Tips on buying a car

my advice would be to buy a new one rather than a very expensive second hand one.. i spent more on two 10 yr old cars than i did on a new one

toonarmy9752 wrote:

my advice would be to buy a new one rather than a very expensive second hand one.. i spent more on two 10 yr old cars than i did on a new one

Yeah but even the new ones are over priced...

4x4 or 2x4?

yes but they all are - but at least with a new one you get to have the car for 5 yrs at fixed tax and no VRT for 5yrs... and you are not buying someone elses problems

an no real trade in deals either  - i kept my 2L gas guzzler RX4 as couldnt get a decent trade in or price for it.

You don't need a 4x4 (unless you are an off road enthusiast), they just drink fuel.
There are some good buys to be had via the rental companies or try for an older, low mileage fixed tax Maltese registered car.
Don't be tempted by one on foreign plates.

Terry

always make sure that the used car you buy is free of any penalties before you buy it - we knwo fines arent always paid until the tax and insurance is due.....so they may still be unpaid when you buy it...

Good advice guy's, regarding the penalties, how do you find out if the car has any against it. Stupid question but is there an app for it?

So no to 4x4's and stick to Maltese cars, sort of narrow's it down a bit, any decent makes/models would you recommend?

I need 4 seats and big enough boot space for shopping and my diving gear.

the TM dept should be able to tell you.... - or the insurance company when you try to get a quote for it - it should identify that there are outstanding penalties for the vehicle - whether they will tell you or not is another matter  - as tax and insurance (paid for at the same time as tax insurance and VRT usually all happen / fall due together) cannot be given until theyre paid - one of the good things ive found about life here..

Rocking Ken wrote:

Good advice guy's, regarding the penalties, how do you find out if the car has any against it. Stupid question but is there an app for it?

So no to 4x4's and stick to Maltese cars, sort of narrow's it down a bit, any decent makes/models would you recommend?

I need 4 seats and big enough boot space for shopping and my diving gear.

I'm pretty sure that both BILLY'S and DRIFTER car hire sell their cars off at the end of each year, both are in Mellieha and you can go  and browse, test drive the one that you fancy.

Terry

The outstanding fines could be a fair amount!

As I have just moved and saw how my agent parked I asked him how much he paid for fines during one year and he said .... 'more than 2000 € ' ! Which he only pays at the end of his car tax year !

I don't think you can find out yourself as it is a matter of data protection !

Cheers
Ricky

ricky wrote:

The outstanding fines could be a fair amount!

As I have just moved and saw how my agent parked I asked him how much he paid for fines during one year and he said .... 'more than 2000 € ' ! Which he only pays at the end of his car tax year !

I don't think you can find out yourself as it is a matter of data protection !

Cheers
Ricky

so in that basis then a buyer could land himself a car encumbered by fines he didnt know about as the owner lied.

tearnet wrote:

Rocking Ken wrote:

Good advice guy's, regarding the penalties, how do you find out if the car has any against it. Stupid question but is there an app for it?

So no to 4x4's and stick to Maltese cars, sort of narrow's it down a bit, any decent makes/models would you recommend?

I need 4 seats and big enough boot space for shopping and my diving gear.

I'm pretty sure that both BILLY'S and DRIFTER car hire sell their cars off at the end of each year, both are in Mellieha and you can go  and browse, test drive the one that you fancy.

Terry

Thanks Terry

toonarmy9752 wrote:

the TM dept should be able to tell you.... - or the insurance company when you try to get a quote for it - it should identify that there are outstanding penalties for the vehicle - whether they will tell you or not is another matter  - as tax and insurance (paid for at the same time as tax insurance and VRT usually all happen / fall due together) cannot be given until theyre paid - one of the good things ive found about life here..

You would think that someone would have developed an mobile app that charges the person €3 say to check for any outstanding fines etc.

Hhhhmmmm may be onto something here 

Right guy's I'm confused a bit.

Just been looking at a Honda Jazz 1.4 registered in 2002, I asked when the license cost and was told €200 but as it's an import it will be going up to €350 in 2017.

Now correct me if I'm wrong here but aren't all car's imported, so does that mean all the license costs will be going up 

Rocking Ken wrote:

Right guy's I'm confused a bit.

Just been looking at a Honda Jazz 1.4 registered in 2002, I asked when the license cost and was told €200 but as it's an import it will be going up to €350 in 2017.

Now correct me if I'm wrong here but aren't all car's imported, so does that mean all the license costs will be going up 

Cars registered before 1998 (I think) are on what the locals call Maltese tax with the Max paid around 120€.
After that date they are on a sliding scale dependant on cc, emissions, age etc. and it goes up every year.
This is all subject to Government legislation changing at each budget but its not likely to reduce.

Terry

tearnet wrote:

Rocking Ken wrote:

Right guy's I'm confused a bit.

Just been looking at a Honda Jazz 1.4 registered in 2002, I asked when the license cost and was told €200 but as it's an import it will be going up to €350 in 2017.

