There will be no immediate changes to Malta’s vintage car regulations, but the government intends to initiate a consultation process for potential future reforms.

When announcing an 18-month traffic reduction plan last week, Transport Minister Chris Bonett said that changes to vintage car rules will be introduced by the summer.

He said that cars will have to be 35 years or older to qualify for a black vintage number plate, up from the current 30. Vintage cars are exempted from annual license fees and must only pay a small administrative fee provided they don’t exceed 3,000km per year.

His announcement raised concern among several vintage car owners.

However, a spokesperson for the Transport Ministry confirmed with Lovin Malta that there will be no changes to the rules for the time being.

The ministry will actually embark on a consolation process with all stakeholders ahead of a potential reform that has been scheduled for 2028. There is no official commitment to change the rules, which means that everything could remain as it is at the end of the process.