Rental agreement terms for 4Drive Malta car hire services
These Terms and Conditions govern the rental of vehicles provided by 4Drive Malta. By booking a vehicle through our service, you agree to be bound by these terms. Please read them carefully before making a reservation.
Last Updated: January 2025
This rental agreement is made between 4Drive Malta (referred to as "we", "us", or "the Company") and the person named as the primary driver on the rental document (referred to as "you", "the Renter", or "the Customer"). The rental contract is concluded when you accept these terms during the booking process or upon vehicle collection.
This agreement is governed by the laws of Malta. Any disputes arising from this agreement shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Maltese courts. Where matters are not explicitly covered by these terms, the provisions of the Maltese Civil Code and applicable consumer protection legislation shall apply.
The official language of this agreement is English. While we may provide translations for your convenience, the English version shall prevail in case of any discrepancies or disputes.
The primary driver must be at least 21 years of age and hold a valid driving licence for a minimum of one year. For certain vehicle categories (luxury cars, large SUVs, and vehicles with engine capacity exceeding 2.0 litres), the minimum age is 25 years. Drivers aged 21-24 may be subject to a young driver surcharge.
EU and EEA driving licences are accepted without additional documentation. Drivers holding licences issued outside the EU or EEA must present a valid International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside their national licence. Licences printed in non-Latin alphabets (Arabic, Cyrillic, Chinese, etc.) require an IDP or certified translation.
At the time of vehicle collection, you must present a valid passport or national identity card matching the name on your booking. We reserve the right to refuse vehicle handover if the identification documents do not match the booking details or if the documents appear tampered with or invalid.
Any person driving the vehicle must be registered as an additional driver on the rental agreement and meet the same age and licence requirements as the primary driver. Allowing an unauthorised person to drive the vehicle constitutes a breach of contract and voids all insurance coverage. Additional driver fees may apply as per our published rate card.
A booking is confirmed once you receive a confirmation email from us containing your reservation reference number. This email serves as proof of your booking and should be presented upon vehicle collection. We reserve the right to cancel unconfirmed bookings if payment is not received within the specified timeframe.
We accept payment by debit card (VISA, Mastercard), cash (EUR only), Apple Pay, and Google Pay. Unlike traditional car rental companies, 4Drive does not require a credit card, and we do not place any deposit hold on your payment card. Full rental charges are payable at the time of vehicle collection unless alternative arrangements have been agreed in writing.
All prices are quoted in euros (EUR) and include VAT at the prevailing Maltese rate. The rental rate covers the vehicle hire, unlimited mileage within Malta and Gozo, mandatory third-party liability insurance, collision damage waiver, theft protection, and basic roadside assistance. Additional services such as child seats, GPS units, and extra drivers are charged separately as indicated in your booking confirmation.
Vehicles are provided with a full tank of fuel. You are responsible for returning the vehicle with a full tank. If the vehicle is returned with less fuel than provided, a refuelling charge will be applied based on the missing fuel volume plus an administrative fee of EUR 15. We recommend refuelling at a petrol station within 5 kilometres of the return location to ensure the fuel gauge reading matches the supplied level.
Once your booking is confirmed and paid, the rental rate is fixed and will not be subject to increases. However, if you modify your rental dates, vehicle category, or add optional extras after confirmation, the revised rate applicable at the time of modification will apply.
Vehicles can be collected from Malta International Airport or delivered to your hotel or accommodation address within Malta. Airport collections are available 24 hours a day. Hotel deliveries are subject to availability and must be requested at the time of booking. A delivery fee may apply depending on the location.
Upon collection, you must inspect the vehicle in our presence and note any pre-existing damage, scratches, or defects on the vehicle condition report. Both parties will sign this document, which serves as the official record of the vehicle's condition at handover. Failure to report pre-existing damage at collection may result in you being held liable for those defects upon return.
