Renting a Car in Morocco: 12 Things Locals Wish Tourists Knew

Renting a car in Morocco is simple once you know what to check before you drive off: the written check-out sheet, the fuel level, the excess, the deposit, the documents in the glovebox, and how to handle a police stop. We hand over cars every day at Marrakech airport and in town, and the same twelve points come up with almost every visitor. Here they are, in the order you will meet them.

Before you book

1. Compare the total, not the daily rate

The headline price on comparison sites excludes the cover that makes the excess bearable, the deposit hold, the airport fee, the second driver and the fuel policy. Add them up before you compare. Our prices, €35 to €45 per day, already include all of that except the refundable €800 deposit. Details in what a rental really costs in Marrakech.

2. Book the automatic early

Most rental cars in Morocco are manual. If you need an automatic, reserve it weeks ahead in high season; we have one, the Dacia Duster, and it goes first.

3. Give your flight number

Night arrivals are normal at Menara. A local agency that delivers 24/7 will wait for a late flight if it knows the number. Ours does, for free.

At pick-up

4. Insist on a written check-out sheet with photos

Walk around the car with the agent. Every scratch, dent and wheel mark goes on the sheet, and you take your own photos with the time stamp, including the windscreen, the tyres and the interior. Keep a copy. This single habit removes almost every argument at return.

5. Check the fuel level and note it

You return the car at the same level. Photograph the gauge and the odometer on the sheet. Petrol stations are plentiful on the main avenues of Marrakech and at every motorway rest area.

6. Look for the documents in the glovebox

The car’s registration (carte grise), insurance certificate and technical inspection must be in the car. Police checkpoints ask for them together with your licence and the rental contract.

7. Understand the excess and the deposit

The excess is the maximum you pay per claim; ours is 8,000 MAD with comprehensive insurance. The deposit, €800 with us, is held during the rental and returned at the end after the joint check. Ask what it covers: normally the excess, missing fuel and fines received during the rental.

On the road

8. Police checkpoints are routine

Slow down at the entrance of towns, stop if asked, greet, show licence and contract. Fines for real offences are paid on the spot against a receipt. Keep the receipt.

9. Speed limits are 60, 100 and 120

60 km/h in town, 100 on main roads, 120 on motorways. Radars are frequent on the airport road and on the way out of the city towards Casablanca and Agadir.

10. Drive in daylight outside the cities

Country roads are unlit and shared with cyclists, carts and animals. Plan to reach Essaouira, Ouarzazate or the Atlas villages before sunset. More on this in is it safe to drive in Morocco.

11. Park with the attendants

In Gueliz and Hivernage, men in blue coats manage street parking for a few dirhams; around the Medina, use the guarded car parks by the ramparts. Never leave luggage visible.

At return

12. Do the return check together and get the deposit released

Meet the agent at the agreed place, compare the car with the check-out sheet and photos, check the fuel gauge together, sign. The deposit is released at that moment. If you return at the airport before an early flight, agree the time the day before; a 24/7 agency will be there.

Documents to bring

• Your driving licence, physical card. EU, UK, US, Canadian and most other licences are accepted for visitors; no international permit is needed.
• Your passport or national ID card.
• A payment card or cash for the rental and the deposit.
• Minimum age with us: 21.

Everything else, mileage (200 km per day), fuel, delivery (free in Marrakech, €90 in Casablanca, Agadir or Essaouira), is on the rental conditions page.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an international driving permit in Morocco?

No, for a tourist stay a valid licence from your country is enough. Residents are expected to exchange a foreign licence after the first year.

Can I cross the border with the rental car?

No. Rental cars stay in Morocco.

What if I damage the car?

You pay at most the excess, 8,000 MAD per claim with our comprehensive insurance, deducted from the deposit. Fill in a joint report with the other driver if there is one, take photos and call us.

Can two people drive?

Yes. The second driver is free with us and must show licence and ID at pick-up.