New regulations for vehicle rentals

The Ministry for Infrastructure, Transport and Communications is publishing draft regulations to regulate the hire of motor vehicles on the road. These regulations will follow reforms undertaken in sectors such as buses, taxis, electric taxis, water taxis, trackless trains, hearses, minibuses and coaches.

The publication of the draft regulations is a result of extensive consultation and discussions between Transport Malta and vehicle hire and rental organisations, represented by the Rent-a-Car Association and the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin, and other Government authorities, including the Malta Tourism Authority, the Malta
Insurance Association and the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority.

The consultation period will be open for four weeks during which time, the general public as well as interested stakeholders, will be in a position to forward their comments and recommendations on the proposed regulations.

The aims of the Regulations is to consolidate and streamline the rules governing the vehicle hire sector and to improve the quality of the service, and for this purpose the draft regulations establish a number of responsibilities for operators who are granted an authorisation to operate by Transport Malta to ensure a high standard of service, including the requirement for operators to appoint a ‘designated person’, who continuously and effectively manages the operation of the vehicle hire service, and who, together with the operator, is liable to any penalties resulting from breaches of these regulations, which penalties may also lead to the revocation of the authorisation.

The regulations will also include a minimum set of service standards that must be complied with, including amongst others, high vehicle standards, clear information to clients on the conditions of the hire, applicable fees, type of vehicle insurance cover and the replacement of vehicles in case of breakdown, accident or theft. Other obligations include the maintaining of proper records through an operating centre and the setting up
of premises to serve as a point of contact from where to provide basic services to clients.

The draft regulations can be downloaded by clicking http://www.transport.gov.mt/landtransport/vehicle-hire-services-regulations and feedback on these regulations will be received up till 10th August 2012 by email on rtlu.tm@transport.gov.mt