Is it safe to drive in Morocco? Our tips, the rules (speed limits, right of way, alcohol), tolls, police checks and what you need to rent a car.
Driving in Morocco is within reach of any experienced driver, as long as you know a few local rules and adapt your driving. Here are our tips for renting a car in Morocco and driving with peace of mind, the real risks to anticipate and what the law says.
To book your car for this trip, see our one-way car rental from Marrakech and citroën C3 rental in Marrakech pages.
Driving in Morocco as a tourist: our view
Travellers who rent a car in Morocco nearly all come back delighted: the motorways are modern, the Atlas roads spectacular and a car takes you where buses do not go. What surprises people is town traffic: scooters weaving through, pedestrians crossing anywhere, busy roundabouts. After a day you get into the rhythm. Morocco drives on the right, like mainland Europe and North America: visitors from the UK and Ireland need a short adjustment, easier with an automatic.
Is it safe to drive in Morocco?
Yes for a careful driver, but you should know the risky situations:
- At night outside towns: pedestrians, donkeys, carts and bikes without lights. Avoid driving at night on national roads and in the mountains.
- Overtaking on two-lane roads: slow lorries, late overtaking from the other side. Be patient, and never on a bend.
- Scooters in town: in Marrakech they come from both sides. Check your mirrors before every turn.
- Atlas passes in winter: the Tizi n'Tichka can be closed by snow. Check the day before.
Speed limits
- 120 km/h on motorways.
- 100 km/h on national roads.
- 60 km/h in built-up areas, sometimes less near schools.
Police checks and speed cameras
Police checks and speed cameras are frequent, especially at the entrance to towns. Slow down as soon as you see a checkpoint and keep your papers and the car's papers within reach. Fines are paid on the spot against an official receipt: always ask for it.
Toll motorways
The Autoroutes du Maroc network links Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, Agadir, Fes and Oujda. You pay in cash, by card or with a Jawaz tag. From Marrakech, the motorways to Casablanca and to Agadir are tolled; the Atlas roads are not.
Roundabouts
Right of way can vary from one roundabout to another: watch the signs and the traffic.
Alcohol, seat belts and phones: the law
The alcohol limit is very low: do not drink if you drive. Seat belts are compulsory in the front and the back, and holding a phone while driving is forbidden. Children under 10 travel in the back, in a seat suited to their age: ask the agency for one as an extra.
Pedestrians, two-wheelers and animals
In town and in the countryside, watch out for pedestrians crossing, two-wheelers and animals on the road, especially at dusk.
How to rent a car in Morocco
To rent, you usually need to be 21 with two years' licence, a passport and a deposit, left in cash or as a card hold depending on the agency. Your foreign licence is enough if it is written in Latin characters: read our article on driving licences for Morocco. Before signing, inspect the car with our checklist.
Our tips for renting a car in Morocco
- Book with a verified agency, with a written contract and a deposit returned against a receipt.
- Choose the car for your route: a city car for town and motorway, an SUV for the Atlas.
- Fill up before leaving the big cities: petrol stations get scarce in the south.
- Keep coins and small notes for car park attendants.
- Save the agency's assistance number before you set off.
Frequently asked questions
Yes for a careful driver. Motorways are in good condition; the main risks are driving at night outside towns, scooters in town and overtaking on national roads.
On the right, like in mainland Europe and North America. Visitors from the UK and Ireland adapt quickly, especially with an automatic.
To be 21, with two years' licence, a passport, and a deposit in cash or as a card hold depending on the agency.
Stop, stay polite and show your licence, passport and the car papers. Fines are paid against an official receipt.
Compare every offer on our Car rental Marrakech page, or collect your car on landing with our Marrakech airport car rental service.
