Research the various shipping companies that can move your car to Malta from the U.S. Examples of companies that go to Malta are AutoShippers USA and Auto Car Shippers.
Look at your car to see if it needs to be placed in a container for shipping. Expensive or delicate cars, such as those with a low chassis, may be safer in a container than on a roll-on, roll-off ferry, where speed bumps and other drivers could cause damage. Container shipping is more expensive than roll-on, roll-off shipping.
Make sure the car has been in your possession for at least six months and is registered as such on the car documents before importing the vehicle. This is a legal requirement in Malta.
Be in the country before the car arrives, but not more than six months before. This is a prerequisite for importing a car into Malta.
Check if you are entitled to import your car without paying duty on it. Permanent residents or returning citizens can import one used car duty-free, but temporary residents, including those with work permits, must pay duty.
Arrange insurance for the car that covers Malta. A green card that proves you are insured for third-party claims in the European Union will be acceptable in Malta.
Collect all documents relating to the car. This includes the car logbook or registration, any motor test certificate or equivalent from your home country, and an export certificate from the car's country of origin if applicable to that country.
Book an inspection appointment with Transport Malta. They will need to inspect your car before it can be registered in Malta. Cars must be inspected within seven days of arrival in Malta.
Bring the car to Floriana for the inspection and give them Forms VEH01, VEH02 and VEH03 for private importers. These can be downloaded from the Transport Malta website. Also bring an original certificate of conformity for the car -- which can be obtained from the manufacturer, photo identification, and if the car originates from a non-EU country, Form VEH04.
Pay registration tax on the car, the amount of which will depend on the valuation given by the inspection unit and the CO2 emissions produced by the car. Calculations for the registration tax can be performed on the Transport Malta website.