The rental period begins at the date and time specified in your booking confirmation and ends at the agreed return date and time. A rental day is calculated as a 24-hour period from the time of collection. Vehicles returned within one hour of the agreed return time will not incur additional charges. Returns exceeding one hour but less than three hours late will be charged at an hourly rate. Returns more than three hours late will be charged for an additional full rental day.
If you wish to return the vehicle earlier than agreed, you must notify us at least 24 hours in advance. No refund will be provided for unused rental days unless the early return is due to a vehicle defect acknowledged by us in writing. Late returns without prior authorisation may result in additional charges and may affect subsequent customer bookings.
If you need to extend your rental period, contact us as soon as possible. Extensions are subject to vehicle availability and will be charged at the prevailing daily rate for the extension period. Unauthorised extensions (continuing to use the vehicle beyond the agreed return time without our consent) may be treated as theft and reported to the authorities.
All rentals include mandatory third-party liability insurance as required by Maltese law, covering damage to third-party property and injury to third parties up to the legal minimum limits. Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and Theft Protection (TP) are also included, limiting your financial liability in case of accident or theft.
Under our no-deposit policy, you are not required to pay a security deposit at the time of rental. However, in the event of accident, theft, or damage to the vehicle, you may be liable for an excess amount as specified in your rental agreement. The standard excess is EUR 800 for economy and compact vehicles, EUR 1,200 for sedans and small SUVs, and EUR 1,800 for luxury vehicles and large SUVs.
You may purchase additional excess reduction coverage at the time of booking or vehicle collection. Super CDW reduces the excess to EUR 400, and Premium CDW reduces it to zero. These options are subject to additional daily charges and do not cover damage caused by violations of this agreement (e.g., driving under the influence, off-road use, or allowing unauthorised drivers).
Insurance coverage does not apply to damage caused by negligence, wilful misconduct, or violation of these terms. Specifically excluded are: damage to tyres, wheels, windscreen, undercarriage, or interior; damage caused by driving on unpaved roads; damage resulting from driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs; damage occurring while the vehicle is driven by an unauthorised person; damage caused by overloading the vehicle or towing without written permission; and theft where keys were left in the vehicle or the vehicle was left unlocked.
In the event of an accident, you must immediately stop and comply with Maltese traffic laws. Obtain the contact and insurance details of all parties involved and, if possible, take photographs of the scene and damage. Contact us within two hours of the incident and file a police report if there are injuries, significant damage, or if the other party is uncooperative. Failure to report an accident or providing false information may void your insurance coverage and result in full liability for all costs.
The rental vehicle may only be used for personal transportation on paved public roads within Malta and Gozo. You are permitted to transport the vehicle on the Cirkewwa-Mgarr ferry to Gozo at your own expense. The ferry operator's terms and conditions apply during sea crossings.
You must not use the vehicle for: commercial transportation of passengers or goods (taxi, rideshare, delivery); racing, rallying, or driving instruction; towing or pushing other vehicles or trailers; transporting hazardous materials; any illegal activity or purpose; and off-road driving on beaches, dirt tracks, or unpaved surfaces. Violation of these restrictions constitutes a material breach of contract.
The vehicle must remain within the territory of Malta and Gozo. It is strictly prohibited to transport the vehicle to Sicily, Italy, or any other country without our prior written consent. Unauthorised removal of the vehicle from Malta will be treated as theft and reported to authorities. Ferry crossings to other countries are not permitted under any circumstances.
All rental vehicles are non-smoking. Smoking in the vehicle will result in a cleaning fee of EUR 150. Pets are not permitted unless you have booked a pet-friendly vehicle and paid the applicable surcharge. Unauthorised transport of animals will result in a deep-cleaning fee of EUR 200.
You are responsible for all traffic violations, parking fines, and toll charges incurred during the rental period. We will forward any penalty notices received from authorities to your address and charge an administrative fee of EUR 25 per violation for processing. Fines must be paid directly to the issuing authority unless we have paid on your behalf, in which case we will bill you for the fine amount plus our administrative fee.
