Malta drives on the left, and used cars from the UK are a common sight on the island. If you're thinking of buying one in the UK and bringing it over, the checks you do before you buy matter more than usual: shipping costs money, and the car still has to pass registration when it arrives.
Why the car's history matters in Malta
Before an imported used car can be registered, Transport Malta's technical unit inspects it, and Transport Malta can refuse to register a car that doesn't meet the rules or isn't safe for the road. A car with hidden accident damage is exactly the kind that can fail. Registration also has to be completed within 30 days of the car arriving, so there is little time to fix surprises.
1. Write-offs and accident damage
The write-off check shows if an insurer recorded the car as a total loss: Cat S for structural damage, Cat N for non-structural. Salvage auction records show cars sold after an accident, often with the damaged areas listed. A repaired Cat S car can be fine, but you want to know, and to see proof of a proper repair.
2. Outstanding finance
If finance is owed on the car, it may still belong to a UK lender. The full report shows any finance agreement recorded against it. Don't pay until it is settled.
3. Stolen and high risk records
The report shows whether the police have recorded the car as stolen, and whether a company such as a lender or insurer has registered an interest in it on the high risk register.
4. VIN and engine number
Compare the VIN on the car, the V5C and the report. Then check the engine number: our engine number check shows the engine details recorded for the car. A mismatch can mean a cloned car or a replaced engine, both things to sort out before you buy.
5. Mileage
The MOT history shows the recorded mileage at every test since 2005, and we flag any reading lower than an earlier one. Ask for service records that back up the latest figure.
6. The paperwork
Transport Malta asks for the original UK log book (V5C) among the registration documents. Make sure the seller hands it over with the car, and that its details match. Taxes and rules for cars from the UK can change, so check the current requirements with Transport Malta before you buy.
A quick checklist
- Run a UK car check for Malta by reg or VIN, before you pay a deposit.
- Check the VIN and engine number against the V5C and the car.
- Ask about any write-off and see the repair invoices.
- Budget for shipping, inspection, registration and taxes.
- Pay by a traceable method.
See what a full report includes in our sample car history report, and read about how imported cars are recorded in the UK.