Aquarius Rent a Car

Aquarius Rent a Car is an independent Maltese car hire firm that aims for friendly, reliable service at reasonable prices. It runs from three points on the main island: a desk at Malta International Airport, a head office in St Paul's Bay and a branch in Luqa, just beside the airport. For a UK visitor, that means you can collect a car within minutes of landing and explore at your own pace.

Malta drives on the left, as in the UK, which makes hiring a car here far easier than in most of Europe. This page is part of our directory of car hire in Malta, where you can compare other local firms.

The fleet: small cars to a seven seater

The range on the site is entirely petrol. At the compact end are the Toyota Aygo, Kia Picanto, Hyundai i10 and Toyota Yaris, which suit couples and small families and cope well with Malta's narrow village streets and tight parking. The Aygo is a two door with four seats, while the others are four door five seaters.

Larger options include the Ford Focus in station wagon and saloon form, for families with more luggage, and the Fiat 500 Cabrio for open air touring. The Citroën C3 Aircross comes as a seven seater, and the Skoda Kamiq is offered as an automatic. The company also mentions luxury cars, minibuses and four to six seat jeeps among its wider range, so ask if you need something specific.

Automatic or manual

Many UK drivers are used to manual cars, but Malta's hills and stop start traffic around Sliema and Valletta make an automatic appealing. Aquarius lists automatic versions of the Toyota Aygo, Hyundai i10, Toyota Yaris and Citroën C3 Aircross, plus the Skoda Kamiq, alongside manual models of the other cars.

Each car is given a short booking code on the site, which helps when you are comparing categories. If you have a strong preference, say so in your enquiry, because automatic cars are often the first to be taken in high season.

What comes with the hire

Every car shown carries the same three headline features: unlimited mileage, 24 hour breakdown assistance and air conditioning. Unlimited mileage matters if you plan to cross the island, and breakdown cover gives reassurance on a holiday where you do not know the garages. The site prints no prices, so we cannot quote a rate, and you will need to ask about costs, insurance, deposits and driver requirements directly.

Because the company is based near the airport, it suits arrivals who want to head straight out. Many visitors use a car for day trips to the walled city described in our Mdina guide, across to Gozo using our Gozo island guide, or the beaches listed in our best beaches in Malta guide.

Where to collect your car

The airport desk is at the Park East Car Hire Centre at Malta International Airport in Luqa. The head office is at 117 St Paul's Street, St Paul's Bay, handy if you are staying in the north around Qawra, Buġibba or Mellieħa. The Luqa branch is at 10 St Thomas Road, close to the airport.

If you are still choosing where to base yourself, our guide on where to stay in Malta explains the main resort areas, and our Malta holidays overview helps you plan the rest of the trip. To check availability, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to the company.

A little planning helps. Tell the company how many adults and children are travelling, how much luggage you have, whether you want an automatic, and the dates and times of your flights, so that the right car is waiting. If you plan to see the capital, our Valletta guide helps you plan the visit.