more passengers than the number
indicated on the relative licence.
(3) No person shall drive any motor vehicle whilst wearing or
using headphones or any other similar device which hinders or is
likely to hinder him from hearing properly.
Carriage of things 
which may cause 
damage.
70. No person shall drive any motor vehicle which shall have
in, on, under or attached to such vehicle anything which, due to its
weight or position, may cause damage to any other person’s
property, or to the street, road or other place of public thoroughfare,
or which may interfere with the steering or the mechanical
efficiency of the vehicle.
Corners.
corner or approaching a cross-road proceed at a slow rate of speed
and signal the direction in which he intends to proceed.
Entering or leaving 
garage.
72. A driver of a motor vehicle when entering or leaving a
garage shall take such necessary precautions as are required to
avoid accidents and collisions with other vehicles on the road.
Owner to give 
information to 
identify driver.
73. The owner of a motor vehicle shall, if required by a
member of the Police Force, give any information which it is in his
power to give, which may lead to the identification of any person
who was driving such motor vehicle when any offence is alleged to
have been committed.
20 ġS.L.65.11 MOTOR VEHICLES
Leaving a motor 
vehicle on the 
road.
74. No motor vehicle may be left in any road in contravention
of any parking regulations or in such a position or in such
circumstances as to be likely to cause danger or obstruction to other
persons using the road.
Driving on left 
side. 
75. Every person driving a motor vehicle shall keep to the left
hand side of the road and, when overtaking any other vehicle, horse
or cattle, shall keep his vehicle on the right hand side of such
vehicle, horse or cattle except in traffic lanes expressly marked on
the carriageway for such purposes and within the limitations of
such markings, or for other just cause.
When altering direction or course, or slowing down or
stopping, or when overtaking any other vehicle, horse or cattle,
every driver shall exercise due care and attention, and shall indicate
his intention by hand signal or by a traffic indicator or indicator
light.
Major road. 76. A major road is one where all traffic going over it has the
right of way, and traffic on all other roads converging into it shall
give way to that on the road referred to above, provided, however,
that the driver of any motor vehicle whether on a major or minor
road shall at all times exercise due care and shall take all necessary
precautions at any road junction.
Obstructions. 77. A person driving or having charge of a motor vehicle shall
not wilfully or negligently prevent, hinder or interrupt the free
passage to any person, vehicle, horse, or cattle through any road
and shall keep the motor vehicle on the left hand side of the road
for the purpose of allowing such passage.
No person shall park or leave unattended any motor vehicle
in such a manner as to impede any motor vehicle of another person
from having free entrance to or exit from any premises used and
clearly marked as a garage.
Reserved parking 
area. 
78. Where any area or space in any road or square is marked
as, or allotted to, a reserved parking, and the Commissioner of
Police issues a written permit in favour of the owners of vehicles
who may make use of such area or space, no motor vehicle may be
parked therein unless the relative permit is affixed on the left hand
side of the windscreen of the relative motor vehicle.
Parking 
prohibition.
79. No person shall, unless otherwise directed by the Police,
park or leave unattended any motor vehicle -
(a) within 5 metres of any corner or bend;
(b) within 12 metres on each side of any bus stop or fare
stage;
(c) around a traffic roundabout;
(d) on, or within 4 metres of, a pedestrian crossing, from
the side of the oncoming traffic; or
(e) on the pavement, unless authorised by the Police.
Parking of motor 
cycles.
80. Motor cycles shall not be parked parallel to the kerb or
wall of a street but shall be parked at an angle of not less than 45
degrees to such kerb or wall.
MOTOR VEHICLES ġS.L.65.11 21
Reversing.
vehicle to travel backwards for a greater distance or time than is
absolutely necessary and shall take such precautions as are required
to avoid collision and accidents with persons or other vehicles on
the road.
Right of way.
Amended by:
L.N. 206 of 2000.
82. (1) Saving the provisions of regulation 84, when two
motor vehicles are approaching each other at an intersection of
roads of equal importance, the driver of the motor vehicle which
has the other vehicle on his right side, shall allow such other
vehicle to pass. The driver of a motor vehicle proceeding from a
minor into a major road is to give way to traffic on the major road.
(2) Motor vehicles approaching a traffic roundabout shall give
way to motor vehicles already taking that roundabout.
(3) When two motor vehicles meet in a narrow street, the
width of which does not allow the free passage of both, the driver
nearest to the wider part of the road, where both vehicles may pass
one another freely, will reverse his vehicle to that part of the road
and allow the other vehicle to proceed on its way.
(4) When two motor vehicles arrive at different roads forming
a T junction, the one at the junction road shall give priority to the
one at the through road.
Vehicles on 
priority duty.
Substituted by:
L.N. 335 of 2002.
83. (1) Fire engines, ambulances, salvage and rescue vehicles
and other motor vehicles on priority duty may use acoustic and, or
visual warning devices by means of sirens, bells, two-tone horns
and flashing blue light while proceeding to an urgent call or in an
emergency. In the case of medical personnel responding to an
emergency call the flashing light shall be green.
(2) No vehicle other than those referred to in sub-regulation (1)
may use any of the acoustic or visual devices referred to in the said
sub-regulation without the permission of the Malta Transport
Authority.
Drivers to give 
way to priority 
duty vehicles.
84. Drivers of vehicles shall, as soon as they hear or see any of
the acoustic or visual warning devices referred to in regulation 83,
move speedily to the left hand side of the road, and stop, leaving
free as much of the carriageway as may be possible for the transit
of the vehicle or vehicles on emergency or priority duty, and may
proceed on their way only after such vehicle, or vehicles, has
driven past them.
Signal before 
stopping.
85. Every person driving a motor vehicle shall, before
stopping, drive such motor vehicle close to the footpath and
parallel thereto and indicate his intention to stop either by the use
of the light signal or, if such light signal is at the moment out of
order, by holding out his arm in a horizontal position, palm facing
downwards and slowly moving it in an up and down direction, in
such a manner that his hand is clearly visible to any driver
immediately following his motor vehicle.
Stopping at 
request.
86. Every person driving a motor vehicle shall at the request or
signal of any person having charge of any led horse or driven cattle
cause the motor vehicle to stop and remain stationary as long as
22 ġS.L.65.11 MOTOR VEHICLES
reasonably necessary for the passage of such animals.
Tow rope. 87. No motor vehicle shall tow any other vehicle unless the
tow rope or chain be so adjusted that the distance separating the
nearest points of the motor vehicles shall not exceed 4.5 metres and
steps shall be taken to render the tow rope or chain easily
distinguishable by other users of the road by the attachment of a
white rag.
No person shall drive a motor vehicle towing any other
vehicle equipped with a steering gear unless the driver in control of
the towed vehicle holds a licence under Categories B, B1, C, D and
E of regulation 50, or under Category A if the towed vehicle is a
motor cycle, and no person shall drive a towed vehicle unless he is
so licensed:
Provided that for the purposes of this regulation any vehicle
on tow equipped with a steering gear unless the vehicle is being
towed by a crane or by any vehicle equipped with a weight lifting
device and has either the two front wheels or the two rear wheels
suspended from the ground, shall be deemed to be a vehicle
required to be under the control of a licensed driver as indicated in
the foregoing paragraph of this regulation even if such vehicle shall
have any mechanical vital part or parts missing, or shall be
otherwise incapable of running on its own power, owing to such
defect or damage.
The vehicle on tow shall carry lights both in front and at the
rear during the period when lights are to be brought in operation.
White lines and 
studs.
88. Where a white line is painted, or studs fixed, or round a
corner or bend, no motor vehicle shall overtake another motor
vehicle proceeding in the same direction.
No motor vehicle may stop within 6 metres of any such
corner for the purpose of setting down or taking up or waiting for
passengers nor may the driver leave the motor vehicle within the
area of the white lines or studs.
Where white lines are painted in the vicinity of a bus stop
or fare stage sign, motor omnibuses shall keep within the area
defined by the white lines and the kerb whenever approaching such
bus stop or fare stage sign for the purpose of setting down or
picking up passengers or when stationary thereat, and, when
moving away therefrom, shall not deviate over the white line
parallel to the kerb.
When two or more motor omnibuses reach a bus stop or
fare stage sign simultaneously or when a motor omnibus reaches
such a stop or sign when one or more motor omnibuses are already
thereat, the bus or buses following the first bus shall stop at the
immediate rear of the bus in front of it and in such a way as to be in
line with it and shall not move away from that bus stop or fare stage
sign before the bus immediately in front of it has done so. In every
case, each bus moving away from the bus stop or fare stage sign
shall be driven through the space defined by the kerb on the one
side and on the other by the white line parallel to the kerb. No
motor vehicle other than a motor omnibus shall stop inside the area
MOTOR VEHICLES ġS.L.65.11 23
defined by the white lines and the kerb.
Pedestrian 
crossings.
89. (1) Where the carriageway is marked with parallel white
lines or studs across its width, or with any other marking to indicate
a crossing for the use of pedestrians, all vehicles approaching such
crossing shall slow down and, if necessary, shall stop, to allow any
pedestrian to use such a crossing, and they shall in no case cross the
path of any pedestrian making use of such crossing.
(2) No pedestrian shall linger unnecessarily when making use
of a pedestrian crossing.
(3) When any pedestrian crossing is controlled by traffic light
signals, operated either automatically or manually, pedestrians are
not to make use of such crossing unless authorised by such light
signals.
(4) The light signals referred to in the last preceding sub-
regulation of this regulation shall consist of the lit word WAIT, of
the lit word CROSS and of the intermittently lit word CROSS and
shall signify as follows:
(a) the lit word WAIT shall convey the prohibition for any
pedestrian to make use of the crossing;
(b) the lit word CROSS shall convey an indication that
pedestrians may make use of the crossing; and
(c) the intermittently lit word CROSS shall convey an
indication that the time allowed for the use of the
crossing is going to expire, and that no pedestrian, who
is not already crossing the carriageway, may make use
of the crossing.
Traffic lanes.
Amended by:
L.N.85 of 1999.
90. (1) Where the carriageway is divided into two or more
lanes, slow moving traffic and heavy motor vehicles shall use the
innermost lane except while overtaking or where there are signs
directing the use of other lanes, and other traffic shall make use of
the outer lane or lanes.
(2) Where the carriageway is divided into three or more lanes,
the innermost lane may be indicated as a reserved lane and in such
case it may only be used by any public transport vehicle or motor
vehicle on priority duty as is mentioned in regulation 83(1).
(3) No person, while driving any vehicle which is not a public
transport vehicle or a motor vehicle on priority duty, shall drive
along a reserved lane other than in a case of emergency.
PART V
Equipment of Motor Vehicles
Alteration or 
conversion.
91. (1) No person may, without the prior approval in writing
of the Commissioner of Police or, in the case of public transport
vehicles, of the Authority -
(a) make, or order or cause the making of, any alteration
to the body, chassis or engine of any motor vehicle; or
(b) change, or order or cause the changing of the engine of
24 ġS.L.65.11 MOTOR VEHICLES
any motor vehicle; or
(c) convert, or order or cause the conversion of, any motor
vehicle from the class in which it is registered or
licensed to any other class; or
(d) affix any bull bar or any other attachment on any
motor vehicle which may endanger the safety of traffic
or persons: 
Provided that prior to the registration of a motor
vehicle, the Commissioner of Police may, in the case
of newly imported motor vehicles, order the removal
of all similar attachments.
(2) No person may use any motor vehicle which he knows to be
in contravention of the provisions of sub-regulation (1) of this
regulation.
Brakes.  92. A motor vehicle shall be equipped with two entirely
independent and efficient braking systems (one of which shall
operate on all four wheels) or with one efficient braking system
(which shall operate on all four wheels) having two independent
means of operation, in each case so designed and constructed that
the failure of any single portion of any braking system shall not
prevent the brakes on two wheels, or in the case of a vehicle having
less than four wheels, on one wheel, from operating effectively so
as to bring the vehicle to rest within a reasonable distance:
Provided that in the case of a single braking system the two
means of operation shall not be deemed to be otherwise than
independent solely by reason of the fact that they are connected
either directly or indirectly to the same cross shaft.
In the case of a motor vehicle having more than three
wheels and equipped with two independent braking systems, if
either system operates only on two wheels, it shall be so designed
and constructed, that the brakes thereof shall act on two wheels on
the same axle.
Where, in the case of a single braking system, the means of
operation are connected directly or indirectly to the same cross
shaft, the brakes applied by one of such means shall act on all of
the wheels of the motor vehicle directly and not through the
transmission gear.
In all cases the brakes operated by one of the means of
operation shall be applied by direct mechanical action without the
intervention of any hydraulic, electric or pneumatic device. One
means of operation shall be by foot pedal and one shall be self-
holding.
In all cases the brakes operated by one of the means of
operation shall act directly upon the wheels and not through the
transmission gear.
Where brake connections are secured with bolts or pins, the
bolts or pins shall be threaded and effectively locked. All
connections made with bolts or pins shall be such that when they
are in any position other than horizontal the head of the bolt or pin
MOTOR VEHICLES ġS.L.65.11 25
shall be uppermost.