Now correct me if I'm wrong here but aren't all car's imported, so does that mean all the license costs will be going up 

Cars registered before 1998 (I think) are on what the locals call Maltese tax with the Max paid around 120€.
After that date they are on a sliding scale dependant on cc, emissions, age etc. and it goes up every year.
This is all subject to Government legislation changing at each budget but its not likely to reduce.

Terry

Thanks Terry..

it defo wont reduce ......

a friend of mine bought a non "ta Malta"  car a Vauxhall Zafira 1800cc and he pays €900 per yr for the road tax or circulation tax as they call it here

toonarmy9752 wrote:

it defo wont reduce ......

a friend of mine bought a non "ta Malta"  car a Vauxhall Zafira 1800cc and he pays €900 per yr for the road tax or circulation tax as they call it here

Bloody hell that's a bit extortionate, starting to have second thoughts now....

Rocking Ken, I suggest you refer to this document

Annual Circulation Tax due on cars registered in Malta on or before 31st December 2008 is based on age and engine capacity regardless of whether the car is an 'import' or not. ACT on cars registered after this date is based on age and emissions rather than engine capacity.

Technically all cars are 'imports' but the term is usually used to refer to vehicles which were originally registered overseas. 'Ta Malta' refers to cars which were bought brand new from the local agent.

Personally, I would opt for a brand new car and preferably not an Italian or French one

lambada wrote:

Rocking Ken, I suggest you refer to this document

Annual Circulation Tax due on cars registered in Malta on or before 31st December 2008 is based on age and engine capacity regardless of whether the car is an 'import' or not. ACT on cars registered after this date is based on age and emissions rather than engine capacity.

Technically all cars are 'imports' but the term is usually used to refer to vehicles which were originally registered overseas. 'Ta Malta' refers to cars which were bought brand new from the local agent.

Personally, I would opt for a brand new car and preferably not an Italian or French one

exactly where i started......lol

Seem like in 2017 there are going to be a lot of people who cannot afford to run their cars because of the increase and by then fuel would have went up...

Rocking Ken wrote:

Seem like in 2017 there are going to be a lot of people who cannot afford to run their cars because of the increase and by then fuel would have went up...

That could be the real agenda as, let's face it, there are too many cars per head, on these islands.
'They' cannot come out and do anything directly as that would be far too unpopular.

I am too thinking of buying a car... I have been tempted by some dead-old cars parked in front Piscopo for just 500 € and so on.....

What is the average you pay a year for a 10 year old car in taxes and insurance?

And how much it costs changing the owner of a second hand car?

Do really classic and vintage cars only pay 8 € per year in taxes?

MUCH DEPENDS ON WHETHER ITS A "TA MALTA" CAR OR AN IMPORT

ALSO ON C02 AND ENGINE SIZES

So, Ta Malta cars are cheaper right? do taxes vary wildly? could somebody post examples? as I can't quite make out the total costs of running a car here.....

It's more or less the same, before 2009 the registration tax was much higher and the annual circulation tax lower. And after 2009 it's vice versa 
It depends what it's worth to you. You can buy a commercial 4x4 with 3000cc and you pay only 185,- annual tax or you buy a recently imported 4x4 with 2500cc and you pay 800,-
You can buy a 1300cc petrol car with a/c "ta malta" and pay only 120,- tax per year or an older Smart with only 700cc and you pay 250,- ... you see, it all depends 
If you are a classic car lover (before 1983) the annual tax is only 8,-

http://www.transport.gov.mt/land-transp … cence-fees

The TM website gives details of the circulation tax.

Terry

Many thanks , matm and tearnet. For what I see it seems the maximum is 1200 € and the minimum is 8 € .

Are insurance cost much different than countries like Spain or UK?

Besides the obvious circulation tax and insurance, is there some other tax or special cost to use a car?

fuel tax 

Hey folks, my family and I are relocating to Malta in July, does anybody have any links for reputable car dealers on the island please. I'm in the market for a new or good quality used car.
Regards

There are plenty of car dealers on Malta including all the main dealers.
Just google "car dealers Malta".
I have brought both privately and from a dealer (sometimes they are the same thing).
Best to look around when you arrive and sort out the best deal for you, just rent one for starters.

Terry

Hi, been reading this post and would like to ask for advice on car rental for a month or more. Are there any specialist rental companies who have good deals for this? I'll be based in Mellieha.

Billys car hire do good deals on long term rentals, bottom of the high street in Mellieha.

Terry

As do drifter NR reflections and at the botton of the hell

KWL car hire in Qawra next to the Qawra palace do some exceptional deals

Thanks guys, I'll send out some requests for quotes.

How about buying a car from someone who is leaving the island? Price has been dropped down for this reason.  Toyota Rav4 in immaculate condition, Diesel 2.2 D4D 2009 model, only 16,500 miles, climate control, panoramic sunroof, ABS, parking sensors, bluetooth, etc. Eur18,900.  Contact:79447309 / 79436905 or [email protected].