As of the end of June 2025, Malta’s stock of licensed motor vehicles stood at 450,794, marking a continued upward trend in national vehicle ownership, according to a recent report by the National Statistics Office (NSO). Passenger cars made up the bulk of this figure at 73.8%, followed by commercial and agricultural vehicles (14.3%), and motorcycles, e-bikes, and similar vehicles (11.3%). Buses and minibuses comprised less than 1% of the total fleet.
The vehicle stock expanded at an average daily rate of 37 vehicles during the second quarter of 2025. A total of 7,917 new vehicles were licensed in the same period, with 59.8% being passenger cars and 25.1% motorcycles and similar vehicles. Of all new licenses, 58.7% were brand new, while 41.3% were used imports—averaging 87 new registrations per day.
Meanwhile, 9,366 vehicles were taken off the road this quarter. Of these, 39.4% were garaged, 29.6% resold, and 29.0% scrapped. Conversely, 4,816 vehicles had their restrictions lifted—primarily through resale or being brought back from storage.
On the energy front, petrol-powered vehicles still dominate with 58.1% of the fleet, followed by diesel-powered vehicles (34.6%). While electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles remain a small segment (4.3%), their numbers are gradually growing. Notably, plug-in hybrids (diesel-electric) saw a 7.2% increase, while electric vehicles and mild hybrids (petrol-electric) grew by 6.0% and 5.1%, respectively.
These trends signal Malta’s slow but steady move toward more sustainable mobility, though traditional fuel types still overwhelmingly dominate the roads. As population and economic growth continue – partly driven by migration – vehicle numbers are likely to keep climbing, raising further challenges around traffic congestion, urban planning, and environmental impact.
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