Every invalid carriage shall be equipped with an efficient
braking system, the brakes of which act on at least two of the
wheels of the vehicle so designed and constructed that the
application of the brakes shall bring the vehicle to rest within a
reasonable distance. 
Every trailer exceeding 100 kg. unladen shall be equipped
with a brake operating on at least two wheels in the case of a trailer
with not more than four wheels and on four wheels in the case of
trailers having more than four wheels.
Defective motor 
vehicles.
93. No person shall drive, or allow to be driven any motor
vehicle, the brakes, springs or other mechanical vital parts of which
are defective.
Any motor vehicle may at any time be examined by the
Police and suspended from running if found unfit, dangerous to the
public, likely to damage public property, or otherwise not
conforming with these Regulations:
Provided that in the case of public transport vehicles, the
powers of the Commissioner of Police under this regulation may
also be exercised by the Authority.
Fire extinguishers.
cycles shall carry suitable appliances as approved by the
Commissioner of Police or, in the case of public transport vehicles,
by the Authority for extinguishing fires, in such a position as to be
available for immediate use.
Fittings.
Amended by
L.N. 98 of 1995.
95.  (1) All motor vehicles shall have stop lights, rear view
mirror and direction indicators fitted. The direction indicators are
to be so fitted as to be clearly visible from the front and from the
rear. Motor vehicles, except motor cycles, shall have windscreen
wipers. These fittings shall be maintained in good working order.
(2) (a) Every motor vehicle imported into Malta on or after
the 1st August, 1995, shall be fitted with seat belts in
the front of the vehicle as approved by the
Commissioner of Police.
(b) For the purposes of this paragraph -
"front of the vehicle" means the area between the
driver’s seat and the forward facing seat alongside it
and the windscreen of the vehicle;
"motor vehicle" is limited to a private car or any
other vehicle intended to be used as a self-drive motor
vehicle, taxicar, motor vehicle for hire, invalid carriage
or motor minibus, as defined in regulation 2, when
such a vehicle is designed for use on the road, has at
least four wheels and a maximum designed speed
exceeding 25 kilometres per hour; and
"seat belt"' means a three point belt or a lap belt of
a type as approved by the Commissioner of Police.
26 ġS.L.65.11 MOTOR VEHICLES
Horns.
Amended by:
L.N. 104 of 2004.
96. (1) Every person driving a motor vehicle shall, where
necessary, give warning of his approach by sounding the horn or
other device.
(2) No person shall make, cause or permit to be made any
unnecessary noise with the motor vehicle horn or with any other
warning device.
(3) Any police officer or local warden may prohibit the use of
any horn or other warning device which appears to be strident or
otherwise objectionable. No pneumatic horn (other than an
ordinary hand pressed bulb horn) and no motor driven horn shall be
used on any motor vehicle.
(4) Any police officer not below the rank of sub-inspector or
local warden may order the removal from any motor vehicle of any
horn or warning device the use of which is prohibited under the
provisions of sub-regulation (3) of this regulation.
(5) No horn or other warning device shall be sounded in
inhabited areas between the hours of 11.00p.m. and 6.00a.m.
(6) The provisions of sub-regulations (2), (3), (4) and (5) of
this regulation shall not apply to any motor vehicle referred to in
regulation 83(1) while proceeding on an urgent call or in any other
emergency.
Obligatory lights. 97. No person shall cause or permit a motor vehicle to be on
any road, or shall drive or be in charge of a motor vehicle which is
being used on the road between sunset and sunrise whether it is in
motion or stationary without it being equipped with two front
lamps on opposite sides of the vehicle and a rear lamp at the back
of the vehicle:
Provided that, in the case of a loaded trailer, the lights on
such trailer shall be two at the rear bottom of the trailer (one on
each side thereof) and two at the rear top of the load (one on each
side thereof). 
These lamps shall in the case of the front lamps emit
forward a white or yellow light or such other light as may be
approved by the Commissioner of Police, or the Authority in the
case of public transport vehicles, and in the case of the rear lamp
exhibit a red light to a reasonable distance in the reverse direction.
Wattage. 98. The light projected from these lamps in the case of
stationary vehicles shall not be more powerful than the light of a 7
watts bulb.
Rear identification 
plate to be lit.
99. The rear light shall, apart from the requirements of
regulation 97, be so constructed as to throw by transparency
reflection or otherwise a white light to render easily distinguishable
every letter and figure on the rear identification plate and shall not
be more than 1 metre from the level of the ground. In the case of
omnibuses and goods vehicles the rear light shall not be more than
1.8m from the level of the ground.
Headlamps. 100. All motor vehicles while in motion shall be required to
have two front head lamps showing a white or yellow light or such
other as may be approved by the Commissioner of Police and, in
MOTOR VEHICLES ġS.L.65.11 27
the case of public transport vehicles, by the Authority on each side
of the vehicle.
The headlamps are to be so constructed, fitted and
maintained that when lighted the beam of light emitted therefrom
(a) is permanently deflected downwards, or (b) can be
mechanically dimmed or deflected downwards, or (c) be so
arranged that the off-side headlight can be mechanically
extinguished while the near side head-lamp is dipped or deflected
to the left. Provided that in the case of (c) a parking light on the off-
side of the vehicle is either permanently switched on or else comes
into operation when the off-side headlight is extinguished.
Headlights shall in all cases be dimmed or dipped in such a manner
as to render the light incapable of dazzling any pedestrian or driver
of another vehicle proceeding from the opposite direction.
The beam of light emitted from the two front headlamps
shall project no less than 11 metres in front of the car and shall be
dipped or dimmed whenever a person or another vehicle is
proceeding from the opposite direction.
When a motor vehicle is being driven in a well-lit inhabited
area, or along a straight and well-lit road, only the side lamps shall
be lighted provided that, when the said vehicle arrives in the
vicinity of a turning of the road outside an inhabited area, the driver
thereof shall light the dimmed headlamps or shall flicker such
lights.
Fitting of 
headlamps.
101. The two front headlamps shall be fitted with frosted glass
or any other anti-dazzle material and shall be so fixed that the
centre of the lamps is at a height not exceeding one metre from the
ground and, except in the case of a lamp used only in fog, not less
than 660 mm from the ground.
The Commissioner of Police may permit, according to his
discretion, a maximum height from the ground of 1.4 metres in the
case of headlamps fixed on trucks, tractors and other similar heavy
vehicles. In the case of omnibuses, such permission may be given
by the Authority.
The two front headlamps shall be fixed in such a manner
that no part of the vehicle or its equipment (exclusive of the driving
mirror or any direction indicator when in operation) extends
laterally on the same side as the lamp for more than 305 mm.
beyond the centre of the lamp, unless two other white lights
conforming in all respects to the provisions of these Regulations
are so fixed to the front of the vehicle.
Motor cycle 
headlamp.
102. In the case of motor cycles one lamp fitted with anti-dazzle
material and capable of being dipped or dimmed by some automatic
mechanism shall be carried attached to the front besides the rear
red light required by all other vehicles. When the motor cycle is
driven with a side-car attachment an additional lamp shall be
carried on the outside end of the side-car. This regulation shall also
apply to invalid carriages or other mechanically propelled vehicles
having only three wheels.
Prescribed lights.
28 ġS.L.65.11 MOTOR VEHICLES
Regulations shall be permitted. 
Exemption for 
certain standing 
motor vehicles.
104. The Commissioner of Police, if satisfied that any part of
any road within an area specially set aside for the parking of motor
vehicles or as a stand for hackney carriages, is adequately lighted
may give his consent for the use of such parking places or stand by
motor vehicles without lights and it shall not be necessary for
motor vehicles standing in any parking place in respect of which
such consent has been given to keep their lights on.
Noise. 105. No person shall drive or run the engine of a motor vehicle
in such a manner as to cause undue noise.
Silencer. 106. No person shall drive a motor vehicle unless it is provided
with an efficient silencer affixed to the exhaust pipe of such motor
vehicle in such a manner that the exhaust shall be projected through
the silencer, or which has a cut-out attached thereto or any
mechanism or device for cutting out the silencer affixed to such
vehicle.
Exhaust pipe not to 
emit pollutants.
107. No person shall drive any motor vehicle, or cause or allow
or suffer to be driven any motor vehicle in his possession or
control, when, from any cause whatsoever, the exhaust pipe of such
vehicle, or its connections, emits smoke, grit, sparks, ashes, cinders
or oily substances.
Speedometers. 108. All motor vehicles shall be equipped with speedometers,
which shall be fixed in a position readily visible to the driver and
shall always be kept in good working order.
Steering. 109. The steering mechanism shall be so constructed or
arranged that no over lock shall be possible and that the wheels
shall not in any circumstances foul any part of the vehicle.
The steering arms shall be polished but shall not be painted
or plated.
The ball and socket joints of steering connections, when
such are used, shall not be pendant. Dust excluding covers fitted to
any joint or connection of the steering mechanism shall be capable
of being easily removed to facilitate inspection.
Where steering connections are secured with bolts or pins,
the bolts or pins shall be threaded and effectively locked.
All connections made with bolts or pins shall be such that
when they are in any position other than horizontal the head of the
bolt or pin shall be uppermost.
Tyres. 110. (1) No person may use any solid tyres unless it is of the
resilient or supercushion type.
(2) No person may use any tyre which is so worn out that it
may cause damage to the road, undue noise or vibration or danger
to other road users.
(3) No motor vehicle with caterpillar tracks shall be driven on
any road but it shall be loaded on another motor vehicle for
transportation.
(4) No person may use any sectional tyre.
MOTOR VEHICLES ġS.L.65.11 29
Overall length and 
width of vehicles.
Amended by:
L.N. 236 of 2002.
111. (Revoked by Legal Notice 162 of 2003).
Combination of 
vehicles. 
112. No combination of motor vehicles or of motor vehicles and
trailers coupled together shall consist of more than three units and
no such combination including any load thereon shall have an
overall length exceeding 18 metres.
Permission in 
writing.
113. The Commissioner of Police or the Authority may in their
discretion, in special circumstances, give permission in writing for
any departure from the provisions of regulations 111 and 112.
Flap attached to 
rear wheels.
Substituted by:
L.N. 335 of 2002.
114.  No person may use on the road any motor omnibus, motor
minibus, goods vehicle (whose gross vehicle weight exceeds 3,500
kgs), tractor or truck, unless there is attached, to either of its rear
wheels, a flap of such size as to prevent any material from being
ejected by such wheel on to a following vehicle.
Wireless 
telegraphy 
apparatus.
115. (1) No motor vehicle licensed under these Regulations
shall be fitted with a wireless telegraphy apparatus without
permission from the Commissioner of Police.
(2) No public transport vehicle shall be fitted with a wireless
telegraphy apparatus without permission from the Authority.
Electronic sound.
radio, tape recorder, record player, or similar apparatus, on or in
any motor omnibus, taxi-car, or other motor vehicle licensed for
hire other than a self-drive car, while such vehicle is in motion, or
while it is stationary in any inhabited place.
PART VI
General Provisions relating to Motor Vehicles
Dangerous 
behaviour.
117.  While a motor vehicle is, or is about to be, set in motion,
no person shall alight from, mount on, or hang on to it or behave in
any other manner tending to cause danger or apprehension to
himself or to others.
No driver or conductor of a motor vehicle shall permit any
of the acts prohibited by the foregoing paragraph of this regulation.
Flags.
without permission from the Commissioner of Police.
Importers and 
dealers.
Amended by:
L.N. 104 of 2004.
119. Importers of, and dealers in, motor vehicles shall keep a
register, wherein all sales, purchases or disposals shall be noted in
ink together with full particulars respecting the motor vehicles, the
name and address of buyers, sellers or consignees and shall notify
in writing each transaction within seven days to the Commissioner
of Police. These registers shall be numbered and shall be shown on
demand to any police officer not below the rank of inspector or
local warden:
Provided that in the case of public transport vehicles the
said notice shall be given to the Authority and the said power of
inspection shall be exercised by the officers of that Authority.
30 ġS.L.65.11 MOTOR VEHICLES
Examinations. 
Substituted by:
L.N. 125 of 1998.
120. (1) There shall be held an examination of all motor
vehicles, at such intervals and frequencies as may be prescribed, by
such examiners and on such dates and in such places as shall be
indicated by the Director (Traffic), who shall also have the power
to order the re-examination of such vehicles as he deems fit.
(2) Any owner who fails to have his vehicle examined or re-
examined as aforesaid shall have the licence in respect of the
vehicle suspended, until such time as the vehicle has been
examined and passed fit for the road.
Vehicle fitted with 
diesel engine.
121. (1) Every motor vehicle, other than a private car, fitted
with a diesel engine shall have the fuel injector pump of the engine
sealed by the examiner when such vehicle is brought to him for
examination and found fit.
(2) The Commissioner of Police may order that the provisions
of sub-regulation (1) of this regulation be applied to any private
car.
(3) The Commissioner of Police or the Authority, as the case
may be, may authorise, when it is necessary for the purpose of
effecting repairs or for any other good cause, the breaking of any
seals affixed in accordance with the preceding sub-regulations of
this regulation.
Parks for motor 
vehicles.
Amended by:
L.N. 93 of 2003.
