Burmarrad Group

Burmarrad Group is one of the biggest motor businesses in Malta, and it works from a large site on Valletta Road in the Marsa Industrial Estate, a short drive from the capital. Despite the name, the group is based in Marsa, on the edge of Grand Harbour. Under one roof it sells commercial vehicles, leases and rents cars, vans and trucks, services and repairs vehicles, and builds or converts vehicle bodies.

For UK readers the group matters in three ways. Visitors can hire a car, van or truck from a business that operates the Alamo, Enterprise and National rental brands in Malta. Residents and new arrivals can buy or lease a vehicle and have it serviced locally. Businesses can put fleets of vans and trucks on a maintenance agreement. The group appears in our directories of garages in Malta, car dealerships in Malta and car hire in Malta.

A family business founded in 1984

Mario Gauci founded Burmarrad Group in 1984 as an importer of used commercial vehicles. Hard work and a steady widening of the product range turned it into a diversified group, and the second generation of the Gauci family now leads the company. The family also holds a property portfolio alongside its automotive interests.

A few figures give a sense of scale: more than 11,500 vehicles sold, a leasing fleet of over 1,200 vehicles and a team of more than 150 people. The group holds ISO 9001:2015 certification, the international standard for quality management. The working culture treats staff like a close family, puts ethical practice first and aims to exceed what customers expect. The group also commits to a safe workplace and to personal development opportunities for its employees.

The group is also the official distributor and service partner in Malta for Carrier Transicold, Chereau and Dhollandia. It operates RMF, a 24 hour roadside assistance service, and is an authorised repairer for Peugeot, Citroën and Opel cars.

Vehicle sales and leasing

Burmarrad Group is the largest supplier in Malta of new and used commercial vehicles, including special-purpose vehicles, warehouse equipment and industrial machinery. The sales side serves businesses first, so expect vans, trucks and specialist vehicles rather than a showroom of family hatchbacks. A sales enquiry can be made through the group's contact form, which also handles marketing questions, service and mechanical repairs and general feedback, so the right team picks up your message.

Leasing is a major line. The group runs a leasing fleet of more than 1,200 vehicles, which suits companies that prefer to pay for use of a vehicle rather than tie up capital in buying it. Anyone setting up a business on the island will often need vans or trucks, and our partner CLA Malta can help with the company formation side. If you are moving to Malta with your family, our Malta relocation guide covers the practical steps beyond transport.

Car, van and truck rental

The rental business covers cars, SUVs, vans, trucks, warehouse equipment and specialist commercial vehicles. Burmarrad Group operates the Alamo, Enterprise and National franchises in Malta, which will be familiar names to many UK travellers. Rentals can be short term or long term, from a day or a week to a month or more, and a request can be made through the website, by phone or by calling in at the Marsa facilities. Whether you want a car for a holiday, a van for a house move or a truck to carry cargo for a business, the range is designed to cover personal and commercial use.

If something goes wrong during a rental, a dedicated 24 hour customer support line is available to guide you through the next steps. Most UK visitors arrive by air, so see our guide to flights to Malta from the UK when planning pick-up times, and use things to do in Malta to decide where a hire car will take you.

Servicing, repairs and VRT

The workshop services and repairs cars, vans and trucks, from routine maintenance and diagnostics to complex repairs with quality parts, carried out by certified mechanics. Technicians receive regular training so that they stay current with new vehicle technology. The group uses genuine parts from reputable manufacturers, and it handles auto electrical faults, car air conditioning, brakes, suspension, tyres and batteries, and parts sales. Refrigeration installations and repairs are also offered, which suits refrigerated delivery vehicles.

VRT stands for vehicle roadworthiness test, the periodic inspection that Maltese vehicles must pass, and the group can arrange it along with a service. As an authorised repairer for Peugeot, Citroën and Opel, it can carry out warranty repairs without affecting the manufacturer's warranty, and it offers diagnostic fault-finding and programming for those makes.

Booking is done online. The form asks for the vehicle's make, model, year and registration, a preferred date and morning or afternoon slot, whether a VRT is required, and whether you want a car wash at extra cost or an air-conditioning check, which carries additional charges. Customers can also upload an image of the vehicle logbook, and a loyalty card gives members exclusive discounts and offers. Typical warning signs that point to an electrical fault include trouble starting, dim or flickering lights, dashboard warning lights that misbehave, blown fuses and a battery that keeps going flat. The electrical team diagnoses and fixes problems with batteries, alternators, starter motors, wiring, fuses, lights and sensors on cars, SUVs, trucks and vans. Minor repairs and component swaps can often be finished within a few hours, while harder faults take longer, and you are given an estimate of the timeframe once the problem has been assessed.

Body manufacturing, panel beating and fleet agreements

A body manufacturing centre in Marsa builds and modifies commercial vehicles for particular industries. Typical work includes shelving and storage systems, partitions and bulkheads, interior layouts, tail lifts, refrigeration units and lifters, and paintwork. Modifications are designed for deliveries, trades, mobile clinics and other specialist uses, and they are planned to meet industry rules and safety guidance. The team can handle a single vehicle or a whole fleet, and projects begin with a consultation followed by a proposal covering scope, cost and timeline.

Car bodywork is covered too. Panel beating and spray painting use paints made for durability in Malta's weather, with colour matching so that repairs blend into the existing finish, and an estimate follows an inspection appointment. Sandblasting is also available, and the workshop sells tyres and batteries as well as fitting them.

For companies, the fleet maintenance agreement brings priority appointments, booking notifications, a guarantee of inspection within 24 hours after a breakdown, discounted labour, parts and replacement-vehicle rental, preferred credit terms and fleet monitoring and scheduling. The team reminds you when routine servicing is due, which frees up management time for firms with vans, trucks or mixed fleets. To request an agreement, a company gives its name and says whether its fleet is made up of cars, vans, trucks or a mix, and the group can supply the manpower and expertise to manage a fleet of any size. The pitch is a single stop for mechanical, electrical and refrigeration work, body modifications, spray painting, tyres and air conditioning.

Marsa and the area around the site

Marsa sits beside Grand Harbour, close to Valletta and the Three Cities. If you are collecting or returning a vehicle there, the Valletta guide and the Three Cities guide show what to see next, and the nearby Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum and Ħal-Tarxien Prehistoric Complex are among the island's best-known prehistoric sites.

The site is open Monday to Friday from 7:00 to 18:00 and on Saturday from 7:00 to 12:00. To ask about a vehicle purchase, a lease, a rental or a service, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to Burmarrad Group, who will reply to you directly.