All articles

The essentials in three lines

  • At Carsalis, you return the car with the fuel level recorded at delivery, no more and no less: you only pay for what you use, at the pump.
  • The level is noted together at key handover, backed by a photo of the gauge, and checked the same way on return.
  • Diesel or petrol: check the label inside the fuel flap, or ask us at delivery; if you make a mistake, do not switch on the ignition and call the assistance line.

You have just landed at Al Massira, the car is waiting for you, and one question comes up every week on WhatsApp: "How does the fuel work?" Do you have to bring it back full, pay a flat fee, or simply replace what you have used? Is it diesel or petrol? Where do you fill up before returning the car at the airport? This article answers point by point, based on our hire conditions and on what actually happens in the car park in Agadir when the keys are handed over.

The same level as at delivery: the rule written into our conditions

On this subject, our hire conditions come down to one sentence: the fuel level on return must be identical to the level recorded at delivery. So you only pay for the fuel you have actually used, and nothing else. If the car is delivered with a full tank, you return it with a full tank. If it is delivered three-quarters full, you return it three-quarters full. Our conditions include neither a fuel package nor a prepaid tank.

In practice, it is done together. At key handover, we look at the gauge together, note the level on the check-in inspection and you take a photo of the dashboard, with the mileage and gauge visible. On return, same routine, same photo. As no deposit is requested and no card pre-authorisation is taken, there is nothing to "release" afterwards: what you see on the gauge is what counts.

Same level or prepaid tank: why the difference matters

Two systems exist in car hire. The first, the one we apply, simply asks you to return the car at the level recorded at delivery. The second, often called "prepaid fuel" or "fuel included", sells you a full tank at the start and invites you to return the car as empty as possible. The second system almost always costs more, because nobody returns a car completely empty. The fuel left in the tank is generally not refunded, and the price per litre charged at the start is not always the pump price.

The table below sums up what changes for you between the two options.

Point of comparison Same level as at delivery (Carsalis) Prepaid tank (often offered)
What you pay at the start Nothing for fuel A full tank, at a price set by the hire company
What is asked of you on return The same level as at delivery No set level, the car can come back almost empty
Unused fuel There is none: you have only bought what you have burned Rarely refunded
What can cost extra Only the difference if the level is lower than at the start The price of the full tank, sometimes higher than at the pump, plus whatever is left in the tank
What you need to do A photo of the gauge at the start, a stop at the pump before return Plan your journey to finish as low as possible

Diesel or petrol: the check that avoids a breakdown

In Morocco, pumps generally display "gasoil" for diesel and "essence" for unleaded, and the colours and labels vary from one station to another. Before filling up, check the label inside the fuel flap, or ask us at delivery. It takes ten seconds and saves you a lost day.

If you realise the mistake at the pump, the instruction is simple and applies to every hire car: do not switch on the ignition, even without starting the engine, do not move the vehicle, and call the assistance line. Our assistance line answers 24 hours a day on +212 648 291 116. Take a photo of the pump, the receipt and the gauge, then we will organise the next steps with you.

Where to fill up in Agadir and on the road

In Agadir, spot a station near your hotel or your return point from day one: it saves you searching on the last day. On the motorway to Marrakech, you will find service areas: the network operator states that they are spaced about 50 km apart on average across its network, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with vehicle services and food. The habit that avoids any stress: leave Agadir with a full tank, and top the level back up before heading back, not at the last minute.

Two practical details. Fuel prices are revised twice a month in Morocco and vary from one station to another; we do not set them, you pay the price displayed at the pump. And bring dirhams in cash for the pump: it is the most common means of payment in the country, especially outside the cities.

One last point, often forgotten: mileage is unlimited with us. The only expense that rises with distance is therefore fuel. It is a cost you control yourself, at the pump, with no middleman.

The return: bringing the car back at the right level, without rushing

A hire day lasts 24 hours. Beyond two hours late without letting us know, a full day is charged. So plan your stop at the pump within the hire period, not on top of it. If you are returning the car at Al Massira airport, fill up in town or on the road to the airport, then drive straight to the meeting point. If you are returning it at the hotel or at the agency, a stop at a station the day before is enough.

At handback, we look at the gauge together again. If the level matches the one at the start, the matter is closed. If it is lower, the difference is noted together on return. There is no automatic flat fee and no sum withheld later, since there is no deposit. Remember to leave the interior clean too: after a day at the beach, shaking out the mats avoids cleaning charges for sand.

Frequently asked questions

Is fuel included in the hire price?

No. Our rates, from 20 € per day as a guide, include third-party insurance and unlimited mileage. The fuel you use is on top, at the pump price, and you pay for it directly at the station.

What happens if I return the car with less fuel than at the start?

Our conditions require the same level as at delivery. If that is not the case, the difference is noted together on return. There is no deposit and no later charge.

I put in the wrong fuel, what should I do?

Do not switch on the ignition, even without starting the engine, and do not move the car. Call us on +212 648 291 116, 24-hour assistance, with a photo of the pump and the receipt. We will organise the next steps with you.

Sources

Written by the Carsalis team, in Agadir. We have been hiring out cars from our agency 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 hire in Agadir? Message us on WhatsApp on +212 648 291 116, or go through our booking request. We usually reply within a minute, and we tell you honestly whether the car is available or not.

Read next

Further reading