122. The Malta Transport Authority shall have power to fix
parking places and the number and type of motor vehicles which
may use the same.
The Malta Transport Authority shall be empowered to
indicate parking places and also roads where no parking shall be
permitted, by affixing signs in the places concerned.
The Authority may reserve stands for taxi-cars. Any stands
so reserved shall be indicated by an appropriate sign showing the
number of taxi-cars which may be exposed for hire. No motor
vehicles other than taxi-cars may park in a stand so reserved. 
The Commissioner of Police may, for a specific occasion or
function, reserve parking places, or space in parking places, for
particular authorities, persons or groups: provided that the Malta
Transport Authority may provide for continuous parking spaces.
Pillion riding.  123. (1) It shall not be lawful for more than one person in
addition to the driver to be carried on any motor cycle, nor shall it
be lawful for any such person to be so carried otherwise than sitting
astride on the motor cycle and on a proper seat securely fixed to the
motor-cycle behind the driver’s seat.
(2) No person may drive or be carried on any motor cycle
unless he is at the time wearing a crash helmet.
(3) For the purposes of sub-regulation (2) of this regulation the
expression "motor cycle" means any motor vehicle with two wheels
and includes a motor cycle with side-car attachment.
MOTOR VEHICLES ġS.L.65.11 31
Orders given by 
the Police and local 
wardens.
Substituted by:
L.N. 104 of 2004.
124. (1) Every person driving or having charge of a motor
vehicle shall at all times immediately comply with any order,
indication or signal given or made by the Police or a local warden
for the purpose of regulating traffic or for any other purpose in the
exercise of their duty.
(2) Any person who untruthfully gives to any police officer or
local warden in the exercise of their duty, his name, surname,
identity card number, address and other particulars and, or
document that may be lawfully required shall be guilty of a
contravention.
Vehicular traffic 
light signals.
Amended by:
L.N. 91 of 2001.
125. (1) The Commissioner of Police may, with the advice of
the Traffic Control Board, authorise the erection of light signals,
operated either automatically or manually, in the centre of any road
intersection or junction, or at the side of any road, for the purpose
of regulating vehicular traffic in that area.
(2) One of such signals shall consist of three vertically erected
signalling lamps emitting, when in operation, a red light, a green
light and an amber light respectively which shall signify as follows:
(a) the red signal shall convey the prohibition that
vehicular traffic shall not proceed beyond the stop line
on the carriageway or, if there is no stop line, beyond
the signals where these are erected on the side of the
road; where the light signals are in the centre of a road
intersection or junction, and there is no stop line on the
carriageway, the red signal shall convey the
prohibition that vehicular traffic is not to emerge on
the intersecting road or junction;
(b) the green signal shall convey an indication that
vehicular traffic may proceed straight, or turn to the
left or to the right;
(c) the amber signal shall be an indication of an
impending change from the green signal to the red
signal and shall convey the same prohibition as the red
signal:
Provided that if, when such amber signal first
appears, a vehicle is so close to the stop line or signals
or road intersection or junction, as the case may be,
that it cannot be safely stopped in accordance with
paragraph (a) of sub-regulation (2) of this regulation,
such prohibition shall not apply:
Provided further that when a flashing amber light
is in operation, such signal shall convey an indication
that vehicular traffic is to proceed with caution owing
to a road intersection or junction or to the presence of
a pedestrian crossing.
(3) When the signal consists of three signalling lamps in
triangular form emitting, when in operation, two intermittent red
light signals and an amber light respectively, such lights shall
signify as follows -
(a) the intermittent red signals shall convey the
32 ġS.L.65.11 MOTOR VEHICLES
prohibition that traffic shall not proceed beyond the
stop line;
(b) the amber signal shall convey the prohibition that
traffic shall not proceed beyond the stop line on the
carriageway, except for a vehicle which is so close to
the stop line that it cannot safely be stopped without
proceeding beyond the stop line.
(4) Vehicular traffic proceeding in accordance with the
foregoing provisions of this regulation shall proceed with due
regard to the safety of other users of the road and subject to the
directive of the Police or other duly authorised person who may be
engaged in the regulation of traffic.
Responsibility of 
owner.
126. The owner or driver is responsible that the motor vehicle
owned by him is kept clean and in a good state of repair.
Speed limits.
Amended by:
L.N. 58 of 2002;
L.N. 104 of 2004.
127. (1) No motor vehicle shall exceed the speed limit as
shown in the table hereunder: 
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-regulation (1) of this
Maximum speed in 
kilometres per hour
Class of vehicle In towns and 
villages
Outside towns 
or villages
(A) Fitted with pneumatic tyres
Taxicars ................................. 50 80
Motor vehicles for hire ........... 50 80
Self-drive motor vehicles ....... 50 80
Private cars ............................ 50 80
Motor cycles .......................... 50 80
Motor cycles for hire .............. 50 80
Motor hearses ........................ 50 80
Invalid carriages .................... 50 80
Minibuses .............................. 40 60
Motor omnibuses ................... 40 60
Goods vehicles up to 3 tonnes  40 60
Goods vehicles over 3 tonnes  40 60
Industrial and agricultural
vehicles ................................. 20 30
Towing vehicles ..................... 20 30
Motor ambulances .................. No limit No limit
Fire engines ........................... No limit No limit
Police, Armed Forces and
Customs vehicles on
emergency or priority duty ..... No limit No limit
(B) Fitted with solid tyres
All vehicles ............................ 15 20
MOTOR VEHICLES ġS.L.65.11 33
regulation, the Commissioner of Police may, on the advice of the
Traffic Control Board, prescribe in respect of any particular road or
area a lower speed limit than that specified in sub-regulation (1) of
this regulation:
Provided that the provisions of this regulation shall not
apply to any motor vehicle participating in a sporting event held
with the permission of the Commissioner of Police on a public road
which is at the time closed to the public for the purpose of the
holding of the said sporting event.
Traffic speed 
monitoring.
Amended by;
L.N. 104 of 2004.
(3) Photographs, film, video-recordings, electronic images or
any other record produced by a prescribed speed monitoring
device, including any record of a measurement made by the device,
shall be admissible in evidence and shall constitute proof of their
contents if they are accompanied by a certificate signed by a police
officer or local warden (in the same or in another document)  as to
the circumstances of date, time and place in which the photograph,
film, video-recording, electronic image or other record was
produced.
(4) Any device referred to in subregulation (1) shall be a device
prescribed by order of the Minister responsible for Transport who
may in any such order lay down any conditions as to the purposes
for which, and the manner and other circumstances in which, the
device is to be used.
(5) A document purporting to be a document, record or signed
certificate of the kind mentioned in sub-regulation (1) shall be
deemed to be such a document, record or certificate signed as
aforesaid unless the contrary is proved.
(6) The owner of the vehicle which is identified in any
document, record or signed certificate  referred to in sub-regulation
(1) shall be responsible for any offence proved by the same
document, record or signed certificate unless the driver of the
vehicle when the offence was committed is shown to have been
stopped and identified by the police immediately after the
commission of the offence.
(7) Any image recorded by any means referred to in sub-
regulation (3) may be converted from one format to another,
transmitted, stored or reproduced by electronic or any other means
that allows the recorded image to be reproduced in intelligible form
including, without limitation, electronically.
(8) Where a recorded image has been stored in electronic
format as provided in sub-regulation (7), the recorded image may
be reproduced in paper format which shall have the same effect for
all purposes as if it were an original document if the reproduction is
certified to be such in the certificate mentioned in sub-regulation
(3).
(9) Any device prescribed under sub-regulation (3) shall be
deemed to have been functioning accurately and correctly in all
respects at the time that any document or record referred to in the
said paragraph was produced by it unless the contrary is proved.
(10) The person against whom a certificate under sub-regulation
34 ġS.L.65.11 MOTOR VEHICLES
(3) is produced may require the attendance of the police officer or
local warden who purportedly signed the certificate for the purpose
of cross-examination.
(11) For the purposes of sub-regulations (3) to (6), ''speed
monitoring device'' means a device prescribed under sub-regulation
(3) that is capable of photographing or capturing the image of a
motor vehicle while simultaneously measuring and recording its
speed.
Carriage of school 
children.
128. Every motor vehicle, other than a private car (not being a
motor minibus), shall, while carrying school-children, have affixed
behind the windscreen and behind the rear window a sign showing
two school-children and similar in type, shape, colour and size to a
sign exhibited at such place as may be designated by the Authority.
PART VII
Substituted by:
L.N. 85 of 1999.
Motor vehicles for hire, self-drive motor vehicles and motor 
omnibuses for public transport
Grant of hire 
licence.
Amended by:
L.N. 85 of 1999.
129. The Authority may refuse to grant or to renew a licence for
a motor vehicle for hire, a self-drive vehicle or a motor omnibus for
public transport if in its opinion there are too many such licences in
existence or the granting or renewal of such licence is prejudicial to
public interest or convenience. The motor vehicle concerned shall
then be licensed as a private motor car by the Commissioner of
Police.
In any case no motor vehicle shall be licensed as a motor
vehicle for hire, a self-drive vehicle or a motor omnibus for public
transport, unless it conforms to the requirements of these
Regulations especially the relevant provisions of Part V relating to
the Equipment of Motor Vehicles.
Safety of motor 
vehicles for hire, 
etc.
Substituted by:
L.N. 85 of 1999.
130. (1) Every motor vehicle for hire, self-drive motor vehicle
or motor minibus for public transport shall be fit and safe in every
respect for the conveyance of passengers.
(2) A motor vehicle for hire or motor omnibus for public
transport shall contain a fire extinguisher, a security hammer and a
security triangle, and also as regards a public service garage van
and a motor minibus for public transport, a first-aid kit.
(3) A motor vehicle for hire which is a public service garage
van and which is licensed and/or registered to carry between eight
and ten passengers, shall have a seat belt in respect of each
passenger.
(4) Every motor minibus manufactured after 1995 shall have a
seat belt in respect of each passenger.
(5) A motor vehicle for hire which is a public service garage
van shall have affixed to the front right side-door window a self
adhesive sticker of transparent material, which indicates the
following information -
Vehicle registration number ..................................................
Registered Owner ..................................................................
MOTOR VEHICLES ġS.L.65.11 35
Passenger Capacity ...............................................................
(No smoking sign) Please refrain from smoking.
(6) There shall be written in white on each of the side front
doors of motor minibuses for public transport the following:
Public Transport Vehicle .......................................................
Registered Number ................................................................
Passenger Capacity ...............................................................
Driver’s dress and 
identification tag.
Amended by:
L.N. 149 of 1995;
L.N. 85 of 1999.
131. The driver of a motor vehicle which is licensed for hire
(other than a self-drive motor vehicle or a motor cycle for hire) and
of a motor minibus for public transport shall wear, whilst on duty, a
uniform of the pattern and colour as approved by the Authority. 
Examinations. 
Amended by:
L.N. 85 of 1999.
132. All motor vehicles for hire, self-drive cars, and motor
minibuses for public transport and all motor cycles for hire shall be
examined annually and at other times as provided in regulation 120.
Registration of 
hires.
Amended by:
L.N. 85 of 1999.
133. The owner or keeper of a public garage is required to keep
a register giving certain particulars of the hiring of his motor
vehicles under regulation 62.
General 
provisions.
Amended by:
L.N. 85 of 1999.
134. (a) No passenger shall refuse to pay his fare to the driver
of a motor vehicle for hire at the end of a trip, or when
demanded thereafter.
(b) The driver of any motor vehicle for hire shall be in
possession of a copy of the official tariff of fares and
of these Regulations. He shall produce the same
whenever requested to do so by the Police or by any
officer of the Authority or by any passenger.
(c) Every motor vehicle for hire and self-drive motor
vehicle shall be kept constantly clean and maintained
in good order and state of repair.
(d) No motor vehicle for hire or self-drive motor vehicle
shall carry petrol or other inflammable liquid or
material except in the tank of the vehicle.
(e) No passenger and/or driver may smoke while he is in a
motor vehicle for hire which is a public service garage
van.
(f) Any motor vehicle for hire which is a public service
garage van shall display in a prominent place inside the
vehicle and which is clearly visible to all passengers, a
no smoking sign.
(g) All the provisions of this regulation shall also apply as
regards motor omnibuses for public transport.
Display of tariff of 
fares.
Amended by:
L.N. 85 of 1999.
135. The licensee of a self-drive motor vehicle shall see that no
such motor vehicle is given on hire unless there is displayed
conspicuously in the interior of such motor vehicle a copy of the
Tariff of Fares.
36 ġS.L.65.11 MOTOR VEHICLES
PART VIII
Goods Vehicles
Additional 
requirements.
136. No goods vehicle shall be licensed as such unless it
conforms to the requirements of all these Regulations especially the
relevant provisions of Part V relating to the Equipment of Motor
Vehicles.
Safety of goods 
vehicles.
137. A goods vehicle shall be fit and safe in every respect for
the conveyance of goods.
Construction. 138. (1) Goods vehicles constructed as lorries or trucks shall
have sides and a tailboard not less than 610 mm high fitted to the
platform and the load shall be firmly secured so as to prevent any
part of it from falling on the roadway or otherwise endangering the
safety of traffic or of persons. In no case shall the load reach a
height which will impair the stability of the vehicle and no part of it
shall project on either side beyond the overall width of the body.
