Renting a Car in Morocco: All You Need to Know Before You Book

Thinking of renting a car in Morocco and worried about what that would be like? Well, let’s just say it’s an adventure in itself.

For us, renting a car for our Morocco road trip was exactly what we needed because the flexibility of doing things our way is of the utmost importance when we travel. The journey turned out to be as beautiful as the destinations. We saw it all—beautiful rolling hills, towering dunes, desert landscapes for miles, gorges, mountains with winding roads, and innumerable cities.

While the scenery was absolutely epic, the renting and driving experience was quite interesting. Very different from the other 12 countries we’ve driven in. And that’s mainly because we went unprepared. We were on an extended world trip so we didn’t have the time to read up before going. Big mistake!

Morocco has its own quirks when it comes to renting a car and driving, and knowing what to expect can save you a lot of confusion (and a few headaches) along the way. So if you’re planning to rent a car in Morocco, don’t make the same mistake we did. Here’s everything you need to know for a smooth, stress-free road trip.

Is Renting a Car in Morocco a Good Idea?

Short answer—yes.

Renting a car is really the best way to travel through Morocco. Here’s why:

1. Convenience: It’s super convenient to just sit in your car each morning and drive to your next location. No waiting for public transport.
   
   
2. Limited public transport: Driving is definitely the best option for short trips of one to two weeks since you won’t need to stick to public transport schedules. Public transport in Morocco can be limited and quite slow if you’re going beyond the main cities.
   
   
3. Flexibility: You can travel the country at your own pace and visit places that are beyond the tourist hotspots.
   
   
4. No need for group tours: When you rent a vehicle, you won’t need to join group tours that follow strict schedules.
   
   
5. Stunning Scenery: The landscapes in Morocco are stunning and varied. You’ll see mountains, vast barren land, deserts, the ocean, ancient cities, rivers, gorges and more.
   
   
6. Affordable: The rentals are super affordable, starting at about MAD 135 per day (USD 13), and fuel is not expensive either, making it a great option for a flexible and budget-friendly trip

However, you can consider sticking to group tours and public transport if:

1. If you’re travelling solo : You’re travelling solo and aren’t comfortable with driving alone for long hours.
   
   
2. You want to sit back and relax: Navigating the roads in Morocco can be unpredictable. If driving on busy roads and adapting to the local style of driving seem overwhelming, then it might be better to let someone else do the driving. So you can relax and enjoy your vacation to the fullest.
   
   
3. You’re not an experienced driver. If you’ve just started to drive or aren’t a confident driver, then driving here might not be the experience you wish to have. To drive in Morocco, you need to be confident in handling various situations that may crop up, from people not driving in their lanes to potholes to pedestrians casually walking on the road.

Verdict: Choose to drive in Morocco if you’re a confident driver who just can’t give up on their freedom to do what they like when they like.

What Kind of Car Will You Need in Morocco?

For most destinations in Morocco, even a hatchback 2WD will do just fine. We did our road trip from Tangier to Marrakesh in a Kia Picanto, which was good enough. We comfortably drove through the highways, city roads, sandy outskirts of Merzouga, and winding roads of the Atlas Mountains.

You’ll only need a 4WD if you’re visiting the mountains in winter or planning to go off-road into the desert. That being said, off-roading is best left to local guides, as most car rental insurance policies won’t cover damage from driving on the dunes.

Also, while diesel is cheaper in Morocco, petrol cars tend to have lower rental costs. So, before choosing a diesel vehicle to save on fuel, consider whether the rental price difference makes it worthwhile.

How and Where to Rent a Car in Morocco?

You can easily rent a car through DiscoverCars.com. We always use this website to find rental cars all over the world. Their website has a huge listing of affordable rentals and is super easy to use. We love them for their prompt customer service and easy-to-claim full coverage.

You should obviously rent a car from the airport of whichever city your flight lands in. That will probably be Casablanca (flight), Marrakesh (flight), or Tangier (flight).

However, if you’re coming from either of the two ports in Tangier, then it’s best to do the following:

Tangier Med: The Tangier Med port is 40km away from the city of Tangier. Car rental agencies in Tangier Med have a very bad reputation so I highly recommend taking public transport to Tangier city and renting a car from any suitable location in Tangier.

