Skip to main content
Checked against official sources 1 Apr 2026
Quick Answer

Traffic in Morocco flows on the right. Mobile phone fines are strictly enforced, even at traffic lights. See the full rules with our interactive tools below.

Morocco flag

Morocco's 2026 Motorways Allow Speeds up to 120 km/h

Data verified:

5 min read
Driving Side Right
Motorway Limit 120 km/h
Alcohol Limit 0.02% BAC
Min. Driving Age 18
Winter Tyres Not required
Region Africa

Morocco drives on the right side of the road. The minimum driving age is 18. The motorway speed limit is 120 km/h. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.02% BAC. Visitors need an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside their national licence unless it was issued in the EU/EEA.

What Tourists Miss

Morocco requires warning triangle in the vehicle at all times, and roadside checks do happen; the penalty for a missing item is set locally and we do not publish a figure we cannot verify. Rental companies rarely include the full kit; ask before leaving the lot.

Driving Difficulty: Morocco

Variable roads, donkeys/pedestrians, city medinas impassable

3.5/5 · Challenging (TyreMap difficulty index)

Easy
Hard

Personalise for Your Trip

See how Morocco differs from your home country

Watch: Driving in Morocco

Is It Safe To Rent A Car And Drive In Morocco? · The Family Getaway Guide

Morocco’s motorway speed limit reaches 120 km/h, stepping down to 80 km/h on most rural roads (100 km/h on some national-road sections) and 60 km/h within towns. The blood alcohol limit is 0.02%, close enough to zero that a single drink can put a driver over. Traffic keeps to the right, and the minimum driving age is 18.

Speed limits are 60 km/h in urban areas, 100 km/h on rural roads, and 120 km/h on motorways. The blood alcohol limit is 0.02% BAC. You must be at least 18 to drive.

Advertisement

Emergency Numbers in Morocco

Police: 190 | Ambulance: 150 | Fire: 150 | Gendarmerie: 177

Save these numbers before you start driving. In Morocco, emergency calls are free from any phone.

Speed Limits in Morocco

The default speed limits for passenger cars in Morocco are 60 km/h in built-up areas, 100 km/h on rural roads, and 120 km/h on motorways.

Trucks and vehicles over 3.5 tonnes have lower limits: 60 km/h urban, 90 km/h rural, and 100 km/h on motorways.

Important: Posted signs always override default limits. Watch for temporary restrictions in construction zones, near schools, and in residential areas.

Speeding Fines and Penalties

Speeding fines in Morocco escalate based on how far you exceed the limit. Exceeding by up to 10 km/h: MAD 300-700 (approx. EUR 28-65). Exceeding by 11-20 km/h: MAD 700-1,400 (approx. EUR 65-130). Over 20 km/h: MAD 2,000-4,000 (approx. EUR 185-370) + licence suspension or more.

Other common fines:

  • Mobile phone use while driving: MAD 300-700 (approx. EUR 28-65)
  • Running a red light: MAD 700-1,400 (approx. EUR 65-130)
  • Seatbelt violation: MAD 300-700 (approx. EUR 28-65)

Traffic Rules and Regulations

Drive on the right side of the road. Overtake on the left. At roundabouts, enter counter-clockwise and yield to traffic already circulating.

Seatbelts are mandatory for all occupants. Children must use appropriate restraint systems based on their age and height.

Using a hand-held phone while driving is illegal. The fine is MAD 300-700 (approx. EUR 28-65). Use hands-free devices only.

Use headlights in poor visibility, tunnels, and at night. Some areas require headlights at all times.

Priority at intersections follows posted signs. When no signs are present, yield to traffic from the right.

Drink-Driving Laws and Alcohol Limits

The legal blood alcohol limit in Morocco is 0.02% BAC. This is higher than Algeria (0.01% BAC). Exceeding this limit results in fines, licence suspension, and possible criminal charges. For novice drivers and professional drivers, stricter limits may apply.

The safest approach is to not drink at all if you will be driving. Alcohol affects reaction time and judgement regardless of the legal limit.

Tyre Requirements and Regulations

Due to Morocco’s tropical climate, winter tyres are not required. Standard tyres suitable for wet and dry conditions are appropriate year-round.

The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6 mm.

Studded tyres are prohibited in Morocco.

For detailed tyre law information, see our Tyre Laws in Morocco guide.

Mandatory Vehicle Equipment

Vehicles in Morocco must carry the following:

Required:

  • Warning triangle
  • Reflective vest (high-visibility)

Recommended:

  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher

Keep all equipment accessible — not buried under luggage. Police may check during routine stops.

Driving License Requirements

UK government travel advice says you need the 1968 version of the International Driving Permit (IDP) with your licence, and that “Morocco no longer accepts the 1949 version of the IDP”. The United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, India and Ireland belong only to the 1949 convention and issue only that version, so drivers from those countries should ask the hire company which documents it accepts before booking. Always carry your original driving licence — photocopies are not accepted. Your foreign licence is valid for up to 12 months.

The minimum driving age is 18 years.

Parking and Fuel

Parking rules vary by city. Look for designated parking areas and always check signs for time limits and payment requirements.

We do not hold a verified, dated fuel price for Morocco, so check a local price app or the board at the station before you budget.

Most fuel stations accept major credit and debit cards. In rural areas, keep your tank above half — stations may be far apart.

Seasonal Driving Conditions

Morocco has a hot and arid conditions. The main driving hazard is heavy rainfall — roads can flood quickly and visibility drops sharply during downpours. Reduce speed in rain and avoid crossing flooded sections. Road surfaces may deteriorate during the wet season.