Goods vehicles constructed as vans shall have a body completely
enclosed with permanent material and shall have a door at the rear
for access to the interior, which, under no circumstances, is to
protrude laterally on either side of the van beyond the width of the
body. The maximum weight of the load determined by the makers
shall be plainly marked on each side of the vehicle and such
maximum shall not be exceeded.
In special cases, however, the Commissioner of Police, on
the advice of the Traffic Control Board, may give permission in
writing to owners of goods vehicles to depart from the
constructional requirements laid down in this regulation.
(2) No empty or full boxes, and no crates of mineral water
bottles shall be carried on any goods vehicle or other motor vehicle
unless such boxes or crates are securely tied up. 
(3) No gas cylinders, whether full or empty, shall be carried on
any goods vehicle unless in an upright position, and no such
cylinders shall be carried on any such vehicle together with other
goods.
(4) No motor vehicle containing gas cylinders, whether full or
empty, shall be parked at any place whatsoever in a residential area
unless it is continuously attended.
Particular 
provisions 
applicable to goods 
vehicles.
139. (1) No person shall drive or cause or permit to be driven a
goods vehicle when, from any cause whatsoever, the exhaust pipe
or its connections emit any smoke, grit, sparks, ashes, cinders or
oily substances.
(2) No person shall drive any motor vehicle carrying iron nets
or rods unless these are secured in a manner whereby they will not
cause damage, or be likely to cause damage to the surface of the
road.
(3) No person shall drive or operate, or cause or permit to be
driven or operated, a motor vehicle carrying ready-mixed concrete
unless a canvas bay or any other similar device is fixed to the
vehicle in such manner as to prevent any spillage of liquified
MOTOR VEHICLES ġS.L.65.11 37
concrete which could cause damage to the road surface.
Examinations.
times as provided in regulation 120.
Passengers.
that -
one person may be permitted to sit next to the driver of
a goods vehicle whilst it is in use;
they are the persons who are in charge of the goods or
engaged in loading or unloading them.
The Commissioner of Police may, in special cases, grant
permission:
(i) to owners of goods vehicles to carry persons in
their vehicles other than those in charge of the
goods;
(ii) to bona fide contractors and bona fide bodies to
transport workmen free of any charge or reward
in their goods vehicles, from the mustering point
to their principal place of work and other work
sites and return provided such places of work are
not situated within easy reach of an established
bus route and provided that there is in respect of
such goods vehicle an appropriate insurance to
cover workmen carried therein free of charge.
Perishable goods.
unless these are specially constructed and approved by the Chief
Government Medical Officer for that purpose.
Use of cranes in 
harbours or on 
wharves.
143. No person shall, for the purpose of handling goods on
wharves, on quays, or afloat in any harbour, make use of any motor
vehicle, boat or float fitted with a crane, a fork lift, or any other
similar device for lifting goods, without the written permission of
the Comptroller of Customs.
PART IX
Motor Omnibuses: Licences and Routes
Conditions of 
service.
144. It shall be a condition of all motor omnibus licences that
the service on the route concerned is obligatory for the frequency
of departure from termini and for the number of hours fixed by the
Authority.
Classification of 
motor omnibuses.
145. The Authority may classify motor omnibuses according to
the services, facilities and other amenities thereof.
Power to fix 
routes.
146. The Authority shall fix the routes to be followed by motor
omnibuses and shall prepare, or cause to be prepared (subject to its
approval) a roster of the motor omnibuses to give their scheduled
service on any particular route.
Plying according to 
roster.
147. The owner of any motor omnibus shall cause his vehicle to
ply on any route in accordance with a roster prepared or approved,
as the case may be, under regulation 146.
38 ġS.L.65.11 MOTOR VEHICLES
Priority of 
scheduled service.
148. On any day during which a motor omnibus is required to
perform a scheduled service, the owner of such motor omnibus
shall not cause, allow or permit such motor omnibus to be on the
road for any service or work whatsoever other than the scheduled
service.
PART X
Conductors and drivers of motor omnibuses
Identification tags 
for drivers and 
conductors.
149. The driver and conductor of a motor omnibus shall wear an
identification tag, prescribed by the Authority, in a conspicuous
place on the left side of their chest.
Tag not to be 
transferable.
150. No driver or conductor of any motor omnibus shall make
use of an identification tag other than that issued to him by the
Authority and such identification tag shall not be transferable from
one driver or conductor to another.
Identification tags 
for inspectors.
151. Ticket inspectors and employees of the central offices for
scheduled and unscheduled services shall also wear an
identification tag as may be prescribed by the Authority in a
conspicuous place on the left side of their chest. No ticket inspector
or employee of the said central offices shall make use of an
identification tag other than that issued to him by the Authority.
Tags to be returned 
on expiry.
152. Identification tags shall be returned to the Authority as
soon as the licence of the holder thereof expires or is suspended. 
Conductor 
required. 
153. Licensed conductors may be engaged on every motor
omnibus plying for passengers.
Idle conversation 
and smoking.
154. No driver, conductor or ticket inspector of any motor
omnibus and no despatcher shall smoke while in or on any such
vehicle.
No driver, conductor or ticket inspector of any motor
omnibus and no despatcher shall hold idle conversation in or on
any motor omnibus while it is plying between one terminus and
another.
The conductor shall not sit next to the driver on a motor
omnibus which is provided with a rear entrance, when the motor
omnibus is in motion or when passengers are being carried.
The conductor shall remain near the entrance of the motor
omnibus when stopping at a stage to pick up or put down
passengers.
It shall be the duty of both the conductor and the driver to
see that all passengers will have taken their place in the motor
omnibus before it is set in motion.
Production of 
regulations. 
155. The driver of any motor omnibus shall be in possession of
a copy of these Regulations and shall produce the same whenever
requested to do so by any officer of the Authority or by any
passenger.
Responsibility of 
owner and 
conductor.
156. The conductor and driver or owner of a motor omnibus
shall be held responsible for the cleanliness of the vehicle while in
use and for compliance with all the relevant provisions of these
MOTOR VEHICLES ġS.L.65.11 39
Regulations.
Responsibility of 
driver. 
157. The driver of a motor omnibus shall be held responsible for
the maintenance and driving of the vehicle on the road and for
compliance with all the relevant provisions of these Regulations.
Uniforms. 
Amended by:
L.N. 85 of 1999.
158. (1) The driver and the conductor of a motor omnibus
shall wear, while on duty, a driver’s or a conductor’s uniform, as
the case may be, of a pattern and colour, and with or without
distinctive marks, in accordance with the relative sample uniform
exhibited at the offices of the Authority in Malta and/or in Gozo,
and/or at such place as may be designated by the Authority.
(2) The winter uniform shall be worn from the 1st day of
October of any year to the 31st day of May of the next following
year and the summer uniform shall be worn from the 1st day of
June to the 30th day of September of any year:
Provided that the Authority may authorise a departure from
such dates.
(3) Ticket inspectors shall wear, while on duty, a black peak
cap and a uniform of a pattern and colour, and with or without
distinctive marks, as approved by the Authority.
(4) Drivers, conductors and ticket inspectors shall wear any
such uniform in a proper manner and shall keep it clean and in a
good state of repair.
PART XI
General provisions relating to motor omnibuses
Advertisements.
in the interior of any motor omnibus licensed for hire without the
permission of the Authority. When such permission is granted the
advertisement shall be displayed in a frame of a design and
dimensions to be approved by the Authority.
No advertisement or other printed matter is allowed on the
exterior of any motor omnibus licensed for hire.
Nothing shall be permitted to obstruct the view of the driver
or passengers.
Passengers in 
offensive 
condition.
160. When a motor omnibus is carrying passengers or is waiting
to take up passengers, a passenger or intending passenger shall not,
if his condition is such as to be offensive to other passengers, or the
condition of his dress or clothing is such that it may reasonably be
expected to soil or injure the cushion or cushion covers of the
vehicle or the clothing of other passengers, enter or remain in or on
the vehicle after the driver or conductor shall have warned him
either not to enter or to leave the vehicle and in such latter case
shall have tendered to him the amount of any fare already paid.
Conveyance of 
animals.
161. No person shall take any dog or any other animal with him
on any motor omnibus if objected to by any of the passengers. Dogs
permitted to be taken on a motor omnibus shall not occupy any of
the passengers’ seats and the conductor may exact a fee of one cent
per dog. The conveyance of cattle is prohibited.
40 ġS.L.65.11 MOTOR VEHICLES
Complete journey. 162. Motor omnibuses shall complete the journey within a
reasonable time or within a specified period as may from time to
time be fixed by the Authority.
If a bus fails to complete a journey as a result of damage or
breakdown, the driver and/or conductor shall be responsible for
taking the necessary steps to notify the Authority to substitute the
bus.
Destination boards. 163. All motor omnibuses shall -
(a) while on scheduled service, show their destination and
the route number, and
(b) while on unscheduled service, indicate such fact, in
such manner and in such place or places as the
Authority may direct.
Collection of fares. 164. Every passenger shall pay the appropriate fare for the
journey he wishes to take on a motor omnibus. Any passenger who
negligently or wilfully fails to pay the fare due or who travels
beyond the correct stage for a fare already paid without paying the
additional fare due shall be liable on conviction to a fine of 25
cents in respect of each offence. 
All intending passengers shall take their turn in an orderly
queue to board the bus and the driver or conductor shall collect the
fare on the vehicle as soon as possible.
No driver or conductor shall demand a fare greater than that
established in the tariff.
When fares lower than those established in the official tariff
are charged a list of such lower fares shall be submitted to the
Authority and shall be shown in a conspicuous place inside the
motor omnibus. These lower fares shall not be raised before the
lapse of two days after notice in writing has been given to the
Authority and a printed notice has been affixed in a prominent
position inside the vehicle. The lower fares shall not be raised in
any case above the fares established in the official tariff of fares.
Any officer of the Authority while on duty, route managers
and despatchers shall not be made to pay the fare when travelling
on motor omnibuses on the route on which they are employed.
They may travel in excess of the number of passengers allotted to
the omnibus.
When a bus on a given route runs on a prescribed route or
subsidiary service along a particular route, a board showing such
route shall be displayed in a visible and conspicuous part of the
windscreen.
Inflammable liquid 
or materials.
Amended by:
L.N. 149 of 1995.
165. (1) Motor omnibuses shall not carry petrol or other
inflammable liquid or material except in the tanks of the vehicle. 
(2) The content of the tanks of the vehicle may, at any time, be
examined by the Police or by any officer of the Authority, and no
person shall cause or permit such vehicle to be on the road, unless
the driver thereof is carrying a key or other instrument to open the
tanks of the vehicle.
MOTOR VEHICLES ġS.L.65.11 41
Interference with 
omnibus 
personnel.
166.  No person shall in any way interfere with, obstruct or in
any other way molest the driver or conductor in the exercise of
their duties nor speak to the driver while the omnibus is in motion;
drivers and conductors are in no way to be disrespectful towards
passengers.
Infringement of 
regulations.
167.  Any person infringing any of these Regulations or causing
annoyance or disturbance or being manifestly in a state of
intoxication in a motor omnibus may be immediately removed from
the vehicle by the Police, independently of any punishment to
which the offender may become liable according to law.
Lost property. 
omnibus shall be delivered by him to the nearest Police office on
completion of the trip.
Objectionable 
articles.
169.  No person shall carry in any motor omnibus any loaded
fire-arms, or any article having an offensive smell. 
Littering of buses.
with any object, and passengers shall not leave bus tickets on the
floor or in any other part of the motor omnibus except in the box
indicated for the purpose in regulation 194.
Official notices 
and tariff of fares.
171. The official tariff of fares, time-table and the passengers’
accommodation form shall be exhibited in a conspicuous position
behind the driver’s compartment inside each motor omnibus.
The owner of a motor omnibus shall also exhibit in a
prominent place inside the motor omnibus any notice which the
Authority may consider expedient to bring to the notice of the
travelling public. The said notice shall remain exhibited for such
period as the Authority may direct.
The driver and the owner of the motor omnibus shall be
responsible that the notices referred to above are kept in a
conspicuous place and visible to passengers.
Overloading. 
responsible that the number of passengers allotted to the omnibus
be not exceeded.
Overtaking. 
the latter is stationary at a stage.
Parcels.
Where special accommodation for parcels has been provided, the
driver or conductor may make a charge not exceeding six cents for
the conveyance of each parcel. No charge shall be levied for small
parcels not causing inconvenience to passengers. Route buses
travelling to and from the International Airport may carry a
maximum of two suitcases for each passenger.
Refuelling. 
omnibus when passengers are on board.
Smoking. 
omnibus.
Standing on step.
motor omnibus while in motion.
42 ġS.L.65.11 MOTOR VEHICLES
Stopping places.
Amended by:
L.N. 104 of 2004.