Tangier Ville: Tangier Ville is right inside the city of Tangier. You can select ‘Tangier Ville Port‘ to see rental offices near the port and book accordingly. This is exactly what we’d done. If you think it’s too much of a hassle, you can also select ‘Tangier Hotel Delivery,’ but this might be slightly more expensive.

Note: If you pick up your rental car in one city and drop it off in another, expect to pay a hefty one-way fee—sometimes almost doubling your rental cost. To avoid this, consider a round-trip Morocco itinerary or compare the fees before you book.

What are the Requirements to Rent a Car in Morocco?

For requirements and documentation, I recommend going through ‘Rental Conditions’ carefully. However, I’ll detail out some of the major points.

Age Requirements:

To rent a car in Morocco, you typically need to be above the age of 21. In most instances, you will have to pay an extra charge (young driver fee) if you’re under the age of 25 but this age limit varies by rental company. Some charge the fee if you’re under 22, some under 23.

Most companies also have a maximum age limit, which can be between 70 and 80 years of age.

Documents needed:

1. Valid Passport
2. Booking Voucher: Soft copy will work
3. Valid driver’s license that has been issued at least 1 year prior (some companies might want it to be issues least 2 years prior)
4. The licence must be written in Latin or the Arabic alphabet. Otherwise, you will need to provide an International Driver Permit (IDP), which you can easily get here in 8 minutes. This is the one we always carry with us.
   Also, an International Driving Permit is valid only if accompanied by a valid driver licence.
5. Passport
6. Credit card in the main driver’s name for the deposit hold. Ensure your credit card has a high enough limit for your deposit hold!

What to Keep in Mind When Booking the Rental Car?

1. Rental car company rating: Choosing the right rental company is THE MOST IMPORTANT thing! It can make or break your experience. Choose rental companies with 8.0 or higher ratings for the best experience. Companies like Alamo, Sixt, DiRent, Enterprise, Budget, Thrifty, and EuropCar are rated well on DiscoverCars.com, as most of these are renowned international car rental companies.
   
   However, I also recommend reading the reviews on Google for that rental car company office in the city you’re renting the car in and the city you’re dropping the car in to get a good understanding of what to expect from the company. Choose your rental car company wisely.
   
   
2. Choose a rental company according to the age criteria: If you’re below the age of 25 and above the age of 70, please read ‘Rental Conditions’ to check if that particular rental company will allow you to rent a car or if there is an extra young driver fee that will be levied.
   
   
3. Deposit hold amount: The deposit hold on your car rental varies between MAD 10000 (~1050 USD) and MAD 28000 (~2900 USD). So ensure your credit card has a high enough limit. Preferably choose a supplier with a low to average deposit hold amount. This hold will be blocked on your credit card at the time of picking up your car and will be released within 30 days after drop-off.
   
   
4. Extra note to ensure you’re given the car of choice: If you can only drive automatic cars or hate driving automatics, book the car and then drop in an extra note to the rental car company to confirm your car of choice.
   
   
5. Unlimited mileage: Choose a car with unlimited mileage so you aren’t always worried about exceeding mileage limits.
   

6. Fuel Policy: The fuel policy may be full to full or same to same. This doesn’t make a big difference.
   
   
7. Rental Car Insurance: It is super important to be covered in case of any damage to the car!
   We always opt for the full Coverage from DiscoverCars.com that covers the deductible for damage and theft, as well as costs related to repairs, towing, taxi expenses after an accident, key loss or lockout, and certain administrative fees associated with damage or loss of use. During our drive in Morocco, a stone chipped our windscreen. The DiscoverCars claim process was super easy and we got our money back in no time.
   
   
8. Free additional driver: If more than one person will be driving, try select a company that offers ‘free additional driver’; else pay the additional driver fee
   
   
9. Read the ‘Rental Conditions’ before booking: All the information about that kind of car, fuel allowance, what is included, what is not, and more is mentioned here.
   
   
10. Make sure to read the Booking Confirmation Voucher carefully.
    

Now that you’re aware of all the things to consider, you’re ready to book your rental car for Morocco!

What to Keep in Mind when Picking Up Your Rental Car?

1. Drop a message: A day or two prior, message the rental car company with your flight or ferry number and the time you’ll be picking up your car. When we went to pick up our car, the rental company was closed because they missed our booking and thought they had no pickups that day.
   
