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Driving in Morocco is nothing to be intimidated by: you drive on the right, the road signs look much like those in Europe and your national licence is enough for a tourist stay. What throws people off, then, is not the highway code but everything around it — the speed cameras placed at the entrance to built-up areas, the gendarmerie checkpoints, the parking attendants in their vests, the petrol stations where cash is still king. Here, in six points, are the tips for driving in Morocco that tourists usually discover once they are there. Better to know them before you turn the key.

Driving in Morocco: tips for tourists for the first hundred kilometres

The real difference is in town. Traffic there is dense, constantly on the move, and far smoother than it looks. Mopeds, three-wheelers, pedestrians and sometimes carts share the same road, and right of way is negotiated more than it is claimed. The horn is not an insult: it is a way of signalling your presence, the equivalent of flashing your headlights. You will hear it often, and you will end up using it yourself.

A few simple habits are enough to make the first few days comfortable:

  • Keep a more generous safety distance than in Europe, particularly behind mopeds.
  • Always slow down when entering and leaving villages: that is where everything happens.
  • Never force an overtaking manoeuvre on a two-way road, especially uphill.
  • Avoid driving at night away from the main roads: little lighting, pedestrians, animals, vehicles with no rear lights.
  • Anticipate roundabouts, where local practice does not always follow the highway code.

After two days, the rhythm feels natural. Moroccan driving is brisk, but rarely aggressive.

Speed cameras and police checks: the documents to keep to hand

Speed cameras

Fixed speed cameras do exist on the main roads, but it is the mobile checks that catch drivers out: an officer at the roadside, often just after a speed limit sign, frequently at the entrance to a built-up area where the limit suddenly drops. The rule is simple: as soon as you see houses, ease off the accelerator. The same applies at the end of a long straight, a favourite spot for checks.

If you are caught speeding, the fine is generally paid immediately, on the spot, in exchange for a receipt. Always ask for that receipt. At Carsalis, as everywhere else, fines remain the hirer's responsibility: this is set out in our hire conditions.

Roadblocks and gendarmerie checks

Checkpoints are frequent, particularly at the entrances to towns and on tourist routes. They are courteous and often very quick. You may be asked where you have come from, where you are going, and for your documents. Have them ready in advance in the glovebox:

  • Your driving licence, valid.
  • Your passport, or at the very least a copy.
  • The vehicle registration document.
  • The insurance certificate.
  • The rental agreement.

With a properly documented hire car, a check takes less than a minute. That is precisely the agency's job: to hand you a complete set of papers when you collect the vehicle.

Parking attendants: understanding how it works

You pull up, a man in a vest appears and guides you into the space. This is not a scam: parking attendants are part of the Moroccan urban landscape. They park you, keep an eye on the vehicle while you are away, and expect a small sum when you leave, paid in coins. The amount varies according to the city, the length of stay and the location; it always remains modest.

Three practical tips: always keep loose change in the car, pay when you leave rather than when you arrive, and never leave belongings visible inside the vehicle. At night, choose supervised hotel or residence car parks. It is the best way to stop a small lapse turning into a repair claim.

Fuel, motorways and navigation

Filling up

Petrol stations are plentiful on the main roads and far rarer as soon as you head inland. The rule is simple: in the Souss, the Anti-Atlas or the Draa valley, you fill up when you can, not when you need to. An attendant serves you, cards are accepted at most of the large chains, and cash everywhere. Fuel is at the hirer's expense, and the vehicle must be returned with the same level as at the start: note the level when you set off and you avoid any discussion on your return.

Navigation apps

Google Maps works very well on the main roads and in the large cities. Waze is useful for police check alerts and traffic hold-ups in town. However, as soon as you climb into the Atlas or follow the coast south of Agadir, the network disappears: download your maps offline before you set off, and pick up a local SIM card or an eSIM at the airport. One last important point: do not blindly follow a shortcut suggested by the GPS. Some “fast” routes switch onto dirt tracks. Off-road driving is prohibited unless you have a suitable vehicle, and a saloon has no business there.

The state of the roads: excellent, then brutal

The Moroccan motorway network, which is tolled, is modern and comfortable: drive from Agadir to Marrakech or Casablanca and you will travel in excellent conditions. The national roads are generally decent, but narrower, with verges that sometimes drop away.

The real change of pace comes with the mountains and the minor roads. Tight bends with no crash barriers, loose gravel on the exit of corners, speed bumps that are poorly signposted or not signposted at all, tricky moments passing oncoming lorries and coaches, herds of animals crossing without warning. After rain, some fords fill up very quickly: if there is water, you wait, you do not cross. Allow plenty of time for your journeys — distance tells you nothing about how long a trip really takes.

That is also why the choice of vehicle matters. A city car is perfectly suited to the coast and to towns; for mountain passes and authorised tracks, a 4×4 makes all the difference. You can compare the models available on the page our cars.

Hiring locally: what really makes a trip easier

Carsalis has been hiring out cars in Agadir since 2008, at 4 Bis rue Moulay Driss. City cars such as the Dacia Sandero or the Hyundai i10 are 25 € per day, and 20 € per day from 7 days. Saloons such as the Dacia Logan or the Skoda Rapid are 30 € per day, 25 € from 7 days. Family cars start at 40 € per day and 4×4s at 55 € per day, on request.

Three practical points for a European driver. First, there is no deposit, no advance payment, no security deposit : nothing is blocked on your card. Next, the hire includes unlimited mileage, third-party liability insurance and 24/7 assistance. Finally, let us be clear about what is not included: damage to the vehicle is not covered. If you are at fault, the repair is at your expense, and fuel is also at your expense. That is precisely why the safety advice above is worth following.

Delivery is free anywhere in Agadir: Al Massira airport, hotel, town centre or your home. For Marrakech, Essaouira, the Souss region or Taroudant, allow 60 € per journey, the outward and return trips counting as two journeys. The driver must be at least 21 years old and hold a licence valid for 2 years. On your way back, plan to hand the vehicle over 2 h before your flight.

There is no online payment: secure bank transfer is preferred, European transfers are accepted, and payment in cash or by card on arrival remains possible subject to conditions, with card payments incurring 5 % in bank charges. Full details are given on the page listing the accepted payment methods. The agency is rated 4.9/5 on Google with over 200 reviews.

A question before you set off?

Tell us your dates, your delivery point and the type of vehicle you would like: we will reply with a clear proposal. Write to us on WhatsApp on +212 648 291 116, by e-mail at info@carsalis.com, or use the form for a booking enquiry.

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