178. (1) Motor omnibuses, running on a route, may stop only
at the authorised stopping place indicated by a BUS STOP or FARE
STAGE sign, and then only for the purpose of setting down
passengers or loading those actually waiting under such signs:
Provided that ticket inspectors, police officers or local
wardens and any officer of the Authority may, in the execution of
their duty, board any route bus at any point between one bus stop
and another.
The driver of a motor omnibus shall stop at any of the
above signs, whenever a passenger waiting under such sign signals
his intention of boarding the vehicle, unless the vehicle is carrying
the full complement of passengers.
It shall likewise be the duty of the driver of a motor
omnibus to stop his vehicle at the first authorised stopping place
immediately a passenger in the vehicle has signalled to him to do so
by sounding the bell or other device provided in the bus for such
purpose, and the conductor shall give such a signal himself to the
driver whenever he is requested to do so by any passenger.
No passenger shall use the bell or other device intended for
signalling to the driver to stop except when he wishes to be set
down at an authorised stopping place.
(2) Every driver of a motor omnibus shall, before stopping at
an authorised stopping place, drive such motor omnibus parallel
and close to the kerb, in such a manner that any passenger may
alight from such motor omnibus directly onto the kerb, or board
such motor omnibus directly from the kerb.
Terminus 
arrangements.
179. When a motor omnibus is at the terminus or at any stage
loading or discharging passengers, the driver shall be in his place
behind the steering wheel and the conductor near the entrance.
Any officer of the Authority may order motor omnibuses to
leave the terminus without the full complement of passengers.
The number of motor omnibuses allowed to remain at a
terminus shall be fixed by the Authority.
All passengers arriving in a motor omnibus at any terminus
or at any point in use as a terminus shall alight from the omnibus
and, for the purpose of travelling back, even immediately on
arrival, shall comply with the provisions of the second paragraph of
regulation 164.
Tickets. 180. A passenger who is not in possession of a ticket is obliged
to pay his fare to the driver or conductor on demand. The driver or
conductor shall deliver tickets corresponding to the fare paid by the
passenger either for himself or for any other passenger or in respect
of any parcel for the conveyance of which a charge may be made
under regulation 174.
Drivers or conductors shall obtain the tickets from the
central office for scheduled services at a price to be fixed by the
Authority.
The tickets shall show the fare charged and shall be of such
MOTOR VEHICLES ġS.L.65.11 43
a size, colour and shape as the Authority may direct.
Every driver or conductor shall have in his possession
tickets of all fares relative to the particular route.
The driver or conductor of a motor omnibus shall be held
responsible for the compliance of the provisions of this regulation.
Windows.
on stand at the terminus or in motion if any of the passengers
request the driver or conductor to have it closed.
PART XII
Constructional requirements of motor omnibuses
Licensing of motor 
omnibuses.
182. No motor vehicle shall be licensed as a motor omnibus
unless it conforms to the requirements of all these Regulations
especially the relevant provisions of Part V relating to the
Equipment of Motor Vehicles.
Compliance with 
established 
requirements.
183. Every vehicle shall comply in all respects with the
requirements as to the construction, weight and equipment
including all body-work, upholstery and fittings which shall be
soundly and properly constructed of suitable materials well
finished and in good and serviceable condition, and of such design
that it is capable of withstanding the loads and stresses likely to be
met in operations.
Efficient means shall be provided to enable passengers to
signal to the driver when required to stop.
The construction of double deck vehicles is not permitted
without the special permission of the Authority.
Body. 
not extend beyond the end of the chassis or of an extension passed
as mechanically sound.
No motor omnibus body shall be constructed to seat less
than twenty-six passengers nor more than forty-six passengers
without the approval in writing of the Authority.
Engine capacity. 
motor omnibus or one having a replacement of engine, shall not be
less than 74 Kw in the case of a vehicle the gross laden weight of
which does not exceed 10 tonnes and not less than 93 Kw if the
gross laden weight exceeds 10 tonnes but does not exceed 12
tonnes.
The Authority shall at its discretion be empowered to
require a higher engine capacity in the case of a motor omnibus the
gross laden weight of which exceeds 12 tonnes.
The engine power shall be interpreted to mean the power of
the engine exclusive of power to operate auxiliary units not
required for engine operation.
Brakes.
requirements are necessary for the brakes of a motor omnibus.
44 ġS.L.65.11 MOTOR VEHICLES
Either brake shall be capable of stopping the fully loaded
vehicle on a gradient of 1 in 4. 
The operation of either brake must not re-clutch the engine
from the transmission gear.
Nothing shall be placed on the motor omnibus which will
prevent access to the brakes for adjustment.
Carburettors and 
petrol receptacles.
187. All carburettors and apparatus associated therewith shall
be so placed or shielded that no fuel leaking therefrom shall fall
upon any part or fitting which is capable of igniting it, or into any
receptacle where it might accumulate.
When a guard tray or under-shield is fixed beneath the
engine and adjacent to the machinery it shall be so constructed that
any over-flow of fuel will not be retained in the tray.
Building on new 
chassis.
188. (1) The building of a motor omnibus otherwise than on a
new chassis shall not be permitted.
Provided that the Authority may allow non-observance of
this provision either when the relative chassis is already in use on a
motor omnibus the body of which is being rebuilt or reconstructed,
or in the case of a second-hand chassis when evidence is produced
to the satisfaction of the Authority that the condition thereof is such
that it can still take the stresses and strains expected to be
transmitted to it by the load of a motor omnibus body fully laden,
the weight of the number of passengers for whom seating
accommodation is provided, in addition to the weight of the driver,
conductor, ticket inspector, and any authorised number of standing
passengers, being calculated at 72 kg. per person:
Provided further that the Authority shall not allow the use
of any motor omnibus chassis unless the examiners of the Authority
are satisfied as to its fitness and suitability; and the Authority may,
besides imposing such other conditions as it may deem fit, require a
certificate as to the structural efficiency of the chassis from an
expert having such qualifications as the Authority may require.
(2) The Authority may require the maker’s specification of any
chassis, or omnibus, showing the chassis load and the weight of the
body, to be produced to the Authority.
(3) The extension of any omnibus chassis may be permitted by
the Authority -
(a) after the specifications and drawings of the proposed
extension are approved by it on the advice of the
expert referred to in sub-regulation (1) of this
regulation; and 
(b) after the extension is, on completion thereof, certified
by the expert to be in accordance with the approved
specifications and drawings. 
(4) In all cases, the maximum number of passengers to be
carried shall be determined by the Authority.
Clearance.  189. No part of any fully laden vehicle standing on level ground
MOTOR VEHICLES ġS.L.65.11 45
shall be nearer to the ground than 250mm.
The limits shall extend -
(i) in length rearwards from the foremost part of the
vehicle excluding the starting handle and the body-
work:
(a) in the case of a four-wheeled vehicle for a
distance of 4.4 metres or, if the rear axle is less
than 4.4 metres behind such foremost part, up to
but not including such axle, and
(b) in the case of a vehicle having more than four
wheels for a distance of 4 metres or if the
foremost driving axle is less than 4 metres
behind such foremost part, up to but not
including such driving axle;
(ii) in width for a distance on either side of the centre line
of the motor vehicle of not less than one-third of the
distance between the centre lines of the tracks of the
front wheels.
Doors. 
opened by one operation of the locking mechanism:
Provided that for the purpose of securing the vehicle when
unattended it shall be permissible to fit to any entrance or exit door
a supplementary lock with or without a detachable actuating
mechanism if such lock is so designed and constructed that the door
can at all times be opened by a person inside the vehicle by one
operation of the ordinary locking mechanism.
Door handles or levers to door catches shall be so designed
and fitted that they are not liable to be dislodged or to be operated
accidentally. Where any entrances are provided with doors which
are intended to remain open when the vehicle is in motion suitable
fastenings shall be provided to hold such doors securely open.
All doors (including those of emergency exits) shall be so
designed as to be readily opened in case of need from both the
inside and the outside of the vehicle. Emergency exits shall be
fitted with doors which open outwards. 
The actuating mechanism of all emergency exits shall be
easily accessible to persons of normal height standing on ground
level outside the vehicle.
All doors shall open so as not to obstruct clear access to any
entrance or exit either from inside or from outside the vehicle.
Drive.
vehicle, and the driver’s seat shall be so placed as to permit him to
give by hand the usual traffic signals on the offside of the motor
omnibus.
Driver’s 
compartment. 
192. Every vehicle shall be so designed that the driver has
adequate room and can easily reach and quickly operate the
controls.
The accommodation for the driver shall be so arranged as to
46 ġS.L.65.11 MOTOR VEHICLES
afford adequate protection during inclement weather, and means
shall be provided where necessary to prevent light from the interior
of the vehicle from incommoding the driver.
There shall not be any seat on the right-hand side of the
driver’s seat.
Where passengers are carried on the left hand side of the
driver, a space of at least 450mm. from the centre of the steering
column to the left thereof shall be reserved for the driver, to be
divided off from such passengers by means of a solid partition at
least 230mm. high from seat level and extending for the whole
depth of the seat.
The driver’s compartment is to be provided with a fixed
clear partition behind his seat.
Direct access shall be provided to the driver’s seat from the
offside of the vehicle or by means of a passage which shall not be
less than 900mm. in width.
Nothing shall be placed inside or removed from the driver’s
compartment that may allow passengers to interfere with the
operation of the various controls.
Electric wires.  193. All electric wires shall be adequately insulated and
properly secured.
Entrances and 
exists.
194. Where the vehicle is fitted with a permanent top there shall
be no less than two means of entrance and exit one of which shall
be situated on the front and on the near side of the vehicle and will
be used as the ordinary entrance and exit of the omnibus and the
other on the other side of the vehicle to be used in case of
emergency. The latter door is to be clearly marked EMERGENCY
DOOR and be so situated that passengers can step directly from the
passage to the outside of the vehicle.
No seat shall be fitted to any door so that when in position
for use it obstructs any passage to an exit or gangway required by
these Regulations.
A grab handle shall be fitted to each entrance or exit other
than an emergency exit to assist passengers in boarding or alighting
from the vehicle.
A box fitted with a slot for the deposit of used tickets shall
be fixed near the entrance of every motor omnibus. The sizes and
shape of the box as well as the place where it has to be fixed shall
be established by the Authority.
Every entrance or means of exit for passengers shall have
an available clear space of not less than 530mm. in width and if
fitted with a door shall be so arranged that a clear space of no less
dimensions shall be available without obstruction when the door is
open.
In the case of an emergency exit which shall be so
constructed as to be level with the floor board the width of the
doorway shall be 660mm. and there shall be a clear space leading to
it of no less dimensions than those of a gangway.
MOTOR VEHICLES ġS.L.65.11 47
The height of every entrance or exit, other than the
emergency door, measured from the floor board of the bus to the
nearest point of the lintel, shall in no case be less than 1.525
metres. In the case of the emergency door, it shall in no case be less
than 1.425 metres:
Provided that a minimum height of 1.37 metres will be
allowed in the case of omnibuses constructed with a depth entrance
of not less than 660mm.
Exhaust pipes. 
inflammable material can be thrown upon it from any other part of
the vehicle and that it is not likely to cause a fire through proximity
to any inflammable material on the vehicle; the outlet thereof shall
be placed on the offside and far enough to the rear to prevent fumes
from entering the vehicle.
An efficient silencer shall be fitted, and no cut-out is
permitted to be used.
Effective means shall be adopted to prevent the heat from
the exhaust pipe or its connections from affecting any part of the
vehicle or the comfort of the passengers.
No person shall drive or cause or permit to be driven a
motor omnibus when, from any cause whatsoever, the exhaust pipe
or its connections emit smoke, grit, sparks, ashes, cinders, or oily
substances.
Floor boards.
shall be strong and so fitted or fastened that it cannot become
dislodged by vibration. Any lifting device provided shall be
properly sunk to the level of the floor boards or trap door. No parts
of the floor boards are to be removed while passengers are on the
bus.
Fuel tanks.
which is within 610mm. of any entrance or exit.
Fuel tanks shall be so placed that no overflow therefrom
shall fall upon any woodwork or accumulate where it can be readily
ignited. A cock shall be provided by means of which the supply of
fuel to any carburettor may be immediately cut off and the means of
operation thereof shall be visible and readily accessible at all times
from outside the vehicle. The OFF position of the means of
operation shall be clearly marked on the outside of the vehicle.
The filling point of all fuel tanks shall be outside the body
of the vehicle, and the filler caps shall be so designed and
constructed that they can be securely fixed in position. The vent
hole, if any, shall be protected from danger of penetration by fire
and shall be so designed as to prevent fuel being splashed over.
Gangways. 
at least two exits.
The width of every gangway shall be not less than 305mm.
up to a height of 760mm. from the floor level and above that height
not less than 360mm.
48 ġS.L.65.11 MOTOR VEHICLES
Grease and oil 
dropping.
199. The chassis shall be so constructed as to prevent as far as
practicable grease or oil from the bearings and other working parts
from dropping on to the roadway.
Guard rail. 200. If any two wheels on either side of a vehicle have a clear
space of more than 610mm. between the nearest points a guard rail,
running board or other similar device which shall extend to within
230mm. of the front wheel and 150mm. of the rear wheel, shall be
fixed to guard such space effectively to within at least 255mm. of
the ground when the vehicle is carrying no passengers and is
standing on level ground.
