Morocco on a German Licence 2026: Valid a Year, 0.02 Limit
Germany
Morocco
Your German licence is recognised in Morocco for stays up to a year, per the Auswärtiges Amt. Same right-hand side, but a 0.02 alcohol limit, MAD 300 for under 20 km/h over, and avoid night drives.
A German driver arriving in Morocco trades the order of the Autobahn for something far less predictable. The licence question is simple; the change in road culture is what deserves your attention before you set off.
The verdict for German licence holders
The German Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) states that the national German licence is recognised for stays of up to one year; anyone staying longer must apply for a Moroccan licence. No International Driving Permit is needed for a holiday. Carry the licence with your passport, and do not hand the passport to a hire company as security. Morocco drives on the right, as Germany does, so there is no side switch.
A different order to the roads
Morocco has good roads between the larger cities, but the Foreign Office urges great caution: drivers, cyclists and pedestrians cannot rely on each other to follow the rules, and even on motorways you may meet pedestrians, animals or unlit vehicles. Its advice is plain: avoid driving at night. It also recommends comprehensive insurance cover, because enforcing compensation claims after a crash is rarely possible. The historic medinas are best explored on foot from a car park outside.
A much stricter alcohol limit
The limit reported to the WHO is 0.02 g/dl, well below Germany’s 0.5 per mille. NARSA, the national road safety agency, lists up to MAD 10,000, six months to a year in prison and loss of the licence for driving drunk. Do not drink before driving.
Speeds and fines
Towns are 60 km/h, with 40 or 20 zones; national roads are generally 80 km/h, with some sections at 100; motorways are 120 km/h. NARSA sets the speeding fines: under 20 km/h over costs MAD 300; 20 to under 30 km/h, MAD 500 and 2 points; 30 to under 50 km/h, MAD 700 and 4 points; from 50 km/h over it is a criminal offence. Emergencies: police 190, ambulance 150, gendarmerie 177.
Read the full rules on our Morocco driving guide, confirm your paperwork with the Driving Permit Checker, and estimate any penalty with the Speeding Fine Calculator.
Sources
- Auswärtiges Amt, Marokko: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise (German licence recognised up to one year; road safety; avoid night driving; insurance; passport not as deposit): auswaertiges-amt.de
- NARSA, excessive speed (limits and fine bands): narsa-securiteroutiere.ma
- NARSA, alcohol and driving (MAD 10,000, prison, licence withdrawal): narsa-securiteroutiere.ma
- WHO Global status report on road safety 2023, Morocco profile (BAC 0.02 g/dl): who.int
- StVG §24a (0.5 per mille in Germany): gesetze-im-internet.de
- GOV.UK, Morocco, getting help (190, 150, 177): gov.uk
Speed limits, fines, equipment & license requirements
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The German Foreign Office says the national German licence is recognised for stays of up to one year; after that you must apply for a Moroccan licence. Carry it with your passport, and do not leave the passport with a hire company as a deposit.
The Auswärtiges Amt warns that drivers, cyclists and pedestrians cannot rely on each other to follow the rules, and that even motorways can have pedestrians, animals and unlit vehicles on them. It advises avoiding night driving. Medinas are best explored on foot from a car park outside.
The limit reported to the WHO is 0.02 g/dl, lower than Germany's 0.5 per mille. Morocco's road safety agency NARSA lists up to MAD 10,000, prison and loss of the licence for drink-driving, so drink nothing before driving.