Tips For Renting A Car And Driving In Morocco

Why you should rent a car in Morocco

If you’ve followed any of my previous travels then you know that I an absolute sucker for a good road trip.

Renting a car gives you the freedom to go anywhere you want, whenever you want. You want to go on a sunrise mission to Aït Ben Haddou? You’ll need a rental car! You want to admire the sunset over Chefchaouen and get back to Fez for dinner? That’s right, you’ll need a rental car!

If you don’t have a rental car and you want to see certain parts of the country you’ll depend on taxi’s, busses and tours. These are either very expensive options or simply impossible to do sometimes if you want to visit a place very early in the day. It will take a lot longer to reach several destinations in one day and if you’ve booked a full day tour you’re also stuck if the weather turns out to be a complete disaster that day.

Renting a car will give you the possibility to go more off the beaten path and explore hidden gems in Morocco.

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What do you need to rent a car in Morocco

When you rent a car in Morocco you’ll need the following documents:

Your driver’s license from your home country
You need a credit card in your name
Your ID (or passport)

The minimum age for driving in Morocco is 18 years old, however most car rental companies enforce their own age limit of 25 years old to rent a car.

Sometimes it is possible (at an additional cost) to rent a car in Morocco as a younger driver. Often it’s also expected that you have at least two years of driving experience.

An international driving license is not required for a rental car in Morocco.

Rental Car Insurance in Morocco

Much like Europe, rental cars in Morocco come with a basic Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), but this isn’t exactly insurance, and only covers the car for up to 10,000 dirhams ($1000 USD) worth of damage.

And yes, what they say is true, driving in Morocco can be a bit crazy form time to time, depending on where you’re going.

When booking your rental car make sure to always read the fine print! A lot of people assume that by booking with their credit card that it includes car rental insurance.

One thing you can do is to add the extra daily car rental insurance to your online booking. It’s a lot cheaper this way than by doing it at the counter.

This is the main reason why I always book my rental car through SunnyCars. All insurance you need during your car rental is included. Think of additional third-party insurance of at least €10 million, non-life insurance and theft insurance.

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How to rent a car in Morocco

I always prefer arranging all of the details when I am still home. This way I can start my holiday relaxed and I know my rental car will be waiting for me.

If you’re planning a road trip through Morocco, chances are high you’ll be flying in and out of Marrakesh. The easiest way is to simply pick up your rental car at the airport in Marrakesh and go from there. It’s often possible to have a different pick up and drop off location but this will always be at an extra cost.

And yes, it may seem intimidating at first but discovering Morocco by car really is the best way to do it.

In this guide I will tell you exactly what it’s like driving in Morocco.

Is it safe or difficult to drive in Morocco?

Yes it is and no it’s not! But it also depends on where you’re driving. Below you’ll find some of my top tips for driving in Morocco!

Avoid driving in the big cities

This is one of my biggest tips and one that you should definitely know before you’re renting a car in Morocco. Most challenges of driving in Morocco happen when you’re driving in the more urban areas. The roads become more narrow and more difficult to navigate but the traffic on the road also pretty much triples.

In the old medina’s and larger cities you’ll be surrounded by all kinds of traffic: cars, trucks, donkeys, goats, bikes, motorbikes. You name it, they have it. And it’s here that Moroccan traffic can be too hectic and overwhelming.

But rest assured, all of these big cities have parking lot outside their centre so you don’t have to deal with the hassle.

Don’t worry about all the honking

At first it might seem intimidating but Moroccan roads simply are very noisy. It’s something you’ll get used to over time and it can mean several things. Honking in Morocco can mean that the other driver is agitated, tries to warn you, wants to say thank you or simply want to say hello.

Go slow, the roads are busy

Like I said before, there’s a lot going on on the roads in Morocco. From other cars, to motorbikes and sometimes even carts pulled by a donkey. This means that you’ll encounter a lot of different speeds on the Moroccan roads and that you need to be careful. Drive a little slower than you would at home and only overtake if you are certain that it’s safe and if you’re not crossing a central line.