   
2. Don’t expect to get the exact car you booked: In Morocco, it often happens that you don’t get the exact car that you booked. Unless the car is unfit to drive or there is a huge price difference in what you booked and what they’re giving, you will just have to accept the car. Set your expectations accordingly. You might also not get a bluetooth system or rearview camera with your car so don’t expect them to be there.
   And that’s why if you have any specific requirements (like you can only drive an automatic), please confirm this with the rental car company before arriving.
   
   
3. Photos and videos of the rental car: Always check the condition of the rental car before you leave with it. Take videos from all angles, including the roof, tyres, windows, windscreen, under the car and even the interiors. Take extra pictures of any dents and scratches. Also, ensure the rental company employee notes all such scratches down in the rental contract. This is super important, especially in Morocco. Don’t skip it, no matter how much of a rush you’re in.

4. Extra insurance: If you’ve purchased FullCoverage from DiscoverCars, you do not need to get the insurance offered by the rental car company. Politely decline it.
   
   
5. Fuel Station Assistance Tip: Before leaving, reconfirm the fuel policy and take a picture of the fuel level. If you’ve opted for the same-to-same fuel policy, it is possible that it’ll hardly have any fuel in it at the time of renting. You can ask the employee where the nearest petrol station is, but don’t let anyone sit in your car to direct you where to go. If you take their help, you will be asked to give a tip.
   
   
6. Kind of fuel: Ensure you know whether you’ve gotten a diesel or petrol car; else you’ll be super confused at the time of refuelling.
   
   
7. Customer support: If you’re facing any issues before or while renting your car, you can contact Discover Cars 24/7 multilingual customer support, available for any enquiries.
   

What to Expect when Driving in Morocco?

Driving in Morocco is fairly straightforward once you get used to it—but it can feel a little chaotic at first, especially if you’re coming from countries where traffic rules are strictly followed. Being from India, we found it manageable for the most part.

Here’s a quick overview of what to expect on the road:

Road & Traffic Conditions

• Drive on the right side of the road.
• Roads are generally in good condition, especially highways
• Expect to share the road with cattle, scooters, and pedestrians—especially in and around cities.
• Avoid driving inside medinas (old towns). Park outside and explore the medina on foot!
• Narrow one-lane countryside roads are common and may have potholes. Be prepared to drive slow!

Driving Culture & Rules

• Traffic can be unstructured at times; people don’t always follow lane driving.
• Honking is common and often used as a signal rather than aggression—you’ll need to use it too!
• Speed limits are 120 km/h on highways, 100 km/h outside towns and 60 km/h in cities.
• Police speed traps are common, especially on downhill slopes between Fes and Merzouga.
• Police checkpoints and speed monitoring are common, so follow signs carefully and always stop fully when required
• Avoid driving at night.

Navigation & Roadside Tips

• Google Maps works well on highways and long routes
• In cities and old towns, Maps.me is more reliable
• Tolls are common on highways and can be paid by cash or card
• Fuel stations usually have attendants—just tell them the fuel type

Read This Before You Hit the Road

While road tripping in Morocco is manageable, it does come with a few quirks—like sudden speed changes, frequent police stops, and some common tourist scams.

We’ve shared all our real experiences, bizarre moments, and practical tips in this detailed guide:

Driving in Morocco: Tips, Scams & Lessons From Our Road Trip

Parking in Morocco

Parking at Hotels and Riads

Never enter a medina with your car because the lanes are super narrow and even the best driver will have issues driving here.

If your hotel is not in the medina, you can easily park at your hotel and take a taxi to the medina entrance to explore. You can even park outside the medina in a parking lot and walk in.

If you’re staying in a riad or dar, it will probably be located inside the medina. These are traditional houses converted to hotels and guest houses and are a must-experience in Morocco. In fact, we only stayed in riads throughout our time in the country—they’re just so pretty.

However, since they’re located inside the medina, they do not offer parking. Most riads we stayed at messaged us prior to let us know the closest parking lot outside the medina. If they don’t do this for you, message them to find out.

