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The essentials in three lines

  • On the main roads, the mobile network holds up well: at the end of 2024, Morocco's regulator measured on average nearly 98% successful connections on national roads and over 99% on motorways. In the mountains, set off with a downloaded map.
  • To get internet on the spot without roaming, get a Moroccan line from Maroc Telecom, Orange or inwi: Morocco is not covered by the European “Roam Like at Home” scheme. Bring your passport.
  • Set up the GPS while stationary, mount the phone on a holder and bring something to charge it. For delivery, send us your location on WhatsApp.

You have booked a car in Agadir and are counting on your phone to guide you: to Taroudant, to Marrakech on the motorway, or into the hinterland. Two questions then come up on our WhatsApp: will the GPS work outside the cities, and should you get a Moroccan SIM card? Here is what the official measurements say and what to prepare before you set off.

The network on the roads around Agadir: what the measurements say

Three operators run the mobile networks in Morocco: Maroc Telecom (Itissalat Al-Maghrib), Orange (Médi Telecom) and inwi (Wana Corporate). The National Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ANRT) regularly measures the quality of their mobile internet in the field. Its latest published national campaign, carried out from 6 November to 18 December 2024, covers 71 cities, 6 motorways and 27 national roads, including Agadir – Taroudant, Agadir – Essaouira via Taghazout, Agadir – Tiznit – Laâyoune, Marrakech – Agadir and the Rabat – Marrakech – Agadir motorway.

Averaged across the three operators, 99.6% of connection attempts succeeded in the cities measured, 99.5% on motorways and 97.8% on national roads. The average speed recorded on national roads, 66 Mbit/s, is more than enough for a navigation app. On the main roads, your map and messages should therefore work most of the time.

The small roads of the hinterland and the Atlas, however, are not included in these measurements. For mountain stretches, we have no official figure, and we will not make one up for you. Assume that the signal may drop out there at times.

Where you are driving ANRT measurements, end of 2024 Our advice
In town: Agadir, Taroudant, Tiznit, Marrakech 99.6% successful connections on average in the 71 cities measured Online navigation usually trouble-free; download the map anyway
Agadir – Marrakech motorway 99.5% on average on the 6 motorways measured Network generally stable; set up the GPS before joining the motorway
National roads: Agadir – Taroudant, Agadir – Essaouira, Agadir – Tiznit – Laâyoune, Marrakech – Agadir 97.8% on average on the 27 national roads measured Short drop-outs possible; offline map as a backup
Small roads in the hinterland and the Atlas No public measurement Offline map essential, route set while stationary, full battery

Download the map before you leave: your backup GPS

A navigation app can guide you without a mobile network, provided you have downloaded the map beforehand. In Google Maps, from a place's page, choose “Download offline map”, then adjust the area. Do it on Wi-Fi, at home or at the hotel, and pick a wide area: Google states that offline navigation only works if the whole route lies within the downloaded area. Offline, you get no traffic information and no alternative routes, and the maps expire: update them before you leave.

Google also says that downloading is not possible in some countries or regions. So check before you leave: search for “Agadir” and see whether the option appears. If it does not, Organic Maps, a free app built on OpenStreetMap data, lets you download maps of the regions you drive through and offers offline voice guidance for driving.

Moroccan SIM card or eSIM: staying connected without surprises

Your usual plan may well work in Morocco, but on roaming. The European “Roam Like at Home” scheme, which lets you use your plan as you would at home, covers the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Moldova and Ukraine, but not Morocco. Some operators extend it to other countries; otherwise, the EU warns that roaming outside the EU and EEA, especially for data, can be expensive. Check with yours before you leave.

The other option is a Moroccan line, on a prepaid card or an eSIM. Orange says an eSIM can be obtained in store or online, with a QR code to scan; at inwi, you request it at a branch, and the operator offers an eSIM package for travellers arriving in Morocco. You need a compatible phone. A physical SIM card also works, provided your phone accepts another operator's card. Keep your passport to hand: since 1 April 2014, the ANRT has required full customer identification, with an official identity document, before a prepaid card is activated.

Holder and charger: getting the phone ready in the car

Morocco's National Road Safety Agency (NARSA) puts using a GPS or smartphone while driving at the top of its list of mistakes to avoid behind the wheel. Its solution: a hands-free kit, and setting the GPS while stationary, before you set off. Enter the destination in the car park, start the voice guidance, and do not touch the screen again once you are moving. To change your route, pull over.

Mount the phone on a holder rather than leaving it on the seat. We do not publish the detailed equipment of each model: the safest bet is to bring your own holder, a cable and a car charger, or a power bank, because navigation with the screen on uses a lot of battery. If you have a particular model of our cars in mind, ask us about it on WhatsApp when you send your request.

Delivery and return: share your location on WhatsApp

At Carsalis, delivery is free in Agadir: airport, hotel or city centre. In your booking request, state the pick-up and return location: the flight number and exact arrival time for the airport, the hotel name for delivery to a hotel. For the airport, also see our arrival guide for Al Massira.

In the city centre, a street name is not always enough to find the right meeting point. The simplest way: also send your location in the WhatsApp conversation for your request, at +212 648 291 116. WhatsApp lets you send a location, or a live location for as long as you choose; it is end-to-end encrypted and you can stop sharing at any time. Do the same for the return. In Marrakech, Essaouira or Taroudant, allow for a €60 surcharge per journey: a pick-up and a return outside Agadir count as two journeys. For any other town, it is on request.

Outside the cities: stay on the tarmac

Maps also show dirt tracks, and an app may suggest one as a shortcut. Our rental conditions prohibit unpaved tracks, except for vehicles specifically adapted to them: if the navigation sends you onto one, do not take it and stay on the tarmac road. Mileage is unlimited: a detour makes no difference to the rental price. Assistance is available 24/7: save our number before you set off. For Marrakech, also read Driving to Marrakech from Agadir.

Frequently asked questions

Does the phone's GPS work without a network in Morocco?

Yes, if the map has been downloaded beforehand. Google Maps offers offline maps, but not in every country: check before you leave. Organic Maps works entirely offline.

Do you need a Moroccan SIM card to hire a car?

No, it is not among the things we ask for when you book. A local line is still often the simplest option if your plan does not cover Morocco: Maroc Telecom, Orange and inwi sell prepaid cards, and Orange and inwi offer eSIMs. Bring your passport for identification.

How do I give the exact delivery location in Agadir?

Specify the location in your booking request, then send your location on WhatsApp to +212 648 291 116. Delivery is free in Agadir: airport, hotel or city centre.

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 are reading here comes from our own rental conditions and from what our customers ask us every week on WhatsApp.

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

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