Height.  201. The external height of any vehicle shall not exceed 3.2
metres and its internal height measured from the top of the floor
shall not be less than 1.83 metres up to a distance of 1.17 metres,
and 1.78 metres up to a distance of 800mm., from the inside of the
emergency door:
Provided that this regulation shall not affect vehicles
already licensed on the 24th August, 1964.
Hub projection.  202. No portion of any road wheel or any fittings thereof shall
project more than 90mm. beyond the extreme outer face of the tyre
when fully inflated.
Inflammable 
fittings.
203. Celluloid, xylonite or other inflammable fittings, excluding
accumulator cells, shall not be used or fitted to any vehicle fittings.
Examination, 
maintenance and 
equipment.
204. Every motor omnibus shall be brought to the examiners of
the Authority for examination before it is put on service. 
Such examination will not be carried out by the examiner of
the Authority unless the owner has furnished, before any work on
the construction of the vehicle is undertaken, the following
information:
(a) full details and drawing of chassis;
(b) a declaration in writing giving details of the vehicle on
such form as may be furnished by the Authority.
The Authority may require that the chassis be examined and
approved by its examiner before any work on the construction of
the body is undertaken.
All motor omnibuses shall also be inspected annually and at
times as provided for in regulation 120.
The body both externally and internally and all windows
and fittings and all seats for passengers shall be maintained at all
times in clean and good condition. The seating capacity shall be
clearly marked with letters not less than 25mm. in height in a
conspicuous position inside the vehicle.
Length. 205. (Revoked by Legal Notice 162 of 2003).
Lighting. 206. In addition to the lights required under the provisions of
regulations 97 to 104 every motor omnibus shall have adequate
electric lighting internally for illumination purposes which lighting
shall under no circumstances consist of less than four lamps each
fitted with a 6 watts bulb.
MOTOR VEHICLES ġS.L.65.11 49
Locking of nuts.
connected by bolts or studs and nuts shall be fastened by lock nuts
or by nuts and efficient spring or lock nut washers, or by castellated
nuts and split pins or by some other efficient device, so as to
prevent their moving or coming loose.
Overhang. 
and less, shall not have an overhang exceeding 66% of the
wheelbase.
(2) Bus chassis constructed of single piece steel members and
having a wheelbase more than 4.5 metres but less than 4.8 metres in
length shall not have an overhang exceeding 2.7 metres, and
chassis having a wheelbase more than 4.8 metres but less than 5.2
metres shall not have an overhang of more than 2.4 metres, and
chassis having a wheelbase more than 5.2 metres long shall not
have an overhang of more than 2.3 metres.
(3) The length of the overhang shall be deemed to be that
measured from the centre of the rear axle to the extreme rear end of
the main structure of the body exclusive of any handles, hinges,
bumpers or reasonable curvature of the body intended solely to
give shape to the body and in no way providing seat space or
luggage space.
(4) The shall require with each chassis:
(a) full specifications and drawings giving dimensions,
identification, materials and design data, the maximum
gross laden weight and the turning circle for which the
bus chassis has been designed and the date of
manufacture;
(b) a certificate on the suitability of the chassis as a bus
chassis by a competent authority or manufacturer.
(5) No chassis shall be used as a bus chassis unless the
Authority is satisfied with its design, construction and condition.
Projection beyond 
tyres.
209. The sides of any vehicle, other than a direction indicator
when in operation, or a driving mirror, shall not project more than
150mm. beyond the outer face of the outer tyre of the rear wheel of
the same side of the vehicle.
Pillars.
liable to heavy stress properly stayed.
Route marks and 
colours.
Amended by:
L.N. 109 of 1995;
L.N. 234 of 1997.
211. (1) The Authority may order that motor omnibuses shall
be painted in such colour or colours and bear only such distinctive
words, marks, figures or numbers as the Authority may direct.
(2) The distinction marks and colours of the routes shall be as
set out in the First Schedule:
Provided that, until the 30th October, 1995, and in all cases
thereafter, the distinction marks and colours of the routes shall be
as set out in the First Schedule and the shade of colours shall be
approved by the Authority.
(3) No other colours shall be painted on any omnibus except
those specified above and no letters, markings, figures, pictures or
50 ġS.L.65.11 MOTOR VEHICLES
any attachments, ornaments, designs or decorations other than what
is required by these Regulations, shall be permitted on any part of
any omnibus unless prior approval is given by the Authority.
(4) The internal part of all motor omnibuses shall be painted
white unless the materials adopted in the construction thereof are of
a finish which renders painting unnecessary, provided such
materials and their colour are approved by the Authority.
(5) The dodo up to the height of the lower edge of the windows
shall be of a light brown colour.
(6) The external woodwork above the lower edge of the
windows shall be painted white.
(7) The roof shall be constructed of wood or of other suitable
material to the satisfaction of the Authority and shall be painted
white.
Laminated safety 
glass.
212. All glass fitted to windows or windscreens shall be
laminated safety glass which means glass so constructed or treated
that if fractured it does not fly into fragments capable of causing
severe cuts.
Seating capacity.  213. The declared seating capacity shall in all cases be
exclusive of the driver and conductor.
Seats.  214. At least 410mm. measured in a straight line along the front
of each seat shall be allowed for each passenger on every double
seat which shall be fit and comfortable.
Subject as hereinafter provided seats accommodating more
than two persons shall not be permitted.
The Authority may in special cases, if it is satisfied in its
discretion that the safety and comfort of passengers are not
adversely affected thereby, grant permission in writing for not more
than one seat accommodating three persons. In any such case the
triple seat shall be measured on a basis of 460mm. per passenger,
and shall comply with these Regulations in all other respects.
No part of the back rest of any seat placed lengthwise shall
be less than 1.37 metres from the corresponding part of the back
rest of the seat facing it.
Transverse seats shall be so fitted that -
(a) there is a clear space of at least 690mm. from the
nearest rear part of the back rest of any seat to the
nearest rear part of the back rest of the next seat or to
the nearest part of any partition in front, and in the
case of seats facing one another a clear space of at
least 1.37 metres measured from the back of one back
rest to the back of the other back rest, any handle or
grips which do not project more than 100mm. from the
back rest being disregarded when measuring the clear
space herein referred to; and
(b) there is clear space of at least 480mm. between any
part of the front edge of a seat and any part of any
other seat which faces it.
MOTOR VEHICLES ġS.L.65.11 51
Where any transverse seat is so placed that a passenger
seated upon it is liable to be thrown forward through an entrance or
down a stairway an effective screen or guard shall be placed so as
to provide protection of any passenger occupying the seat.
Seats over a wheel arch shall not be placed in such a
position as to cause discomfort to passengers.
The back rest of all seats shall be padded with foam rubber
of a thickness of not less than 25mm. and the maximum overall
thickness of the back rest including the padding shall not exceed
50mm. The back rest of each seat shall have an inclination
backwards of not less than 75mm. from the perpendicular.
All seats shall be padded with foam rubber of a thickness of
not less than 75mm. and shall be inclined downwards in the
direction of the back rest by 50mm.
The padding of all seats and back rests shall be covered
with material approved by the Authority and between 1st May and
15th October shall be provided with washable loose covers.
The minimum depth of a seat is not to be less than 400mm.
For the purpose of this regulation the expression "back rest"
includes any part of the vehicle which is available for passengers to
lean against.
Springs.
sufficient springs, either between each wheel and the frame of the
vehicle, or under that part of the frame nearest to each wheel, to the
satisfaction of the examiners of the Authority.
Stability.
under any conditions of load, if the surface on which the vehicle
stands were tilted to either side an angle of 35 degrees from the
horizontal, the point at which overturning occurs would not be
passed.
For the purpose of conducting tests of stability the height of
any stop used to prevent a wheel of the vehicle from slipping
sideways shall not be greater than two-thirds of the distance
between the surface upon which the vehicle stands before it is
tilted, and that part of the rim of that wheel which is then nearest to
such surface when the vehicle is loaded, that is complete and fully
equipped for service with a full supply of water, oil and fuel, and
loaded with weights of 72kg. per person placed in the correct
relative position to represent the driver, the conductor and the full
authorised complement of passengers.
Steps.
exit to a vehicle other than an emergency exit shall not be more
than 430mm. or less than 250mm. above the ground when the
vehicle is empty.
All steps shall be fitted with non-slip treads. Fixed steps
shall be not less than 230mm. wide and shall in no case project
laterally beyond the body of the vehicle unless they are so
protected by the front wings (or otherwise) that they are not liable
to injure pedestrians.
52 ġS.L.65.11 MOTOR VEHICLES
The number of steps between ground level and the floor
board of any motor omnibus shall in no case be more than four; and
the height of the rise of each step shall not exceed 250mm.
Stop signals.  218. A warning red light, which shall indicate accordingly
whenever the driver of a motor omnibus is stopping the vehicle,
shall be fitted to the rear of such vehicle.
Tools and 
accessories.
219. The vehicle is to be properly equipped with a complete set
of tools and accessories to make good running repairs. The
equipment is to include a jack and spare wheel complete with tyres
and inner tube.
Transmission 
shafts.
220. Where open or exposed transmission shafts having an
unsupported length of more than 610mm. are fitted, a bar or bars
having an eye or bridle to surround such shafts shall be fitted in
such manner as to reduce the risk of damage being caused to other
parts of the vehicle in the event of the transmission shaft breaking.
Turning circle. 221.  Every vehicle shall be so constructed as to be capable of
turning in either direction in a circle not exceeding in diameter 18.3
metres in the case of a vehicle the overall length of which does not
exceed 7.9 metres and 20.1 metres in the case of a vehicle the
overall length of which exceeds 7.9 metres. Such diameter shall be
determined by reference to the extreme outer edge of the wheel
track at ground level.
Tyres. 222. Every motor omnibus shall be equipped with pneumatic
tyres.
Ventilation.  223. There shall be adequate ventilation for both passengers and
driver without the necessity for opening any main windows or
windscreen.
Roof ventilators shall be of the vacuum all weather type
with an aperture 75mm. in diameter in accordance with the pattern
approved by the Authority and there shall be no less than six such
ventilators, three on each side, at such distance from one another as
to provide a free circulation of air throughout the whole interior.
Weight. 224. (Revoked by Legal Notice 162 of 2003).
Wheel tracks. 225. The distance between the centre lines of the tracks of the
front wheels shall in no case be less than the distance between the
centre lines of the tracks of the rear wheels.
In the case of a chassis not manufactured for use as a bus
chassis, the distance between the centre lines of the track of the rear
wheels shall not be less than 69% of the overall width of the
vehicle.
Track measurements shall be taken horizontally at the level
of the centre of the wheels.
For the purposes of these Regulations, any two wheels of a
motor vehicle shall be regarded as one wheel if the distance
between the centres of the areas of contact between such wheels
and the road surface is less than 460mm.
Width. 226. (Revoked by Legal Notice 162 of 2003).
MOTOR VEHICLES ġS.L.65.11 53
Window rails.
Amended by:
L.N. 92 of 1995.
227. (1) Without prejudice to the provisions of regulation 230,
every window on any motor omnibus, licensed to operate on the
scheduled bus service, shall be capable of being lowered or slid
open by passengers at all times, even when such motor omnibus is
operating on services other than scheduled bus services.
(2) Where the side window glasses are made to be lowered or
slid open, provision shall be made to protect passengers from injury
by passing vehicles.
(3) Glass windows or panels facing any transverse seat which
are liable to be broken by passengers being thrown against them
shall be adequately guarded.
(4) No motor omnibus shall be allowed to ply on any route, and
the owner of such omnibus shall not cause, allow or permit such
motor omnibus to be on the road, for any service or work
whatsoever unless it conforms to the requirements of this
regulation.
(5) Any motor omnibus which does not conform to the
requirements of this regulation may be immediately removed from
the road by the officers of the Authority or by the Police,
independently of any penalty to which the offender may become
liable according to law.
Windscreen. 
that the driver thereof while controlling the vehicle shall have a full
view of the road and traffic ahead of the motor vehicle.
Adjustable sections, if any, shall be provided with an
adequate locking device.
Wings or 
mudguards.
229. All vehicles are to be provided with wings or other similar
means to catch, so far as practicable, mud or water thrown up by
the rotation of the wheels, unless adequate protection is afforded by
the body of the vehicle.
Departure from 
constructional 
requirements.
230. The Authority may, in special cases, allow owners of motor
omnibuses to depart from the constructional requirements
prescribed in these Regulations.
PART XIII
Taxicars: licensing and general provisions
Licences. 
motor cars to ply for hire on the road as taxicars unless the vehicle
conforms in every respect with the requirements set down in this
Part and, except in so far as they may be incompatible with the
provisions of this Part, in Part V relating to the Equipment of Motor
Vehicles.
Advertising of 
taxicars in 
premises.
Amended by:
L.N. 85 of 1999.
232. Saving the provisions of these Regulations regarding the
display of the word TAXI on taxicars, no person shall advertise in
any premises, whether licensed as a public service garage or not, or
with reference to any public service garage, either by means of
advertising signs or by leaflets or by other painted, printed or
written matter or by broadcast or transmission, the hiring of
54 ġS.L.65.11 MOTOR VEHICLES
taxicars.
