Hello everyone, I moved to Malta in 2010 by ferry with an italian car but I never registered it (and its actually still my mom's car but we never switched the ownership). Since then I went for several VRTs and even my mechanic never told me anything about registration. I have an italian insurance that I pay and renew every year and I always gave it for granted that that was enough since I am EU citizen. Now I heard that they are stopping cars with foreign plates to impound them if not registered. What am I gonna do? My car is worth little to no money and if it gets impounded it would cost me a fortune (as far as I understood) to go and get it back. I was planning to take it back to Italy and never go back to Malta with it, does anyone know if there are controls at the ferry boarding?
Please help me out, I dont know what to do and Im getting a bit paranoid now.
Thanks.
Driving italian car in Malta - Am I in trouble?
Sounds like you've been very lucky so far as not being stopped for checks!
Just hope your luck holds! You are the kind of guy that they are hoping to catch with potentially about 3 years of fees at around 30 €/day = approx. 33.000 €.
The only thing that can help you out is the total Maltese inefficiency and lack of enforcement and lots of luck . Ss far as I see when using the ferry by car there are controls but they can't check every foreign car.Don't talk about 'your' car as it is not your car which makes it even worse. It is fairly easy to check in your case as the car is not registered in your name.
Are you registered as a resident with an id card or e-residence card?
I wish you luck and maybe one of our 'car specialists' has a good tip!
Ricky
You should be able to book it on the ferry using your Italian passport. The chances of being stopped on the way to the ferry are remote as it will be very early morning.
As for the possible seizure and fines, Its a risk you take if you choose not to register your car in Malta.
Its not the mechanics job to tell you it needs to be registered!
Terry
I have an old Maltese ID card released in 2011 which expired last year
tearnet wrote:You should be able to book it on the ferry using your Italian passport. The chances of being stopped on the way to the ferry are remote as it will be very early morning.
As for the possible seizure and fines, Its a risk you take if you choose not to register your car in Malta.
Its not the mechanics job to tell you it needs to be registered!
Terry
I am not sure what you mean, I should book my ticket on the ferry rather than online?
Your 'old' id card did not expire as they were extended by legal notice and are now all valid until the end of 2015.
Cheers
Ricky
ricky wrote:Your 'old' id card did not expire as they were extended by legal notice and are now all valid until the end of 2015.
Cheers
Ricky
But anyway, what difference does it make if I have a Maltese ID?
A big difference Philluck!
I'm starting to think you are pulling our legs!
If you are a resident of Malta (ID card) you are not allowed to drive a foreign plated car in Malta. Not even your mother's ! And with the ID card it is documented.
You really should look into the whole issue so that you know what to say and what not to say if your luck gives up and you get stopped by TM and/or police.
And do as Terry says as quickly as possible.
Cheers
Ricky
Go into a travel agent (or do it online) and book a ferry ticket for the car and yourself using your Italian passport.
Leave Malta and drive to Italy or sell it in Sicily.
Fly back or return as a foot passenger.
Simple,.
Terry
ricky wrote:A big difference Philluck!
I'm starting to think you are pulling our legs!
I'm sorry if it looks like I'm making stupid questions but it's both ignorance on the matter and a bit of panic I guess.
Lets say, in the worst case scenario, they stop me and they impound my car. I absolutely dont have 33.000€ (besides my car is 2002 so I guess its worth less than 1k€). If I cant pay the money to get it back, what then? Can I just leave them the car and say goodbye to it or I am going to face even bigger problems?
It is the money you owe if they catch you! The car is only impounded until you pay up and does not replace the money you owe.
They will want the money , sooner or later. They will sell the car by auction but you will still owe the amount that is not covered by the sale of the car.
Ignorance and stupidity won't excuse you if your luck fades! Are you sure that your car insurance would even pay up in the case of an accident? It seems that they are not aware that the car has been stationed illegally in Malta for more 3 years! Or did you tell the insurance that your car is permanently in Malta?
Just pray that you don't get caught trying to take the car off the island.
Cheers
Ricky
take the plates back to Italy and un-register the car with your insurance ... remove type labels and grind off engine number ... and sell the car in Malta to a parts dealer
No I am just going to head over the port and get the ferry. If they stop me on the way to it or they make controls during boarding I will just show my italian ID and tell them that I honestly didnt know anything about it (by the way I forgot to mention that I got stopped twice in the last year and police never asked me anything about registraion). Then If they "catch me" and I have to pay 30.000€ so be it, even if I have absolutely no idea how I would manage to pay such an amount of money
It's not the police , they don't care!
Watch out for TM officers.The police are only with them if someone tries to make a run -))))
Good luck.
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