There is an established network of roads in Morocco, the condition of which is constantly improving. A lot of money has been invested into creating more roads in Morocco. Driving is on the right with overtaking on the left. Give way to the right when vehicles are approaching an intersection. Care should be taken when turning as following vehicles may be trying to overtake you at the same time. It is illegal to talk on mobile phones while driving in Morocco.
Driving defensively in Morocco is a good idea. Moroccan road quality can vary greatly. In some places paved roads will give way to gravel roads and so your speed should be adjusted accordingly. Because there are often potholes and bad conditions on rural roads you should strongly consider renting a 4x4 vehicle.
You should avoid driving at night as many of the ‘obstacles’ on the road will not have lights and there are also mountain roads which do not have guard rails. Bizarrely enough considering how much light there is in Morocco, by law you should keep your headlights on during the day as well as at night. Horns are used deliberately by drivers in Morocco. If you are not sure whether to go or not at a traffic light then the sound of horns will let you know.
Do not move your car, unless it is in a dangerous position which might lead to another accident, and wait for the police to arrive. In the meantime swap insurance information and addresses with the other driver. If you have a camera handy take pictures of the accident for police and insurance purposes. You should give a copy of the police report to your insurance company.
Seatbelts are mandatory for all drivers and all passengers whether they are sitting in the front or the back seats. If you have children who are under four years of age then they should get one of our child seats and sit in the back.
Road signs are written in Arabic and French. Motorway signs can be red with white writing.
Petrol costs slightly more in Morocco than you would expect to pay in the United Kingdom. As fuel stations can be infrequent you should fill up as often as possible.
Because Morocco is a Muslim country there is a zero tolerance policy to driving if you have been drinking. Do not consider it unless you are willing to do time in a Moroccan jail.
You need to have an international driving licence along with your domestic licence. It is the legal requirement to have your license and car hire Morocco documents with you. It is also a good idea to have your passport, proof of insurance and your vehicle registration information.
No, you need an International Driving Permit.
Unleaded petrol - Sans Plomb / Tamaniin
Parking attendant - Gardiens de voitures
Peace be with you - Salama alekum
Thank you – Shokran/ merci
No thank you – La Shokran/ No merci
How much is this? - Da ghali awi’/ C’est Combien?
Yes there is an extensive system of toll roads in Morocco as the driving infrastructure is based around the French system. There are toll roads between the major cities of Casablanca, Rabat and Tangiers.
You can travel east to west and north to south through Morocco on a pay per use basis. Using a toll road in Morocco is inexpensive by European standards at is likely to mean that you get the joy of an open road.
50 kilometres per hour in built up areas.
100 kilometres per hour on open roads.
100 kilometres per hour on highways.
There are frequent speed checks with the use of speed guns in Morocco. There is an on the spot fine if you are caught speeding.
The conversion from kilometres to miles per hour is one kilometre = 0.62 miles per hour. Therefore the speed in built up areas is 30 miles per hour.
To drive in Morocco you need to be at least 21 years old. Some rental companies may require you to be over 25 years of age with a minimum of one year's driving experience.
The number for the police in the city is 19, the number for the police in the countryside is 177. Medical and fire services are both reachable by contacting 15.
The United States Embassy in Morocco is located at 2 Avenue de Mohamed El Fassi
Rabat and you can call (212) (537)-76-22-65. Their website is http://rabat.usembassy.gov/
The British High Commission in Morocco is located at 28 Avenue S.A.R. Sidi Mohammed, Soussi 10105 (BP 45) Rabat and you can call (212) (537)-63-33-33. Their website is http://ukinmorocco.fco.gov.uk/en/
Parking is not a problem outside of cities. However areas such as Tamuda Bay can get busy during the summer months. In the cities parking tends to be fairly lawless with people parking wherever they please. There are parking attendants so keep an eye out. For the safety of your car should consider using one of the parking lots which are protected. A small fee of five or 10 Dirhams is usually payable. Airports in Morocco all offer on and off-site parking but if you have hired a car this is not something that you need to consider.