Wireless 
telegraphy 
apparatus.
233.  No taxicar shall be fitted with a wireless telegraphy
apparatus or any other device mechanical or otherwise intended to
produce, reproduce or amplify music, speech or other sounds or
with a television apparatus without the permission of the Authority.
Horn. 234. No horn other than that of a type approved by the Authority
shall be used on any taxicar.
Taxi drivers’ dress.
Amended by:
L.N. 149 of 1995.
235. The driver of a taxicar shall wear while on duty a uniform
of the pattern and colour as approved by the Authority. 
Examinations.  236. All taxicars shall be examined annually and at other times
as provided in regulation 120.
Duty of driver on 
stand.
237. The drivers of the first three taxicars exposed for hire on
any stand or other place shall not leave their vehicle while it is so
exposed. The drivers of any other taxicar exposed as aforesaid shall
remain within easy reach and shall immediately take charge of their
vehicle as soon as their turn comes to take their place among the
first three taxi-cars:
Provided that either the Police or the officers of the
Authority may, when it appears to either of them that the
enforcement of the provisions of this regulation may cause
hardship through long exposure to the sun, dispense such drivers
from compliance therewith.
Hiring from stand. 238. (1) No person shall hire a taxicar from any stand, nor
shall the driver of a taxicar on any stand accept a hire, unless, in
each case, such vehicle is the first taxicar on the stand:
Provided that if the driver of the first taxicar is not in the
vehicle, unless he has been dispensed from so being by either the
Police or the officers of the Authority, the first taxicar on the stand
with the driver in the vehicle shall be deemed to be the taxicar first
available for hire.
(2) No driver of a taxicar exposed for hire on any stand shall,
without reasonable cause, refuse the hire of his taxicar from any
person requesting such hire to any given place.
(3) Any driver refusing a hire as is referred to in sub-regulation
(2) of this regulation shall, saving his liability to criminal
proceedings, lose his place on the stand and shall be replaced by the
next taxicar.
Hiring by person 
on the road.
Substituted by:
L.N. 407 of 2003.
239. (1) A stationary taxicar may only be hired from a taxi-
stand as provided in the provisions of this Part.
(2) A taxicar may ply for hire, provided that it shall not offer
its services or accept a hire from any person within a radius of fifty
metres from a taxi-stand.
(3) The driver of a taxicar, while standing or plying for hire,
shall not call or otherwise importune any person to hire such
taxicar and shall not make use of the services of any other person
for such purpose.
(4) The driver of a taxicar who has agreed or has been hired to
MOTOR VEHICLES ġS.L.65.11 55
be in attendance with the taxicar at an appointed place and time,
shall attend with such taxicar at such appointed time and place.
(5) The driver of a taxicar when asked to drive to any particular
destination shall, subject to any directions given by the hirer,
proceed to that destination by the most expeditious route.
(6) The driver of a taxicar which is on hire, while the hiring
continues, shall wait with the vehicle at such places and for such
time as the hirer may lawfully direct.
Production of tariff 
of fares.
240. The driver of any taxicar shall be in possession of a copy of
the official tariff of fares and of this Part of these Regulations
which he shall produce whenever requested to do so by the Police
or by any officer of the Authority or by any passenger.
Payment of fares.
taxicar at the end of a trip.
Cleanliness and 
safety. 
242. The driver of a taxicar shall keep his vehicle constantly
clean and in good order and repair while in use. No petrol or other
inflammable liquid or material shall be carried in any taxicar
except in the tank of the vehicle.
General 
provisions.
241. The driver of a taxicar shall, immediately after the
termination of any hiring, search the taxicar and, if any property
which may have been left therein is found, comply with the
provisions of the law.
PART XIV
Constructional requirements of taxicars
Construction.
have comfortable seating accommodation for at least four and not
more than eight adult passengers and a driver. Ample leg space and
head room shall be provided and the doors shall be wide enough to
permit easy and convenient entry to passengers.
Letters and 
markings.
245. No letters, markings, figures, pictures or any attachments,
ornaments, designs or decorations other than what is required by
these Regulations shall be permitted in any part of a taxicar unless
prior approval is given by the Authority.
Engine capacity. 
1400cm3:
Provided that the vehicles below 1400cm3 which were
licensed as taxicars for the year 1960 shall be allowed to continue
to operate as such until such time as the Authority directs
otherwise.
Internal lighting 
and glass.
247.  Taxicars shall be fitted with adequate internal lighting and
safety glass.
Identification 
number of taxicars.
Amended by:
L.N. 149 of 1995.
248. (1) Taxicars shall be given a progressive number by the
Authority. A plate, measuring 130mm. by 20mm. bearing in black
the word TAXI and the relative identification number, shall be
affixed at the back of the front seat in such a position as to be easily
and clearly readable by passengers.
56 ġS.L.65.11 MOTOR VEHICLES
(2) The number given by the Authority shall be painted on the
side of the front doors of the taxicar preceded by the letter “M” and
in black in the case of taxi-cars which are licensed to operate in
Malta, and preceded by the letter “G” and in red in the case of
taxicars which are licensed to operate in Gozo, in all cases in those
dimensions as the Authority may so prescribe.
Illuminated sign.  249. An electrically illuminated TAXI sign shall be carried on
the front part of the roof above the windscreen or, alternatively,
behind the windscreen in the interior of the vehicle in such a way as
not to obstruct the driver’s vision.
The sign shall be in letters painted in red against a white
background, and such sign and the letters shall be of such
dimensions as may be determined from time to time by the
Authority.
The sign shall be kept lit at all times between sunset and
sunrise, except when the vehicle is hired:
Provided that when a taxicar is on stand, only the vehicle
placed first on the stand shall keep such sign so lit.
Drive.  250. Taxicars shall be of the right-hand-drive type:
Provided that vehicles which were licensed as taxicars for
the year 1960 shall be permitted to continue to operate as such until
such time as the Authority directs otherwise.
Luggage. 251. Taxicars shall have a luggage boot (compartment) of
adequate dimensions.
The preceding provision shall not be applicable to vehicles
which were licensed as taxi-cars for the year 1960, provided that
alternative luggage accommodation is fitted to such vehicles to the
satisfaction of the Authority.
Framed tariff form.  252. A printed form suitably framed showing the tariff of fares
and any extra payments allowed is to be displayed conspicuously at
all times in the interior of every taxicar. Such form shall be
obtainable from the office of the Authority.
PART XV
Taximeters
(Regulations 253 to 269 (both included) were revoked by Legal
Notice 162 of 2003).
PART XVI 
General Provisions
Applicability of 
other regulations.
270. Except in so far as they may be inconsistent with the
provisions of Parts XIII to XV of these Regulations, the provisions
contained in the other Parts of these Regulations shall apply to
taxicars.
MOTOR VEHICLES ġS.L.65.11 57
 
Motor Omnibuses Route Distinction Marks and Colours
MALTA - Colour Light Orange with Dark Orange band as per shade approved by the
Authority. The band is to be a single horizontal band varying in width between
20cm. and 30cm.
No. of Route Route
1 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Blata l-Bajda - Il-Marsa - Paola - Għajn Dwieli
- San Ġwann t’Għuxa - Verdala - Vittoriosa and vice-versa. 
2 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Blata l-Bajda - Il-Marsa - Paola - Għajn Dwieli
- San Ġwann t’Għuxa - Cafe Riche Roundabout (Victoria Square) and
vice-versa.
3 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Blata l-Bajda - Il-Marsa - Paola - Il-Fgura -
Cospicua -Senglea and vice-versa.
4 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Blata l-Bajda - Il-Marsa - Paola - Għajn Dwieli
- Cospicua - Vittoriosa (Terminus) - Triq il-Missjoni Taljana - Bighi -
Il-Kalkara Terminus and vice-versa.
5 Vacant.
6 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Blata l-Bajda - Il-Marsa - Paola - Għajn Dwieli
- San Ġwann t’Għuxa - Vittoriosa and vice-versa.
7 Vacant.
8 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Blata l-Bajda - Il-Marsa - Paola - Ħal-Tarxien -
Tal-Barrani - Ħal-Għaxaq - Il-Gudja - Air Terminal and vice-versa.
9 Vacant.
10 Vacant.
11 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Blata l-Bajda - Il-Marsa - Paola - Ħal-Tarxien -
Tal-Barrani - Bir-id-Deheb - St.George’s Bay - B’Bugia and vice-
versa.
12 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Blata l-Bajda - Il-Marsa - Paola - Ħal-Tarxien -
Tal-Barrani - Bir-id-Deheb - St. George’s Bay - Pretty Bay - B’Bugia -
Kalafrana - B’Bugia and vice-versa.
13 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Blata l-Bajda - Il-Marsa - Paola - Ħal-Tarxien -
Tal-Barrani - Bir-id-Deheb - St.George’s Bay - Pretty Bay - B’Buġia -
Kalafrana - Ħal Far - B’Bugia and vice-versa.
14 Vacant.
15 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Marsa - Paola - Ħal-Tarxien - Santa Lucia and
vice-versa.
16 Vacant.
17 Vacant.
18 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Blata l-Bajda - Il-Marsa - Paola - Il-Fgura -
Ħaż-Żabbar and vice-versa.
19 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Blata l-Bajda - Il-Marsa - Il-Fgura - Ħaż-
FIRST SCHEDULE Amended by:L.N. 109 of 1995;
L.N. 234 of 1997.
58 ġS.L.65.11 MOTOR VEHICLES
Żabbar - M’Scala and vice-versa.
20 Vacant.
21 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Blata l-Bajda - Il-Marsa - Paola - Il-Fgura -
Ħaż-Żabbar - Ix-Xgħajra and vice-versa.
22 M’Scala - Ħaż-Żabbar - Cospicua and vice-versa.
23 Ix-Xgħajra - Ħaż-Żabbar - Cospicua and vice-versa.
24 Vacant.
25 Vacant.
26 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Blata l-Bajda - Il-Marsa - Paola - Ħal-Tarxien -
Tal-Barrani - Iż-Żejtun and vice-versa.
27 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Blata l-Bajda - Il-Marsa - Paola - Ħal-Tarxien -
Tal-Barrani - Iż-Żejtun - Bir-id-Deheb - M’Xlokk and vice-versa.
28  Iż-Żejtun - Cospicua and vice-versa.
29 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Blata l-Bajda - Il-Marsa - Paola - Ħal-Tarxien -
Tal-Barrani - Iż-Żejtun - St.Thomas Bay and vice-versa.
30 Vacant. 
31 Vacant.
32 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Blata l-Bajda - Il-Marsa - Ħal-Luqa - Iż-Żurrieq
and vice-versa.
33 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Blata l-Bajda - Il-Marsa - Industrial Estate - Il-
Karwija - Ħal-Safi - Iż-Żurrieq and vice-versa.
34 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Blata l-Bajda - Il-Marsa - Ħal-Luqa - Kirkop -
Ħal-Safi - Iż-Żurrieq and vice-versa.
35  Valletta - Floriana - Il-Blata l-Bajda - St. Vincent De Paule - Guard
Room - L-Imqabba - Il-Qrendi and vice-versa.
36  Valletta - Floriana - Il-Blata l-Bajda - Il-Marsa - Ħal-Luqa and vice-
versa.
37  Valletta - Floriana - Il-Blata 1-Bajda - Il-Marsa - St. Vincent De Paule
and vice-versa.
38 Vacant.
39 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Blata l-Bajda - Il-Marsa - Ħal-Luqa - Air
Terminal -Iż-Żurrieq and vice-versa.
40 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Pietà -L-Imsida - B’Kara - Ħal-Balzan - Ħal-
Lija - Ħ’Attard and vice-versa.
41 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Pietà - l-Imsida - Il-Kappara (Regional Road) -
Il-Gżira (Gasan) - Tas-Sliema - (Mrabat) San Ġiljan - San Ġwann -
Ta’ Żwejt -B’Kara and vice-versa.
42 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Pietà - L-Imsida - Il-Kappara - San Ġiljan
(Regional Road) - Ta’ Ġiorni - Il-Mensija - San Ġwann - B’Kara and
vice-versa.
43  Valletta - Floriana - Il-Pietà - L-Imsida - B’Kara - Ħal-Lija - Il-Mosta
- Burmarrad - San Pawl il-Baħar - Ix-Xemxija - Selmun Hill - Il-
Mellieħa and vice-versa.
MOTOR VEHICLES ġS.L.65.11 59
44 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Pietà - L-Imsida - B’Kara - Ħal-Lija - Il-Mosta
- Burmarrad - San Pawl il-Baħar - Ix-Xemxija - Selmun Hill - Il-
Mellieħa - L-Għadira and vice-versa.
45 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Pietà - L-Imsida - B’Kara - Ħal-Lija - Il-Mosta
- Burmarrad - San Pawl il-Baħar - Ix-Xemxija - Selmun Hill - Il-
Mellieħa - L-Għadira -Iċ-Ċirkewwa and vice-versa.
46 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Pietà - L-Imsida - B’Kara - Ħal-Lija - Il-Mosta
- L-Imġarr and vice-versa.
