Driving through Spain and across the strait with your own car, renting in Europe for Morocco, or flying and renting in Marrakech: paperwork, ferry, insurance, budget and our comparison.
Every year thousands of families drive from Europe to Morocco, and many travellers wonder whether to bring their own car, rent one in France or Spain for the crossing, or fly and rent directly in Morocco. Here are the formalities, the costs and our comparison.
To book your car for this trip, see our car rental with full insurance in Marrakech and 4x4 rental in Marrakech pages.
Renting a car in Europe to drive to Morocco?
It sounds like a good idea, but it is not. Almost all French and Spanish rental companies forbid taking their cars outside the European Union: the contract and insurance do not cover Morocco, and the ferry may refuse boarding without the renter's written permission. In an accident or theft in Morocco you would be fully liable. If you do not have your own car, rent one in Morocco.
Bringing your own car: the formalities
- The registration document in your name, or a certified authorisation from the owner.
- Your driving licence and passport.
- The green card from your insurer, with Morocco (code MA) not crossed out; otherwise, border insurance can be bought at the port.
- Temporary admission of the vehicle, recorded at the border: a non-resident can keep a car in Morocco for up to six months a year.
The crossing: which ferry?
The shortest crossings leave from Spain: Algeciras or Tarifa to Tanger Med or Tangier city, in one to two hours. Longer routes also link Sète or Marseille to Tangier, taking more than a day. In summer, during Operation Marhaba, the ports are very busy: book the ferry early and expect queues.
The road to Marrakech
From Tangier, the motorway runs down to Marrakech in about 6 hours (580 km), via Rabat and Casablanca. From Paris the whole trip is about 2,600 km: allow three days with stops in Spain. Read our tips for driving in Morocco.
The comparison: own car or rental on site?
| Bringing your car | Flight + rental in Marrakech | |
|---|---|---|
| Travel time | About 3 days from Paris | About 3 hours' flight |
| Costs | Fuel, Spanish tolls, ferry, overnight stops | Flight and rental from 230 MAD a day |
| Formalities | Green card, temporary admission | Licence and passport |
| Best for | Long stays, families with lots of luggage | Stays of one to three weeks |
For a stay of under three weeks, flying and renting a car in Morocco is almost always cheaper and spares you six days of driving. For more than a month, monthly car rental with its 15% discount is often competitive.
Moroccans abroad: summer back home
If you come in summer to see family, renting locally spares your own car and the long queues at the ports. Book early: in July and August cars go fast. See our summer car rental page.
Frequently asked questions
Very rarely: most French and Spanish rental companies forbid taking their cars outside the European Union, and the insurance does not cover Morocco. It is better to rent a car in Morocco.
The registration document in your name (or the owner's authorisation), your licence, your passport and a green card valid in Morocco. The car is recorded under temporary admission at the border.
About 2,600 km: allow three days including the crossing of the Strait of Gibraltar.
Compare every offer on our Car rental Marrakech page, or collect your car on landing with our Marrakech airport car rental service.