You must operate the vehicle in accordance with the manufacturer's guidelines and Maltese traffic laws. Check oil, water, and tyre pressure regularly, and ensure the vehicle is locked when unattended. If warning lights appear on the dashboard or you notice any mechanical issues, contact us immediately and do not continue driving if it is unsafe to do so.
In case of breakdown or mechanical failure not caused by your misuse, contact our roadside assistance number provided in your rental documentation. We will arrange recovery or repair at no cost to you. Do not authorise repairs without our prior consent unless the repair cost is less than EUR 50 and we are unreachable in an emergency. Repairs made without authorisation will not be reimbursed.
Any damage to the vehicle must be reported to us immediately, regardless of how minor. If you discover damage that was not noted on the collection report, notify us within 24 hours. Upon return, we will inspect the vehicle together with you and document any new damage on the return condition report.
You may cancel your booking free of charge up to 48 hours before the scheduled collection time. Cancellations made less than 48 hours in advance are non-refundable. To cancel, contact us via email or phone and request a cancellation confirmation. Refunds will be processed within 7 business days to the original payment method.
If you fail to collect the vehicle at the agreed time and date without notifying us, the booking will be treated as a no-show and no refund will be provided. We will hold the vehicle for up to two hours beyond the scheduled collection time, after which the reservation is automatically cancelled and the vehicle may be allocated to another customer.
We reserve the right to cancel a booking if: the customer fails to meet eligibility requirements; the customer provides false or incomplete information; the requested vehicle is unavailable due to circumstances beyond our control (accident, theft, mechanical failure). In such cases, we will offer a comparable alternative vehicle or provide a full refund. We are not liable for any consequential losses resulting from cancellation.
We collect personal information necessary to process your booking and fulfil our contractual obligations. This includes your name, contact details, driving licence information, payment details, and vehicle usage data. For full details on how we process your data, please refer to our Privacy Policy.
Your information may be shared with third parties where necessary to provide rental services, including insurance providers, payment processors, and authorities in case of traffic violations or legal proceedings. We do not sell your personal data to third parties for marketing purposes.
By proceeding with a booking, you consent to the processing of your personal data as described in our Privacy Policy. You have the right to access, correct, or delete your personal information, subject to legal obligations that require us to retain certain records.
While we make every effort to ensure vehicle availability, we are not liable for delays, cancellations, or service interruptions caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to extreme weather, natural disasters, strikes, government actions, or public health emergencies. In such cases, we will offer alternative arrangements where possible or provide a refund.
Our liability is limited to the direct costs of the rental service. We are not responsible for any indirect, incidental, or consequential losses arising from vehicle use, breakdown, or cancellation, including but not limited to loss of income, missed flights, accommodation costs, or business losses. This limitation does not apply where prohibited by law or in cases of death or personal injury caused by our negligence.
In no event shall our total liability exceed the total amount paid by you for the rental period in question. This limitation applies to all claims, whether based on contract, tort, or any other legal theory, except where liability cannot be limited by law.
If you have a complaint about our service, please contact us in writing within 14 days of the incident. We will investigate your complaint and respond within 21 days. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may escalate the matter through the Maltese consumer protection authorities.
Any disputes arising from this agreement that cannot be resolved through negotiation may be referred to arbitration under the Malta Arbitration Centre rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in English and the decision of the arbitrator shall be final and binding on both parties.
This agreement is governed by Maltese law. Where you are a consumer resident in another EU member state, you may also benefit from mandatory consumer protection provisions in your country of residence.
We reserve the right to modify these terms and conditions at any time. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting on our website. Your continued use of our services after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the modified terms. We recommend reviewing this page periodically to stay informed of any updates.
Where changes materially affect your rights or obligations, we will endeavour to notify you by email at least 30 days before the changes take effect. For existing bookings, the terms in effect at the time of booking will continue to apply unless you agree to the modified terms.
For questions regarding these terms and conditions or your rental agreement, please contact us:
4Drive Malta
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +356 [contact number]
Address: Malta
Our customer service team is available to assist you with any queries or concerns regarding your rental.