47 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Pietà - L-Imsida - B’Kara - Ħal-Lija - Il-Mosta
- L-Imġarr -Għajn Tuffieħa and vice-versa.
48 Buġibba - San Pawl il-Baħar - Ix-Xemxija - Il-Mellieħa - L-Għadira -
Iċ-Ċirkewwa and vice-versa.
49 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Pietà - L-Imsida - B’Kara - Ħal-Lija - Il-Mosta
- Burmarrad - San Pawl il-Baħar - Buġibba and vice-versa.
50 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Pietà - L-Imsida - B’Kara - Ħal-Lija - Il-Mosta
- Burmarrad - San Pawl il-Baħar - Ix-Xemxija - Selmun Hill - Il-
Mellieħa - L-Għadira - L-Armier and vice-versa.
51 Buġibba - San Pawl il-Baħar - Ix-Xemxija - Għajn Tuffieħa and vice-
versa.
52 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Pietà - L-Imsida - B’Kara - Ħal-Lija - Il-Mosta
- Għajn Tuffieħa and vice-versa. 
53 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Pietà - L-Imsida - B’Kara - Ħal-Lija - Il-Mosta
and vice-versa.
54 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Pietà - L-Imsida - B’Kara - Ħal-Lija - In-
Naxxar and vice-versa.
55 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Pietà - L-Imsida - B’Kara - Ħal-Lija - In-
Naxxar - Għargħur and vice-versa.
56 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Pietà - L-Imsida - B’Kara - Ħal-Lija - Il-Mosta
- In-Naxxar and vice-versa.
57 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Pietà - L-Imsida - B’Kara - Ħal-Lija - Il-Mosta
- Santa Margherita Estate and vice-versa.
58 Vacant.
59 Vacant.
60 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Pietà - L-Imsida - Il-Gżira - Tas-Sliema - Is-
Savoy and vice-versa.
61 Valletta - Floriana - L-Imsida - Il-Gżira - Tas-Sliema Ferry and vice-
versa.
62 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Pietà - L-Imsida - Il-Gżira - Tas-Sliema Ferry -
Tas-Sliema - San Ġiljan - Spinola and vice-versa.
63 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Pietà - L-Imsida - Il-Gżira - Is-Savoy - Dingli
Street - Tas-Sliema Sea Front - Ferry - Gżira Sea Front - Ta’ Xbiex
Sea Front - L-Imsida - Il-Pietà - Floriana - Valletta.
64 Vacant.
65 Tas-Sliema (Ferry) - Tas-Sliema (Savoy) - San Ġwann - Taż-Żwejt u
lura (also to In-Naxxar - Il-Mosta - Ta’ Qali - Ir-Rabat, summer only).
60 ġS.L.65.11 MOTOR VEHICLES
66 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Pietà - L-Imsida - Il-Gżira - Is-Savoy - Mrabat
Road - Ta’ Ġiorni and vice-versa.
67 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Pietà - L-Imsida - Il-Gżira - Sliema Ferry -
Sliema Sea Front - San Ġiljan - Spinola - Paceville - Is-Swieqi -
St.Andrew’s and vice-versa. 
68 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Pietà - L-Imsida - Il-Gżira - Tas-Sliema Ferry -
Sliema Sea Front - San Ġiljan- Spinola - Paceville - Is-Swieqi -
St.Andrew’s - Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq and vice-versa.
69 Vacant.
70 Sliema Ferry - San Ġiljan- St. Andrews - Salina - Buġibba - Il-Qawra
and vice-versa.
71 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Blata l-Bajda - Il-Ħamrun - Santa Venera -
Fleur-de-Lys - B’Kara and vice-versa.
72 Vacant.
73 Vacant.
74 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Blata l-Bajda - Il-Ħamrun - B’Kara - Ħal-
Balzan (Corinthia Palace) and vice-versa.
75 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Blata l-Bajda - Il-Ħamrun - Fra Diegu -
G’Mangia - St. Luke’s Hospital and vice-versa. (And also from other
Termini during special visiting hours).
76 Vacant.
77 Vacant.
78 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Blata l-Bajda - Il-Ħamrun (Kunċizzjoni) - Santa
Venera (Psaila Street) - B’Kara and vice-versa.
79 Vacant.
80 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Blata l-Bajda - Il-Ħamrun - Fleur-de-Lys - L-
Imrieħel - Ħ’Attard - Ir-Rabat and vice-versa.
81 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Blata l-Bajda - Il-Hamrun - Fleur-de-Lys - L-
Imrieħel - Ħ’Attard - Ir-Rabat - Ħad-Dingli and vice-versa.
82 Vacant.
83 Ir-Rabat - Il-Mosta - Burmarrad - San Pawl il-Baħar and vice-versa.
84 Ir-Rabat - L-Imtarfa and vice-versa.
85 Vacant.
86 Buġibba - Il-Mosta - Ta’ Qali - Ir-Rabat and vice-versa (summer
only).
87 Vacant.
88 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Blata l-Bajda - Il-Ħamrun - Ħaż-Żebbuġ and
vice-versa.
89 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Blata l-Bajda - Il-Ħamrun - Is-Siġġiewi and
vice-versa.
90 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Blata l-Bajda - Il-Ħamrun - Ħal-Qormi
(St.Sebastian) and vice-versa.
91 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Blata 1-Bajda - Il-Ħamrun - Ħal-Qormi
MOTOR VEHICLES ġS.L.65.11 61
(St.George) and vice-versa.
92 Ħaż-Żebbuġ - St. Vincent de Paule and vice-versa.
93 Vacant.
94 Is-Siġġiewi - Għar Lapsi and vice-versa.
95 Vacant.
96 Vacant.
97 Vacant.
98 Supermarket - Great Siege Road - Auberge de Baviere - M’Xetto Road
- St. Sebastian Bastion - Fort St. Elmo - Mediterranean Conference
Centre - Barracca Wharf - Crucifix Hill - War Memorial - Kristu Re
Monument - Hotel Phoenicia - Supermarket.
99 Vacant.
100 Vacant.
115 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Blata l-Bajda - Il-Marsa - Paola - Ħal-Ħal-
Tarxien - Santa Lucia - Tal-Barrani - Bir-id-Deheb - St. George’s Bay
- Pretty Bay - B’Buġia and vice-versa.
452 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Pietà - L-Imsida - B’Kara By Pass - Ħal-Lija -
Il-Mosta - Burmarrad - San Pawl il-Baħar - Il-Mellieħa - L-Għadira -
Iċ-Ċirkewwa and vice-versa.
672 Valletta - Floriana - Il-Pietà - L-Imsida - Regional Road - Is-Swieqi -
St.Andrew’s and vice-versa.
GOZO - Colour Light Grey with red band
No. of Route  Route
L-GĦARB/SAN LAWRENZ
1 Ir-Rabat to l-Għarb and vice-versa
2 Ir-Rabat to San Lawrenz and vice-versa
3 Ir-Rabat to San Lawrenz from l-Għarb and vice-versa
4 Ir-Rabat to San Lawrenz from Ta’ Pinu - Għarb and vice-versa
5 Ir-Rabat to id-Dwejra from l-Għarb - San Lawrenz and vice-versa
6 L-Għarb to id-Dwejra from San Lawrenz and vice-versa
7 L-Għarb to Ta’ Pinu and vice-versa
8 L-Għarb to Marsalforn from ir-Rabat and vice-versa
9 San Lawrenz to l-Imġarr from l-Għarb - Rabat and vice-versa
10 San Lawrenz to Ta’ Pinu and vice-versa
11 San Lawrenz to Ix-Xagħra from l-Għarb - Rabat and vice-versa
12 (Spare)
13 (Spare)
KERĊEM
14 Ir-Rabat to Il-Kerċem - Santa Lucia and vice-versa
15 Il-Kerċem - Santa Lucia to l-Imġarr and vice-versa
62 ġS.L.65.11 MOTOR VEHICLES
16 Il-Kerċem to Ix-Xlendi from ir-Rabat and vice-versa
17 Il-Kerċem - Santa Lucia to Ta’ Pinu and vice-versa
18 Il-Kerċem - Santa Lucia to Ix-Xagħra from ir-Rabat and vice-versa
19 (Spare)
20 (Spare)
MARSALFORN
21 Ir-Rabat to Marsalforn and vice-versa
22 Ir-Rabat to Il-Qbajjar and vice-versa
23 (Spare)
24 (Spare)
L-IMĠARR
25 Ir-Rabat to l-Imġarr and vice-versa
26 Ir-Rabat to l-Imġarr from ix-Xewkija and vice-versa
27 (Spare)
28 (Spare)
NADUR
29 Ir-Rabat to In-Nadur and vice-versa
30 Ir-Rabat to San Blas (Nadur) and vice-versa
31 Ir-Rabat to Ir-Ramla from in-Nadur and vice-versa
32 In-Nadur to l-Imġarr from il-Qala and vice-versa
33 In-Nadur to Ir-Ramla and vice-versa
34 In-Nadur to Ta’ Pinu and vice-versa
35 In-Nadur to Il-Qala and vice-versa
36 In-Nadur to Ix-Xewkija and vice-versa
37 (Spare)
38 (Spare)
39 (Spare)
QALA/GĦAJNSIELEM
40 Ir-Rabat to Il-Qala and vice-versa
41 Ir-Rabat to Il-Qala from Għajnsielem and vice-versa
42 Ir-Rabat to Il-Qala from ix-Xewkija - Għajnsielem and vice-versa
43 Ir-Rabat to Il-Qala from in-Nadur and vice-versa
44 Ir-Rabat to Għajnsielem and vice-versa
45 Il-Qala to Għajnsielem and vice-versa
46 Il-Qala to Ix-Xewkija and vice-versa
47 Għajnsielem to Ix-Xewkija and vice-versa
48 (Spare)
MOTOR VEHICLES ġS.L.65.11 63
49 (Spare)
SANNAT/MUNXAR
50 Ir-Rabat to Sannat and vice-versa
51 Ir-Rabat to Il-Munxar from Sannat and vice-versa
52 Ir-Rabat to Il-Munxar and vice-versa
53 Sannat to Ta’ Pinu and vice-versa
54 Sannat - il-Munxar to Ix-Xlendi and vice-versa
55 Il-Munxar to Ta’ Pinu and vice-versa
56 Il-Munxar - Sannat to l-Imġarr and vice-versa
57 Il-Munxar - Sannat to Il-Qala and vice-versa
58 Il-Munxar - Sannat to Ix-Xewkija and vice-versa
59 (Spare)
60 (Spare)
TA’ PINU
61 Ir-Rabat to Ta’ Pinu and vice-versa
62 (Spare)
63 (Spare)
XAGĦRA
64 Ir-Rabat to Ix-Xagħra and vice-versa
65 Ir-Rabat to Ix-Xagħra from Ix-Xewkija roundabout and vice-versa
66 Ir-Rabat to Nazzarene Place (ix-Xagħra) and vice-versa
67 Ix-Xagħra to l-Imġarr from ix-Xewkija and vice-versa
68 Ix-Xagħra to Marsalforn and vice-versa
69 Ix-Xagħra to Ta’ Pinu and vice-versa
70 Ix-Xagħra to Il-Qala and vice-versa
71 (Spare)
72 (Spare)
XEWKIJA
73 Ir-Rabat to Ix-Xewkija and vice-versa
74 Ir-Rabat to the Industrial Estate and vice-versa
75 L-Għarb - San Lawrenz to the Industrial Estate and vice-versa
76 Il-Kerċem to the Industrial Estate and vice-versa
77 Is-Sannat - il-Munxar to the Industrial Estate and vice-versa
78 Iż-Żebbuġ - l-Għasri to the Industrial Estate and vice-versa
79 Il-Qala to the Industrial Estate and vice-versa
80 In-Nadur to the Industrial Estate and vice-versa
81 Ix-Xagħra to the Industrial Estate and vice-versa
64 ġS.L.65.11 MOTOR VEHICLES
82 Għajnsielem to the Industrial Estate and vice-versa
83 Ix-Xewkija to Il-Qala and vice-versa
84 (Spare) 
85 (Spare) 
86 (Spare)
XLENDI
87 Ir-Rabat to Ix-Xlendi and vice-versa
88 (Spare)
89 (Spare)
90 (Spare)
ŻEBBUĠ/GĦASRI
91 Ir-Rabat to Iż-Żebbuġ from l-Għasri and vice-versa
92 Iż-Żebbuġ - Għasri to Il-Qbajjar (Marsalforn) and vice-versa
93 Iż-Żebbuġ - Għasri to Ix-Xagħra and vice-versa
94 Iż-Żebbuġ - Għasri to l-Imġarr and vice-versa
MOTOR OMNIBUSES NOT NORMALLY ON SCHEDULED SERVICE - Colour to
be chosen by operator, as long as it is not mistaken with the motor omnibuses route
distinction marks and colours, and as approved by the Authority
*Collisions between motor vehicles where the impact takes place between the
front of a vehicle and that part which is situated between the back wheels of another
vehicle.
Added by:
L.N. 234 of 1997. SECOND SCHEDULE
(Regulation 211)
