What Documents Do You Need to Rent a Car in Morocco?

Most rental companies in Morocco ask for three things: a valid driving licence, your passport (some also accept a national ID card) and a credit card for the deposit. At Miles Cars the list is shorter: a valid driving licence and your passport, or the national ID card (CIN) for Moroccans. Depending on your licence and nationality, the law may also require an International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive in Morocco.

Requirements vary slightly between companies, so check them when you book. The summary table at the end of this guide shows what is usually asked and what applies at Miles Cars.

Yes, visitors can drive in Morocco with a valid foreign driving licence for up to one year of stay. After that, residents need a Moroccan licence.

The licence must be valid for the whole rental and be a full licence (not provisional or learner). Many international companies also require it to have been held for a minimum period, usually 1 to 2 years; at Miles Cars a valid licence is enough.

Bring the physical card. A digital licence on your phone, a photocopy or a temporary paper slip is generally not accepted by rental companies or by the police. If your licence has expired or been renewed recently, check that the card you bring shows the original date it was first issued.

You need an International Driving Permit if your licence is not written in the Latin alphabet (for example Arabic, Cyrillic or Chinese) or if your own government says so. The UK government, for instance, states that UK drivers need the 1968 version of the IDP in Morocco, and that the 1949 version is no longer accepted.

In practice, many travellers with European licences report that neither the rental desk nor the police asked for an IDP. But it is cheap, takes little time to obtain and avoids any discussion at a checkpoint or if you have an accident, so if in doubt, get one.

Remember three points: an IDP is only a translation and must always be shown with your original licence; it must be issued in the country that issued your licence; and you cannot obtain it once you are in Morocco. To rent with Miles Cars you only need your passport (or national ID card for Moroccans) and driving licence; the IDP is a matter of road rules, so carry one if your licence or your government calls for it.

The minimum age to rent a car in Morocco is usually 21 at international companies, with a licence held for at least 1 to 2 years. Some companies apply a young-driver surcharge or restrict larger vehicles to older drivers.

At Miles Cars, the minimum age is 18, and you only need your passport (or national ID card for Moroccans) and a valid driving licence. Every additional driver must also be at least 18 and show their own passport or ID card and licence at delivery so they can be added to the rental agreement. Someone not on the contract should never drive the car, as the insurance would not cover them.

No, you only need to show your passport (Moroccans show their national ID card, the CIN) so the company can identify you and copy your details into the rental agreement. You should never leave your passport with a rental company as a guarantee, and you will need it at police checks and at hotels.

Make sure the name on your passport matches your driving licence and your booking. Keep a photo of your passport, licence and rental agreement on your phone, in case you need to show or replace them.

With most international rental brands in Morocco, yes: they require a credit card in the main driver's name and block a deposit on it, often several thousand dirhams. Debit and prepaid cards are frequently refused for this, which is one of the most common surprises at airport desks.

Some local companies work differently. At Miles Cars no credit card is required and there is no deposit: nothing is blocked, and you pay on delivery or at the agency, or by credit card if you prefer. Read more in our guide to car rental in Agadir with no deposit, and see what a car rental in Morocco really costs to compare offers fairly.

A rental car in Morocco must carry its registration document (carte grise), its insurance certificate and your rental agreement. Police and gendarmes regularly check drivers at town entrances and ask for both your personal documents and the vehicle's papers. Before you leave, check that these are in the glovebox:

Check what the insurance covers before you sign, not after a scratch. Third-party liability is compulsory in Morocco and always included; damage to the rental car itself is covered according to your contract, usually with an excess you remain liable for.

At Miles Cars, basic insurance with an excess is included, and optional full insurance brings the excess to zero. Our guide to car rental insurance in Morocco explains the options. In any contract, look at:

At pick-up, walk around the car with the agent, note every existing scratch or dent on the check-out form and take photos or a short video, including the wheels, the windscreen and the fuel gauge. Then check that the papers are in the car and that your details on the contract are correct.

Our car rental checklist for Morocco lists every point step by step. With Miles Cars, the car is delivered for car rental at Agadir airport or at your hotel, and the agent goes through everything with you. Read the full rental conditions before you travel.