Driving in Morocco sounds intimidating before you go. In practice the main roads are good, the motorways are modern and road signs are in Arabic and French. What surprises visitors is mostly the driving culture: lots of scooters, lively roundabouts, pedestrians everywhere and frequent police checkpoints.
Here is what we tell our customers when we hand over the keys in Marrakech.
Key facts
- Morocco drives on the right.
- Speed limits: 60 km/h in towns (sometimes 40), 100 km/h on main roads, 120 km/h on motorways.
- Police checkpoints and speed cameras are very common, especially at town entrances.
- Seat belts for everyone, no hand-held phones, and effectively zero tolerance for alcohol.
- Always keep in the car: license, passport, rental contract, registration and insurance papers.
Can you drive in Morocco with your license?
Yes. For a tourist stay, UK, EU, US, Canadian and most other licenses are recognised. At Oum Loca Car, as at most agencies, the driver must be at least 21 and have held their license for 2 years. An International Driving Permit is not required to rent, but it can make a police check smoother if your license is not in Latin characters. UK drivers should bring their photocard license.
Speed limits
| Road type | Speed limit |
|---|---|
| Built-up areas | 60 km/h (40 km/h in some signed zones) |
| National and regional roads | 100 km/h |
| Motorways (autoroutes) | 120 km/h |
Signs always take priority. Near villages the limit often drops to 60 or even 40 km/h — and that is exactly where the checks are.
Police checkpoints and speed cameras
This is the big difference with driving at home. You will regularly pass police or gendarmerie checkpoints, usually at the entrance and exit of towns, marked by a "Stop" sign and spike strips.
- Slow right down as you approach. If the officer waves you through, carry on slowly.
- If you are stopped, stay calm and polite, say hello ("Bonjour" or "Salam alaykum") and show your documents: license, passport, rental contract, registration and insurance certificate (the last two are in the glovebox).
- Speed checks are everywhere: fixed cameras, but also mobile radar guns used by officers, often just after a speed-limit sign. Slow down at the sign, not 200 metres later.
- If you commit an offence, the fine is usually paid on the spot. Always ask for an official receipt.
In our experience, almost every check takes a minute for a tourist whose papers are in order. Speeding when entering villages is by far the most common reason our customers get fined.
Rules that surprise visitors
Roundabouts
Marrakech has roundabouts everywhere. At some of them, traffic entering the roundabout has priority; follow the signs and traffic lights where there are any. In any case: slow down, look left and right, and be predictable.
Scooters, pedestrians and carts
Scooters, bicycles, pedestrians and donkey carts all share the road, in town and in the countryside. Scooters will overtake on both sides. Keep your distance, check your mirrors and look before opening a door on the street side.
Horns and headlight flashes
A short honk usually means "I'm here", not an insult. A headlight flash from oncoming traffic may warn of a checkpoint or hazard ahead — or mean the driver is coming through and won't give way. Be careful.
Seat belts, phones and alcohol
Seat belts are compulsory in the front and back, and young children must travel in the back. Hand-held phone use is forbidden. The legal alcohol limit is extremely low, so the only safe rule is no alcohol at all when driving.
Motorways and tolls
Morocco's toll motorways (run by ADM) link Marrakech with Casablanca, Rabat, Agadir and Safi among others. They are in excellent condition and quiet outside weekends and holidays.
- Pay tolls in dirhams, in cash or by card at most booths. Always keep some cash.
- Service areas have fuel, coffee and toilets.
- Watch out for pedestrians or animals crossing near towns, even on the motorway.
There is no motorway to Essaouira: the national road is good but single-lane each way, with plenty of lorries to overtake. Be patient.
Fuel
Petrol stations (Afriquia, TotalEnergies, Shell, Petrom, Winxo…) are easy to find in towns and on main roads. An attendant fills up for you: say "gasoil" for diesel or "sans plomb" for unleaded — it is written on your contract and often on the fuel cap. Leaving a few dirhams as a tip is customary.
On the road to the desert and in the mountains, stations are further apart: fill up whenever you drop below half a tank.
Driving and parking in Marrakech
- The Medina is closed to cars: park in a guarded car park nearby (your riad will tell you the closest one).
- Parking attendants (gardiens) in high-vis vests watch cars parked on the street for a small fee. Agree the price before you leave.
- Avoid rush hours (8–9.30 a.m. and 5–7.30 p.m.) around Gueliz and the airport road.
- Leave nothing visible inside the car.
What to do after an accident or breakdown
- Get to safety, switch on the hazard lights and set up the warning triangle.
- Call your rental agency straight away. At Oum Loca Car, assistance is available 24/7 by phone and WhatsApp.
- After an accident, even with no other vehicle involved, get a report from the police (in town) or the gendarmerie (outside towns). With us, it must be handed over within 24 hours so that the insurance covers the damage.
Useful numbers: Police 19, Royal Gendarmerie 177, Fire brigade / ambulance 15.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to drive in Morocco?
Yes, if you drive carefully. Main roads and motorways are in good condition. The key is to anticipate what other road users will do, respect the speed limits and avoid mountain roads after dark.
Can I drive at night?
In town, yes. On secondary roads and in the mountains we advise against it: limited lighting, pedestrians, animals and poorly lit vehicles.
Do I need a 4x4 to travel around Morocco?
No. The roads to Essaouira, Ouarzazate and even Merzouga are paved. An SUV like the Dacia Duster adds comfort and ground clearance, but a regular car is fine for most itineraries.
Ready for the road? Browse our rental cars in Marrakech, read our Marrakech to Merzouga road trip itinerary or ask us anything on the contact page.