Driving in Morocco on a French licence: what the law actually says

You land in Agadir in a few weeks, the car is almost booked, and one question is still hanging: is your French driving licence enough to drive in Morocco? One relative mentioned an international driving permit, another told you the old pink three-fold licence is no longer accepted. Rather than piling up opinions, here is what the texts say, the Moroccan one and the French one, and then what we actually ask for at the agency.

What Moroccan law says

The Moroccan highway code is Law No. 52-05, enacted on 11 February 2010. Its Article 2 deals specifically with foreign drivers. It allows them to drive on the valid licence issued in their own country, “for a maximum period of one year from the start of their temporary stay in Morocco”.

For a tourist stay, your valid French driving licence is therefore enough on its own, with no other document, for up to one year. The article mentions neither a translation nor an international driving permit for this period. The only condition is that the licence be valid: not expired, suspended or revoked.

Beyond one year, Article 3 sets out what comes next: the holder of a foreign licence sits the Moroccan driving test or applies to exchange their licence. France is one of the countries bound to Morocco by a reciprocity agreement, which makes this exchange possible. This applies to people settling in the country, not holidaymakers.

The international driving permit: useful, not compulsory

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs repeats the Moroccan rule on its travel advice page: a foreign national may drive on the valid licence issued in their own country for up to one year from the start of their stay. It adds that an international driving permit is recognised in Morocco for its own period of validity, up to a limit of one year, and that holding one is strongly encouraged, in particular because it makes the exchange process easier if you one day settle in the country.

Encouraged does not mean required: you can hire and drive in Agadir with your French licence alone. The international permit is simply a reassuring extra during a roadside check, nothing more. It is used alongside the French licence, never instead of it.

If you would like one, you apply online on the France Titres (ANTS) website. The French Embassy in Morocco points out that the document is posted to an address in France: apply before you leave, not from Agadir.

Pink paper licence or plastic card: both are accepted

Two formats are in circulation in France. The pink three-fold licence, issued before 19 January 2013, remains valid until 19 January 2033 according to the Ministry of the Interior. The plastic card, issued since 16 September 2013, is valid for fifteen years for categories A and B. Both formats are valid French driving licences: they fall within the scope of Article 2.

One detail matters for the hire. On the card, field 4a on the front shows the date the document was issued; column 10 on the back shows the date each category was obtained. If your card was reissued after being lost, the date on the front is recent, but your driving history is on the back. It is this date of obtaining category B that shows you really have held your licence for two years.

What Carsalis actually asks for

Our hire conditions are public and fit in a few lines. The main driver must be at least 21 and have held a valid licence for at least two years. These are our own agency rules, Moroccan law sets none for tourists, and they apply to all our cars.

We do not ask for an international driving permit: a copy of both sides of your French licence is enough. To confirm a booking, send us on WhatsApp at +212 648 291 116, or to info@carsalis.com, a copy of your passport, a copy of both sides of your licence, your flight number with landing time, and your pick-up and return times. A second driver is possible for an extra charge.

The rest stays the same: no deposit, no card pre-authorisation, unlimited mileage, 24/7 assistance, free delivery anywhere in Agadir (Al Massira airport, hotel, city centre, home address). Third-party liability is included: you have third-party insurance. Payment is preferably by bank transfer, cash remains possible on arrival subject to conditions, and card payment carries a 5% fee.

On the road: what differs from France

The Moroccan highway code is modelled on the French system and signage is generally bilingual, in Arabic and French: you will read the signs without difficulty. Outside built-up areas, the speed limit is 100 km/h; on motorways, 120 km/h. In built-up areas, go by the signs, as the limit varies from road to road.

Speed checks are frequent, both fixed and mobile, and any fine received during the hire is payable by the hirer. Keep your licence on you when driving, the original rather than a photo. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs also advises against driving at night, because of frequent traffic offences and animals on the road: plan your journeys for daytime, especially on the motorway to Marrakech, which it flags as a route where caution is needed. Finally, our conditions prohibit unpaved tracks, unless the vehicle is specifically suited to them: stay on the tarmac.

To sum up, here is what comes under the law and what comes under our agency conditions.

Your situation	What Moroccan law says	What Carsalis asks for
Tourist, stay of under one year	Valid French driving licence (Law 52-05, Art. 2)	Copy of both sides of the licence and copy of the passport
International driving permit	Optional, recognised for up to one year	Not required
Length of time licence held	Not covered by Article 2	At least two years, from the date obtained
Driver's age	Not covered by Article 2	At least 21 for the main driver
Stay of over one year	Licence exchange or Moroccan driving test (Art. 3)	Outside the scope of a tourist hire

Frequently asked questions

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

No. Moroccan law accepts your valid French driving licence for one year of your stay, and Carsalis does not ask for an international driving permit. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs does encourage it, though: if you would rather have one, apply online on France Titres before you leave, as it is posted to an address in France.

Is my pink three-fold licence still accepted?

Yes. The Ministry of the Interior states that licences issued before 19 January 2013 remain valid until 19 January 2033. Send us a legible copy of every side, with the date category B was obtained clearly visible.

I have had my licence for eighteen months, can I still hire?

No, not at Carsalis: we require the main driver to have held a valid licence for at least two years and to be 21 or over. This is an agency rule, independent of Moroccan law. A travelling companion who meets these conditions can book in their own name; message us on WhatsApp and we will give you a straight answer.

Sources

• Carsalis hire conditions
• Carsalis booking request
• Law No. 52-05 on the highway code, Articles 2 and 3 (text reproduced on Fiscamaroc)
• France Diplomatie, Morocco, useful information: driving licence

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.

Read next

• Documents needed to hire a car in Morocco: the full list
• Driving in Morocco: tips for tourists to avoid nasty surprises behind the wheel
• Hiring a car in Agadir with no deposit: what it really means
• Car hire at Agadir Al Massira airport: the full process on arrival