With Morocco’s 35m people largely crammed into its northern cities, the stunning scenery of the much less populated south make for a great road trip destination. And across the mountains and deserts of the south, driving in Morocco is much easier than many think.

Wide-open roads in good condition connect stunning valleys and intriguing towns. An easy to navigate infrastructure with regular petrol stations means you are rarely lost and there is little risk of running out of fuel. With traffic volumes low, the challenges of having to pass donkeys, oxen and mopeds on the road are minimised.

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Driving in Morocco is much easier than many think and is a great way to see this stunning country. Here are 12 helpful tips as well as some money saving advice for renting a car in Morocco.

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So you’ve decided to take a road trip in Morocco but you’ve heard driving on Moroccan roads is a nightmare. You’re on holiday so why take the chance and add stress to your journey?

Driving around Morocco is the best way to travel. It allows you to get the most out of your holiday, discover off-the-beaten-track destinations and have experiences no organized tour can provide.

All the hype about driving in Morocco is tantamount to scaremongering. For the most part, it’s not so different to driving in the UK or France.

It’s a shame to let this put you off. Here’s all you need to know about driving in Morocco, with some helpful advice about how to approach the few things you’re unfamiliar with.

We’ll cover the cities and motorways in this article and follow it up shortly with a post about driving in Morocco’s rural areas and Atlas mountains.

The official rules of the road

  • The minimum age to drive is 18 and you should carry your driving license with you.
  • European citizens don’t need an International Driving Permit for Morocco. Check before you travel in case this changes.
  • Moroccans drive on the right and give way to traffic from the left.
  • Morocco has no drink drive laws but they do have alcohol laws. Get caught drinking and driving and you can expect the police to throw you in jail. Don’t drink and drive is the message.
  • Road signs are almost identical to those in Europe.
  • Driver etiquette isn’t something we’re familiar with in Morocco. Moroccan drivers don’t give way to pedestrians and often park on crossings. You don’t have to follow suit.
  • As a rule of thumb, the speed limits (unless there is a sign indicating something different) are:
    • 60 km per hour in urban areas
    • 100 km per hour outside urban areas
    • 120 km per hour on highways
  • Morocco’s traffic police can issue on the spot fines for break these speed limits, so drive sensibly. Getting pulled over for any traffic violation is likely to ruin your day.

   

TIPS FOR ROAD TRIPS IN MOROCCO

TIP 1 / GO SLOW AS THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF THINGS ON THE ROAD
TIP 2 / DON’T SPEED AND DON’T CROSS THE CENTRAL LINES

TIP 3 / KEEP YOUR DISTANCE & DON’T RELY ON INDICATORS

TIP 4 / DON’T WORRY ABOUT ALL THE HONKING

TIP 5 / AVOID THE LARGE NORTHERN CITIES AND OLD MEDINAS

TIP 6 / ALLOW PLENTY OF TIME FOR YOUR JOURNEY

TIP 7 / 2WD IS FINE UNLESS YOU TAKE THE MINOR ROADS IN THE ATLAS MOUNTAINS

TIP 8 / DOWNLOAD GOOGLE MAPS AND MAPS.ME OFFLINE BEFORE YOU TRAVEL

TIP 9 / AVOID WINTER IF YOU INTEND TO DRIVE OVER THE MOUNTAIN PASSES