The regulations have changed and if you plan to bring your car over from UK it would be best to check well in advance with Transport Malta and confirm exactly what you need to do. You are advised to phone the Floriana office or call in person as emails tend to go unanswered.
From Transport Malta´s blog it appears that all vehicles will require a Permit on arrival regardless of who they belong to. Otherwise they could be towed way. It looks like the “6 month rule” is no longer valid as it was being abused by foreigners who kept their imported cars on the road in Malta for years without registering them, claiming that they had arrived recently if questioned.
NEW PERMIT RULES – Transport Malta blog
Imported used vehicles will need a 30 day permit to drive in Malta from 1st January 2016. Vehicles without the permit will be towed.
The permit, in the form of a licence disc affixed to the windscreen, will allow owners to drive imported vehicles on Maltese roads for 30 days before registering them. The system will curtail abuses by owners who used to drive imported vehicles without registering or insuring them.
A resident who imports a used vehicle in Malta has to inform Transport Malta by the first working day after its arrival. Transport Malta will issue the 30 day permit against a fee of €20.
Information supplied by Gerry – Information & Support Co-ordinator
Footnote: I still have not received any reply from Transport Malta to my email sent 3 weeks ago re: Importing Cars into Malta. I was told it was passed on to so-called “customer services”. Several attempts to contact the Floriana office by phone also proved futile as phone remained unanswered. So I’m sending what I have with the proviso that it may have to be added to or amended later.