🚗 Can I drive 10 km/h over the speed limit in Malta?

Quick answer

No — in Malta there is no legal 10% "tolerance". The general limit is 50 km/h in built-up areas and 80 km/h outside them, with 30 km/h near schools and in many residential zones; Malta does not even have a motorway. Exceeding the limit by up to 15 km/h carries a statutory fine of €34.94; more than 15 km/h over rose from €69.88 to €100 through a Legal Notice that took effect on 19 May 2023. On top of the fine you collect 3 to 6 penalty points. The myth: that "the speed camera forgives 10%". The margin some cameras applied is an administrative practice, not a right, and it is being removed — the Siġġiewi camera already runs with zero tolerance. The gov.mt page still shows €69.88, but that figure has been overtaken.

📋 The rules

The general limits are 50 km/h in built-up areas and 80 km/h outside them, unless a sign says otherwise; near schools it often drops to 30 km/h.
Exceeding the limit by up to 15 km/h carries a statutory fine of €34.94.
Exceeding by more than 15 km/h now costs €100, raised from €69.88 on 19 May 2023.
Every speeding ticket adds 3 to 6 penalty points to your licence.
12 points in 12 months trigger a two-month licence suspension; new drivers get there on fewer.

🔓 Exceptions

A road sign overrides the general limit: where 30 or 40 km/h is posted, that applies even if the road looks like it "allows" more.
In rain, fog or on a wet carriageway you can be caught even below the limit if your speed is not suited to conditions.
Buses, trucks and vehicles with trailers have their own, lower limits than a passenger car.

⚠️ Penalties & fines

The fine is only the start. Each ticket adds 3 to 6 penalty points, and 12 points in 12 months means two months off the road; newly licensed drivers reach suspension on fewer points. Speed that causes a crash brings civil liability — and, if there is injury or death, criminal liability too — which does not end when you pay the fine. Your insurer may reduce or refuse the payout when the driving was reckless, leaving you to cover the damage yourself. A speed camera also marks your points record, and the build-up pushes your insurance premium up for years. Remember that the gov.mt page still shows €69.88 for serious speeding: the figure in force is €100.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-07-12

❓ Frequently asked

Is there really a 10% tolerance?

No. The law grants no forgiven margin, and the margin some cameras applied is an administrative practice being removed, not a driver's right. The Siġġiewi bypass camera already operates with zero tolerance, and the others are expected to follow.

What is the fine if I drive 20 km/h over?

Because that is more than 15 km/h over, the fine in force is €100, not the €69.88 the gov.mt page still shows. Besides the money you also collect 3 to 6 penalty points, which keep counting toward the 12-point suspension threshold.

Can I lose my licence for speeding alone?

Yes, indirectly. Speeding does not suspend a licence on its own, but it adds points, and reaching 12 points in 12 months suspends the licence for two months. Drivers still in their first years reach the threshold on fewer than 12 points.

Why does the gov.mt page show €69.88?

Because that Schedule 2 list under Chapter 65 has not been updated online, while a 2023 Legal Notice raised the serious fine to €100. When a figure on a government website conflicts with the Legal Notice in force, the text of the law prevails, not the page.

How long do penalty points last?

Points are kept over a period set by Transport Malta's points system, and accumulating 12 in 12 months leads to a two-month suspension. For drivers in their first years the threshold is lower, so even a few tickets can be dangerous.

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