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The essentials in three lines

  • At Carsalis, the main driver must be at least 21 and have held a valid driving licence for at least 2 years. The two conditions go together.
  • For a tourist stay, a valid European licence is enough: Moroccan law does not require an international driving permit.
  • A second driver is possible for a surcharge. Send both sides of their licence at the same time as yours, before you arrive.

You are 20, or you passed your test eighteen months ago, and you want to hire a car in Agadir for your holiday. Before sending a request, you want a simple answer: will you be accepted as a driver, yes or no? It is one of the questions we get most often on our WhatsApp, and the answer sometimes comes too late, once the plane tickets have been bought. Here is what Moroccan law says, what Carsalis asks for, and how we check.

What Moroccan law says: 18 years old and a probationary licence

In Morocco, the category B driving licence, the one for cars, can be obtained from the age of 18. That is what the National Road Safety Agency (NARSA) states on its page about the driving test. Once passed, the Moroccan licence is issued for a two-year probationary period, with a balance of 20 points. At the end of those two years, it becomes permanent and moves up to 30 points.

The law therefore sets a floor of 18, but says nothing about the age for hiring a car. It is the hire companies that set their own conditions in their contracts. They are generally stricter than the law, because a hire company is entrusting a vehicle to someone it does not know and wants a minimum of experience behind the wheel. The threshold varies from one company to another. Hence the value of reading the hire conditions before booking, not on the day you arrive.

What Carsalis asks for: 21 years old and 2 years' licence

Our hire conditions are published on the website and fit in one sentence: the main driver must be at least 21 and have held a valid driving licence for at least 2 years. Both conditions apply together. Being 21 with a fifteen-month-old licence is not enough. Being 30 with a licence obtained last year is not enough either.

The rule applies whatever country issued the licence: what counts is the date category B was obtained and whether the licence is valid at the time of hire.

If your situation is borderline, for example a birthday during your stay or a licence that reaches two years the week you leave, write to us before booking with your exact dates. We will give you a straight answer, and we will not block a car for a hire that cannot go ahead.

Foreign licence, international permit: what you actually need

The Moroccan Highway Code (Law No. 52-05) deals with the question in Article 2: drivers of foreign nationality may drive in Morocco on the valid licence issued in their own country, for a temporary stay of up to one year. For a holiday of one to three weeks, your French, Belgian, Swiss or other European licence is therefore enough, provided it is valid.

The international driving permit is not compulsory. It goes with your original licence and never replaces it. It becomes useful mainly if your licence is written in an alphabet other than Latin or Arabic, and some countries recommend it to their nationals. If you already have one, bring it, it costs nothing extra in the suitcase. At Carsalis, the list of documents we ask for is short: a copy of your passport, a copy of both sides of your driving licence, your delivery and return times, your flight number and where it is coming from, and a phone number reachable on WhatsApp.

How we check how long you have held your licence

We do not ask for any extra proof: the date of issue is on the licence itself. On European card-format licences, it is on the back, in column 10, next to each category. It is this date, next to category B, that counts for the two years, not the date the card was produced, shown on the front (field 4a). A licence reissued after a loss or renewal carries a recent date on the front, but the date obtained on the back is still the date of your test.

That is why we ask for both sides of the licence, not just the front. Send a clear photo of both sides on WhatsApp when you make your booking request. We prepare the contract in advance, and on delivery day, have the original licence with you. A photo on your phone does not replace the card.

Second driver: possible, for a surcharge

Travelling as a couple and want to take turns on the road to Marrakech or Essaouira? A second driver is possible at Carsalis, for a surcharge. They are named on the contract, with their licence. In practice, send their documents at the same time as yours: a copy of their passport and both sides of their licence. We confirm on WhatsApp and add the line to the contract before delivery.

A common-sense tip: declare the second driver before setting off, not when returning the car. And if your travel companion meets the conditions while you do not yet, they become the main driver: the booking is made in their name, and you do not take the wheel during the stay.

Real-life cases: who can be the main driver

The table below covers the situations we receive every week. It does not replace our hire conditions, but it answers most questions before you even write to us.

Your situation Main driver at Carsalis Why
19 years old, licence held for 1 year No Neither the age nor the licence-holding period is met
21 years old, licence held for 18 months No The age is fine, 6 months of licence are missing
21 years old, licence held for a full 2 years Yes Both conditions are met
32 years old, licence obtained 14 months ago No The 2-year licence-holding period applies, whatever your age
Valid European licence, two-week stay Yes, if 21 and 2 years' licence Foreign licence accepted for up to one year of temporary stay (Law 52-05, Art. 2), international permit not required
Couple, only one person meets the conditions Yes, in their name They are the main driver, the other does not drive

Frequently asked questions

I am 21 but have held my licence for less than two years: can I hire?

No, not as the main driver. Our conditions require being 21 and 2 years' licence, both at once. If someone in your group meets the conditions, the booking is made in their name and they do the driving.

Do you need an international driving permit to hire a car in Agadir?

No. Moroccan law (Law 52-05, Article 2) accepts a valid foreign licence for one year of temporary stay. We simply ask for a copy of both sides of your licence. If your licence is not written in Latin or Arabic characters, an international driving permit is recommended alongside it.

Can a second driver be added to the contract?

Yes, for a surcharge. The second driver is named on the contract with their licence. Send a copy of their passport and both sides of their licence at the same time as yours, before you arrive, so the contract is ready on delivery day.

Sources

Written by the Carsalis team, in Agadir. We have been hiring out cars from our office at 4 Bis rue Moulay Driss since 2008. What you read here comes from our own hire conditions and from what our customers ask us every week on WhatsApp.

A question about your car hire in Agadir? Write to us on WhatsApp at +212 648 291 116, or go through our booking request. We usually reply within the minute, and we tell you straight whether the car is available or not.

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