Drifter

Drifter began as a single cab and has grown into one of the broader transport operators in the north of Malta, combining airport taxis, a shuttle bus, chauffeur-driven trips and self-drive hire under one name. For a UK visitor staying around Mellieħa, Golden Bay or Ramla Bay, that means one company can collect you from the airport, take you sightseeing and later hand over a car if you decide you want to drive yourself.

The firm is based on George Borg Olivier Street in Mellieħa and is listed in our directory of car hire in Malta. Our Mellieħa guide helps you plan a stay in the area.

How Drifter began

The founder and managing director, John Borg, got the idea for a cab company on holiday in Australia, sitting in a Chrysler Drifter panel van at a drive-in cinema showing Grease. Back in Malta he started with one car, a black Ford Consul, bought with money borrowed from his father, a third-generation farmer. The company soon had a name for being reliable and always available, and it was one of the first Maltese cab firms to run 24 hours a day.

Today the fleet has more than 100 cars, and the team includes drivers, hotel representatives, car hire specialists and cab coordinators. Recent additions include Ford Focus estates, Ford Tourneo Connects, Ford Tourneos, Ford Transit minibuses and a 27-seater coach.

Airport cabs and shuttle bus

Cabs are air-conditioned and priced at fixed fares, so you know the cost before you travel. A driver waits in the arrivals hall with a card showing your name, flight times are tracked for early landings or delays, and up to an hour of waiting time after landing is free. Baby carriers, child seats and booster seats are available at modest rates, and vehicle sizes run from estates through people carriers to minibuses and coaches, including transport to a wedding venue. Book online by choosing your pick-up and drop-off localities.

The shuttle bus is a cheaper way to see the island if you do not mind sharing. It collects from hotels and points in the north, including Paradise Bay Resort, Ramla Bay Resort, Pergola Hotel and Spa, Solana Hotel and Spa, Radisson Blu Golden Sands and the Drifter head office, and serves places such as Popeye Village, Golden Bay, Buġibba, Qawra, Mdina, Sliema, St Julian's, Valletta, Marsaxlokk and the airport. Fares are fixed per passenger and places depend on availability. You choose how long to stay in each place, so you can spend a leisurely day in the walled city of Mdina or the capital, Valletta and ride back when you wish, or visit Popeye Village or Golden Bay.

Car hire and sightseeing trips

Rental vehicles include Chevrolet Sparks, Ford Fiestas, Ford KA+ cars, Ford Focus estates, Hyundai i10, i20 and i30 models, Chevrolet Orlandos, Ford Tourneo Connects and Yamaha NMAX 125cc scooters. The booking form asks your age, and drivers under 25 or over 69 should contact the company directly, as should anyone wanting a same day booking.

If you would rather not drive, customisable 360 degree sightseeing trips take you with a driver anywhere on Malta or Gozo at fixed hourly rates. Gozo Channel fares for passengers, driver and vehicle are not included. Our Gozo guide and things to do in Malta pages give ideas for a route.

Drifter also offers staff transport, car leasing and a delivery service for business partners, so it can serve local companies as well as holidaymakers.

How to enquire

Tell us whether you want a cab, a place on the shuttle, a sightseeing trip or a hire car, together with your dates, pick-up place, group size and any child seats. Use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to Drifter, who will reply to you directly.