Driving in Morocco for the first time
The question comes up in almost every conversation: is it difficult, is it dangerous, do I need a special licence? Short answer: no. Any driver used to city traffic can do it, as long as they know a few local rules that nobody explains. Here they are.
Your paperwork, once and for all
Your national licence is enough if it is written in the Latin alphabet. It must be valid and held for at least 1 year, and you must be at least 21. One exception to know before you fly: the UK government asks UK licence holders to carry the 1968 International Driving Permit, bought in the UK before departure, with their licence. For other licences, check your own government’s travel advice. In the car, the registration document and insurance certificate are in the glovebox; keep the rental contract with your passport.
Driving in town: it is about rhythm, not rules
In Marrakech, traffic is dense but slow. The real issue is not speed but two-wheelers: scooters and bicycles appear on your right, filter between lanes and cross roundabouts without slowing down. The right approach is simple: drive gently, look far ahead, let others through rather than insisting on your right of way, and use the horn the way Moroccans do, to signal that you are there, not to show irritation. Roundabouts often work by custom rather than by the code: whoever is already in goes first.
If you normally drive on the left, remember that everything happens on the right here, from the side of the road to the direction round roundabouts. Take your first kilometres slowly; if you would rather not change gear with your right hand, you can show only our automatic cars.
Speed cameras, police checks and fines
Fixed speed cameras are signposted, mobile ones are not, and the gendarmerie very often waits just after the sign marking the end of a town or at the bottom of a hill. Stick to 60 km/h in town and 100 km/h on open roads: it is the most effective way never to deal with them. A fine is paid on the spot, against an official receipt — insist on it, it is your guarantee. If you receive one after you have left, we forward it to you with the official report, with no admin fee.
Motorways and tolls
Morocco’s motorway network is recent, in excellent condition, quiet and tolled. You take a ticket on the way in and pay in cash on the way out: bring coins and small notes, as not every lane takes cards. Expect 83 to 89 MAD to Casablanca and 90 MAD (about €8) to Agadir from Marrakech.
Parking attendants: a system worth understanding
In almost every shopping street, a man in a hi-vis vest will wave you into a space. It is neither a scam nor a racket: it is an informal, nationwide car-minding system. The usual rate is 5 to 10 MAD for a few hours and 20 MAD for the night, paid when you leave. A car left with an attendant does not get broken into: it is by far the best value for peace of mind on your trip.
Mountains, desert and tracks
The Tizi n’Tichka pass towards Ouarzazate and the road to Imlil are surfaced and fine in a city car in dry weather; they simply take time and sensible use of engine braking. But as soon as the tarmac ends, the rule is firm: an ordinary car has no business on a track. This is not a sales precaution, it is the point where every insurance policy, at every rental company, stops paying. For the Merzouga dunes or unsurfaced valleys, you need a real 4x4, and you need to tell us when you book. What the insurance covers is set out on our deposit and insurance page, and the risks of the rental itself (deposit disputes, scratches, counter extras) in is it safe to rent a car in Morocco?
Real driving times from Marrakech
Journey times as driven, not counting stops. Navigation apps are often twenty to thirty minutes optimistic.
| Route | Distance | Time | Road conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marrakech → Essaouira | 175 km | 2 hr 30 min | N8 national road then the R207, single carriageway, in good condition. Argan trees and goats towards the end. |
| Marrakech → Agadir | 250 km | 3 hr | A7 motorway all the way. Toll around 90 MAD (about €8). |
| Marrakech → Casablanca | 240 km | 2 hr 30 min | A7 motorway, toll 83 to 89 MAD depending on the junction. Heavy traffic as you approach Casablanca. |
| Marrakech → Ouarzazate | 200 km | 3 hr 30 min | Tizi n’Tichka pass, 2,260 m. The road has been rebuilt, but it bends all the way: do not expect to go fast. |
| Marrakech → Imlil (Toubkal) | 65 km | 1 hr 30 min | Narrow mountain road after Asni. A city car copes fine in dry weather. |
| Marrakech → Ouzoud waterfalls | 165 km | 2 hr 30 min | N8 then minor roads. The last few kilometres are winding. |
| Marrakech → Merzouga | 560 km | 8 hr | A full day’s drive. Best split in two, with a night in Ouarzazate or the Dadès valley. |
Mileage is unlimited on all our cars, anywhere in Morocco: see our prices by day, week and month.
Questions about driving in Morocco
Do I need an International Driving Permit to drive in Morocco?
To rent a car, a national licence written in the Latin alphabet is enough, valid and held for at least a year. For driving and police checks, follow your own government’s advice. UK licence holders are the exception: the UK government asks them to carry the 1968 International Driving Permit (bought in the UK before departure) together with their licence. Licences in a non-Latin alphabet always need an International Driving Permit.
Which side of the road do you drive on in Morocco?
On the right. Road signs are in Arabic and French, and the highway code is very close to the French one. Distances and speeds are in kilometres.
What are the speed limits?
60 km/h in built-up areas, 100 km/h on open roads, 120 km/h on motorways. Fixed and mobile speed cameras are common, especially where towns begin and end, and police checks are frequent. Fines are usually paid on the spot, against a receipt.
Are the roads in good condition?
The motorway network and the main national roads are in very good condition. Mountain roads are narrow but surfaced. Dirt tracks, on the other hand, need a 4x4 and are not covered by any insurance in a two-wheel-drive car.
Where do I fill up, and how much does fuel cost?
Afriquia, Shell, Total and Winxo petrol stations are plentiful in town and along the main roads. Expect about 15 MAD a litre for diesel and 15 MAD for petrol, give or take. An attendant fills up for you: a tip of 2 to 5 MAD is customary.
How does parking work in Marrakech?
An attendant in a hi-vis vest looks after each street. The usual rate is 5 to 10 MAD for the day and 20 MAD for the night, paid when you leave. It is the normal system across the country and the best way to find your car intact.
What should I do if I am stopped by the police?
Stop, and show your licence, the registration document and the insurance certificate: the last two are in the glovebox. Checks are routine and go smoothly. Keep your rental contract with you.
Is it hard to drive in the medina?
Driving inside the medina walls is not recommended: narrow lanes, scooters everywhere, badly signed one-way streets. Park in a car park on the edge — Jemaa el-Fna, Bab Doukkala, Arset El Bilk — and carry on on foot or by petit taxi.
Not sure which car suits your route?
Tell us where you plan to go. If a city car is enough, we will tell you so rather than sell you a 4x4.
7 days a week, 8:00 - 22:00 · reply within the hour during opening hours