These public parking lots are guarded and have an hourly parking fee. However, for overnight parking, they’ll ask for a lump sum nightly fee. Here’s how much was spent in different cities:

Chefchaouen (managed street parking): MAD 60 for 2 nights (after a lot of haggling)
Fes (parking lot outside the medina): MAD 100 for 2 nights
Marrakesh (Parking lot near Koutoubia Mosque): MAD 200 for 4 nights

Street Parking

If you’re visiting malls and shopping centres, you will get free parking. However, when visiting restaurants and tourist sites, you will usually park on the street. Most of the time, you’ll find parking attendants (often wearing vests) who will ask for a small fee (usually about 10 MAD).

Watch out for fake parking attendants looking to make an extra buck. If you’re unsure whether the parking is free or paid, ask a local nearby.

Returning a Rental Car in Morocco: What to Watch Out For?

1. Final Inspection (No Damages): The rental company employee will check the car for damages before asking you to sign off. In case there is a problem, do refer to the photos and videos you took at the time of renting. If everything is alright, double-check that the damage report states “no damage” before signing. If they delay marking the ‘no damage’ box, insist that they do so before you sign. You don’t want your deposit deducted incorrectly because of this error. And please take a photo of the completed paperwork for your records.
   
   
2. If there’s damage to the car: You’ll be required to pay the repair fee, which will be deducted from your security deposit or charged separately. Ensure you get all official documentation so you can submit a claim for reimbursement (contracts, receipts, invoices, etc.). Please take pictures of the damage, file a police report if there was an accident, and if a third party was involved, ensure you get their contact and insurance details.
   
   
3. Fuel Policy & Refuelling: You’ll either be on the full-to-full or same-to-same fuel policy. Accordingly, get your car refuelled before you return the car. If the tank isn’t as full as it needs to be, they may charge higher-than-usual fuel prices or an extra refuelling fee. Show the photo of the fuel tank that you took at the time of renting the car in case there’s any dispute.
   
   
4. Unblocking the Security Deposit: Once the return process is complete, they should release the security deposit on your credit card. If it’s not unblocked immediately, ask for confirmation on when it will be processed.
   
   
5. Last-Minute Fees: Some employees might ask for a cleaning fee (usually around 50 MAD) at the last moment. This isn’t always an official charge—check your voucher before paying. And do not pay it if it isn’t mentioned in the voucher.
   
   
6. Return your car at least 3-4 hours before your international flight: I’ve known people to be late in returning their car. So when they’re asked for extra charges for damages they didn’t cause, they don’t even have the time to stand their ground and fight it out, leading them to pay the charges.
   
   
7. Do not return the car after hours: Morocco is not a country to return your car once the offices are closed. You need to be there for the inspection of your car because stories of charges being deducted from the deposit are not unheard of.

Our Experience Renting a Car in Morocco

Rental Car Company—Air Car

We only had issues with our rental car company, Air Car, at the time of renting the car. We’d selected this company because they’re the closest rental car company to the Tangier Ville Port.

When we reached their office near the port in Tangier, there was no one there. So we called them only to find out that they had missed our booking completely. Someone turned up at their office after 1 hour of waiting and then the rental process was super slow too. But besides that delay in beginning, we faced no issues. Neither at the time of renting nor at the time of return.

Road Tripping in Morocco

The drive ended up being one of the highlights of our trip.

The landscapes constantly change—from mountains to desert to small towns—and having a car gave us the flexibility to experience it all at our own pace.

It did take a little getting used to in the beginning, but overall, we found it manageable.

That said, driving here comes with its own quirks—from sudden speed changes to frequent police checks and a few common tourist scams.

We’ve shared all our real experiences, bizarre moments, and tips in this guide:
Driving in Morocco: Tips and Scams

Why We Recommend Full Coverage (Don’t Skip This)

We are super thankful to have taken the Full Coverage from DiscoverCars.com. We actually opted for it at the last minute, only a few days before heading to Morocco. And then for the first time had to use it for our chipped windscreen. We were a bit scared about how long the claim process would be but it was so damn easy. The claim was processed without any questions in a few days.

Since then, we’re big fans of DiscoverCars.com and always use them to book all our rental cars. And also, never forget Full Coverage!

Now that you know what all to remember when renting your car for your Morocco road trip, it’s time to choose your rental car with confidence and have a fabulous time with stunning views and plenty of memorable moments.