Swiss Drivers in Morocco 2026: 1968 IDP and a 0.2 g/l Cap
Switzerland
Morocco
Yes, with the 1968 IDP Switzerland issues carried beside your licence; Morocco no longer accepts 1949 permits. Same side of the road, but alcohol drops to 0.2 g/l and rural roads are rough.
Swiss drivers used to immaculate Alpine motorways tend to find Morocco an eye-opener, in a good way. The scenery rewards a self-drive trip, but the road habits are a world apart from home.
The permit for Swiss licence holders
UK government travel advice says Morocco wants both the 1968 international driving permit and the licence in the car, and that it no longer accepts the 1949 version. Switzerland is a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention, so the permit the Swiss motoring clubs issue is the format Moroccan police and hire desks expect. Get it before you fly, since it is not available in Morocco, and carry it with your licence and passport.
The alcohol limit tightens noticeably
At home the general limit is 0.5 per mille; in Morocco it is 0.2 g/l. The glass of wine you might have with dinner before a short drive in Switzerland is no longer safe. NARSA lists fines up to MAD 10,000, prison and licence withdrawal for drink-driving.
Right-hand traffic, but rougher than you expect
There is no side switch. What changes is the road: donkeys and pedestrians share the carriageway, surfaces swing from smooth toll motorway to broken free-road in moments, and the medinas of Fes and Marrakech are impassable by car. Towns are 60 km/h (with 40 and 20 zones), national roads generally 80 km/h with some sections at 100, and motorways 120 km/h. NARSA’s fines: under 20 km/h over MAD 300; 20-29 km/h over MAD 500 and 2 points; 30-49 km/h over MAD 700 and 4 points; 50 km/h or more over is a criminal offence.
Emergencies: 190 police, 150 ambulance and fire, 177 gendarmerie. Rural mobile coverage is thin, so download offline maps before you go.
Read the full rules on our Morocco driving guide, check other routes with the Driving Permit Checker, and estimate a penalty with the Speeding Fine Calculator.
Sources
- GOV.UK foreign travel advice, Morocco, safety and security (“1968 version of the IDP”; “Morocco no longer accepts the 1949 version”): gov.uk
- UN Treaty Collection, 1968 Convention on Road Traffic (Switzerland and Morocco parties): treaties.un.org
- NARSA, excessive speed (limits and fine bands): narsa-securiteroutiere.ma
- NARSA, alcohol and driving: narsa-securiteroutiere.ma
- WHO Global status report on road safety 2023, Morocco and Switzerland profiles (0.02 and 0.05 g/dl): who.int, who.int
- GOV.UK, Morocco, getting help (190, 150, 177): gov.uk
Speed limits, fines, equipment & license requirements
Your home country driving rules for reference
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, with an international driving permit. UK government travel advice says Morocco wants the 1968 IDP together with the licence and no longer accepts the 1949 version. Switzerland is a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention, so the Swiss permit is the right format. Keep your Swiss licence, IDP and passport together.
Yes. Morocco's limit is 0.2 g/l, against Switzerland's general 0.5. There is no room for a single drink, so treat it as zero before driving.
No. Both Switzerland and Morocco drive on the right. The change is the standard of the roads, not the side you sit on.