Don’t speed or cross a central line

There are a lot of police checks on the Moroccan roads and they are always eager to take a bribe. Make sure you’re not speeding and never cross a full central line. While they won’t often pull over locals doing this, they will do so for tourists in a rental car. We got stopped a lot of times and every single time they asked us for money. Luckily we knew we hadn’t done a violation, stood our ground and they always let us go.

If someone flashes their headlights at you it usually means there is a police checkpoint just around the next corner.

Know how to deal with roundabouts

You should distinguish between two types of roundabouts:

Roundabouts without traffic lights: If you are on it, you have priority until you leave it. If you are about to enter it, do when it is possible or when no one comes your way.
Roundabouts with traffic lights: If you are on it, stop to let the traffic that has a green light on your right to go first. If you enter it during green light, you have priority.

Be the defensive driver

Local drivers often do not respect the established rules and it is hard to predict when they will give way. The best approach is to be the cautious driver: For example, be the person who gives way, use the car horn to let others know you are coming around a bend, keep a safe space between your vehicle and the others…

What type of car do you need in Morocco?

For driving in Morocco you’ll be all set with a 2WD. Almost all roads in morocco can be navigated with a small 2WD. And with the rate of construction that is going on this will only increase over time.

The only time that you’ll want to look into renting a 4×4 for exploring Morocco is if you want to drive the more remote roads in the Atlas Mountains. Although the major passes, Tizi-n’Tichka or Tiz-n’Test can easily be traversed in a 2WD.

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Traffic Rules in Morocco

Drive on the right and give way to traffic from the left.
Wear a seatbelt all the time and stay off your phone.
Respect the maximum speed limit: 60 km/h in urban areas, 100 km/h outside the towns depending on the limiter set on the road. And on highways the limit is 120 km/h.
Don’t worry about the road signs since they are almost identical to those in Europe and despite the fact that the majority of them are written in Arabic and French an English translation is always available for the important markers and signs.
Driving under the influence of alcohol is strictly prohibited in Morocco.
Don’t park on curbsides painted in red and white stripes.

How much does a rental car cost in Morocco?

Car rentals may cost around €30-€45 a day, depending on the type of vehicle you rent. Larger vehicles usually come at a higher price than sedans, so it’s important to know what destinations you’ll visit in advance. If you’re only staying within larger cities in the country, sedans are enough to drive from one destination to another. On the other hand, larger vehicles are more suitable if you’re going to villages and towns.

Several factors also affect a rental car’s costs, such as add-ons, insurance coverage, and market prices. Rental cars are typically more expensive during peak seasons as more travelers check out rental vehicles in the country. Some car rental companies may also offer a few add-ons such as car seats, GPS, and additional driver fees. Some car rental companies may also provide full tank options and toll payment.

Tips for renting a car in Morocco

Make sure to check your rental car

This is my number one tip when renting a car in Morocco, or anywhere else for that matters. It’s your own responsibility to check your rental car. Make sure to take many good and clear photos and detailed shots if there’s already some damage visible.

You will also receive a check-form before your rental officially starts. Make sure to see if all the damages are marked on the form. If this isn’t the case you need to tell the employee and have them add it to the check list before you sign anything.

Check what type of gas is needed for your rental car

This may sound pretty logical but it does happen. People put in the wrong type of gas at a petrol station and then of course the car won’t start anymore.

If you’re ever in doubt about which type of fuel you need, try to find the sticker in your rental car that provides that information. This can usually be found on the car key, on the dashboard, or on the fuel door.

There are gas stations everywhere in Morocco. What I like to do is download the map of Morocco from before on Google Maps. That way you don’t need any data when you’re searching the map for a nearby gas station.

Charlotte

Charlotte Lint is the founder of Charlies Wanderings.
Charlotte has traveled all over the world and is based in Belgium where she also owns her very own dental practice.
She is an expert on writing efficient travel guides and finding unique places to stay.
Every month she helps over 134.000 people discover the most beautiful places in the world through her detailed travel guides.

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Tips For Renting A Car And Driving In Morocco