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The essentials in three lines

  • At Carsalis, the baby seat is an option: mention it in your booking request, with the child's age and weight. Price on request.
  • In Morocco, Decree No. 2-10-420 bans children under 10 from the front seats: the car seat goes in the back.
  • NARSA calls for an approved seat, suited to the child's age and weight, and securely fitted. In the sun, touch the seat cushion and the buckles before putting the child in.

You are arriving in Agadir with an eight-month-old baby, or a four-year-old who falls asleep as soon as the car pulls away. Two questions come up before you even choose the model: does the rental company provide a car seat, and what does Moroccan law say? Here are the official texts, what the National Road Safety Agency (NARSA) publishes, and how to request a child seat from Carsalis.

What Moroccan law says: no children under 10 in the front

Morocco's highway code is Law No. 52-05. Its traffic rules are set out in an implementing decree, Decree No. 2-10-420 of 29 September 2010. Its article 8 fits in a single sentence: children under the age of ten must not occupy the front seats of private motor vehicles. The text allows no exceptions, not even for a rear-facing seat. Nothing in it excludes hire cars: the rule applies.

Article 7 covers seat belts: in built-up areas, they are compulsory for the driver and the front passenger. Outside built-up areas, they are compulsory for all occupants, in the front and in the back. On the road to Essaouira, everyone buckles up, back seat included; in town, do the same. And it is the driver who answers for their passengers on this point, NARSA reminds us.

The car seat: what NARSA asks for

On the car seat itself, NARSA acknowledges that the seat belt legislation does not spell out the case of children. It is nonetheless clear: the youngest must travel in an approved car seat, suited to their age and weight, properly fitted, preferably on the back seat.

Our advice is simple: don't try to exploit this grey area. According to the WHO, cited by NARSA, a correctly fitted seat can reduce an infant's risk of death in a crash by 70%, and a young child's by 54%. Even for the short trip from the airport to the hotel, a baby does not travel on an adult's lap.

Which seat for which age: NARSA's guidelines

When choosing a seat, the child's height and weight matter more than their age. Seats are classified by weight group. According to NARSA, a rear-facing seat offers the best protection up to the age of two; you switch to forward-facing when the child reaches the seat's maximum weight and height. Next comes the booster seat, which positions the adult seat belt correctly, up to about 1.45 m, generally between the ages of 8 and 12.

The table sets out the groups published by NARSA. Multi-group seats cover several groups, such as 0+/1 (birth to 18 kg) or 1/2/3 (9 to 36 kg).

Child's weight or height (group) Type of seat Direction and position
Birth to 13 kg (group 0+) Infant carrier seat Rear-facing, in the back
9 to 18 kg (group 1) Harnessed seat Rear-facing up to age two if possible, then forward-facing, in the back
15 to 36 kg (group 2/3) Booster seat, with the adult seat belt Forward-facing, in the back
Up to about 1.45 m (often 8 to 12 years old) Booster seat recommended In the back, and never in the front before age 10

At Carsalis: how to request a baby seat

The baby seat is one of our options, like roof bars. Ask for it when you book, not on the day of delivery. On the pages for our city cars and saloons, the booking form offers the baby seat option. For other cars, add a line to your booking request.

Give the child's age and approximate weight: they determine the type of seat. If you have two children, say so too. The price of the seat is given on request: we confirm availability and price when we reply to your request.

Delivery is free in Agadir (airport, hotel, city centre) and, once the booking is confirmed, everything is ready for your arrival. If you are torn between a city car, a saloon or a family car, browse our fleet — our guide Which car to hire in Agadir helps you choose.

Fitting the seat: five minutes before you set off

On delivery, at Al Massira airport or at your hotel, check the seat before you set off, not by the roadside. NARSA stresses four points: follow the manufacturer's instructions, check that the seat is firmly attached to the vehicle, adjust the harness properly, and use the seat on every trip.

For a child on a booster seat, check where the adult seat belt goes: across the hips and the breastbone, never across the stomach or the neck. Turn on the child locks on the rear doors, which stop them being opened from the inside, and keep the windows closed if the child can reach the controls.

The heat: the point people forget

In Agadir, a car parked in the sun heats up quickly. The seat fabric, and above all the metal harness buckles, can become scorching hot. Before putting the child in, touch the seat and the buckles with the flat of your hand. Air out the car for a few minutes, doors open, before sitting them down.

Park in the shade, put a light-coloured towel over the empty seat and bring water. Finally, one rule with no exceptions: never leave a child alone in the car, even for a two-minute errand. And if a problem comes up on the way, our assistance service runs 24/7, as set out in our rental conditions.

Frequently asked questions

Can a child travel in the front in a car seat in Morocco?

Not before the age of 10. Article 8 of Decree No. 2-10-420 bans children under ten from the front seats, with no exception for a rear-facing seat. The seat goes in the back.

How much does a baby seat cost at Carsalis?

The price is given on request. Mention the seat in your booking request, with the child's age and weight: we will reply with availability and price.

Do I need to bring my own car seat?

Not necessarily: the baby seat is an option at Carsalis, to be requested with your booking, and we will confirm its availability. If you prefer your own, check with your airline about carrying it. Either way, it goes in the back, following the manufacturer's instructions.

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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