Useful Driving Phrases in Arabic

Knowing a few phrases in Arabic helps at fuel stations, toll booths, and during police checks:

EnglishArabic
Where is the nearest petrol station?أين أقرب محطة وقود؟
I need helpأحتاج مساعدة
I had an accidentتعرضت لحادث
Where can I park?أين يمكنني ركن السيارة؟
Speed limitحد السرعة

Download the Arabic language pack in your translation app for offline use.

Practical Driving Tips for Morocco

  • Download offline maps of Morocco before your trip — mobile signal can be unreliable on rural roads.
  • Take a break every 2 hours on long drives. Fatigue is a leading cause of road accidents.
  • Use our interactive tools on this page — compare rules with your home country and calculate potential fines before you set off.
Advertisement

Speed Limits in Morocco

Road TypeCarsTrucks (>3.5t)
Urban60 km/h60 km/h
Rural80 km/h90 km/h
Motorway120 km/h100 km/h

Note: 80 km/h generally; some national-road sections 100 km/h

Traffic Fines in Morocco

OffencePenalty
Mobile phone use while drivingMAD 300-700 (approx. EUR 28-65)
No seatbeltMAD 300-700 (approx. EUR 28-65)
Running a red lightMAD 700-1,400 (approx. EUR 65-130)
Speeding (1-10 km/h over)MAD 300 (under 20 km/h over)
Speeding (11-20 km/h over)MAD 700-1,400 (approx. EUR 65-130)
Speeding (21-30+ km/h over)MAD 2,000-4,000 (approx. EUR 185-370) + licence suspension

Penalties may vary by region and circumstances. Always check current local regulations.

Useful Driving Phrases in Arabic

EnglishArabic
Where is the nearest petrol station?أين أقرب محطة وقود؟
I need helpأحتاج مساعدة
I had an accidentتعرضت لحادث
Where can I park?أين يمكنني ركن السيارة؟
Speed limitحد السرعة

Mandatory Equipment in Morocco

✅ Warning Triangle
✅ Reflective Vest
⚠️ First Aid Kit Recommended, not required by law
⚠️ Fire Extinguisher Recommended, not required by law
✅ Spare Bulb Kit
❌ Breathalyzer

Licence Requirements for Foreign Drivers

IDP Status Required
EU Licence Valid Yes
Max Stay 12 months

Foreign licences are valid for visitors; a 1968-convention IDP is required and the 1949 IDP is no longer accepted (UK FCDO).

Emergency Numbers in Morocco

Police
190
Ambulance
150
Fire
150

These numbers are free to call and available 24/7. When calling, state your location and the nature of the emergency.

Tyre Laws in Morocco

Winter tyre requirements, tread depth rules, and studded tyre regulations.

View tyre regulations

Avoid a fine in Morocco

Who pays a driving fine abroad, the hire-car admin-fee trap, and how to appeal.

Read the fine guide

Driving in Morocco on a foreign licence

Nationality-specific licence, IDP & rules — pick where your licence is from:

Renting a Car in Morocco?

Compare prices from all major rental companies. Free cancellation on most bookings.

Compare Car Rental Prices

Some links on this page are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How our affiliate links work.

Recent changes to this page

  • Undated, unsourced fuel price estimate removed.
  • Licence section corrected: UK government travel advice says a 1968-version IDP is needed and Morocco no longer accepts the 1949 version, so 'IDP recommended' was wrong. Drivers from 1949-only countries are now told their usual permit may be refused.
  • Title and description tightened to the page's own data (title 50-60, description 140-155 characters).
  • Title, description and introduction rewritten from this page's own data (no shared template wording).
  • Removed an equipment penalty that was actually the speeding fine copied from another field; TyreMap country data has no equipment-fine value, so no figure is published.

Frequently Asked Questions

In Morocco, the default speed limits for passenger vehicles are: urban areas 60 km/h (37 mph), rural roads 80 km/h (50 mph), 100 km/h on some national-road sections, and motorways 120 km/h (75 mph). Always follow posted signs as limits may differ on specific roads.

Calculate your exact fine for any speed

In Morocco, traffic drives on the right side of the road. Vehicles have the steering wheel on the left side. If you are visiting from a country that drives on the left, take extra care at intersections, roundabouts, and when overtaking.

UK government travel advice says drivers need the 1968 version of the International Driving Permit together with their licence, and that Morocco no longer accepts the 1949 version. Countries that belong only to the 1949 convention, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, India and Ireland, issue only the 1949 permit, so drivers from them should ask the hire company which documents it accepts before booking.

Check if your licence is valid

Winter tyres in Morocco are: Not Required. Regardless of legal requirements, winter tyres or all-season tyres with the appropriate markings (M+S or 3PMSF) are strongly recommended when temperatures drop below 7°C for improved safety and grip.

Check tyre requirements for your trip

The police emergency number in Morocco is 190; ambulance and fire are 150, and the Royal Gendarmerie (outside towns) is 177. These numbers are free to call and available 24/7. When calling, be prepared to state your location and the nature of the emergency.

Using a hand-held mobile phone while driving is prohibited in Morocco. Hands-free systems (Bluetooth, speakerphone, or mounted devices) are permitted. Penalties for mobile phone use while driving typically include fines. For safety, always use hands-free solutions or pull over to use your phone.

See all traffic fines and penalties

When driving in Morocco, you should always carry: your valid driving license (and IDP if applicable), vehicle registration document, valid insurance certificate (Green Card for European countries), and your passport or national ID. Rental car drivers should also carry the rental agreement. Police may request these documents during routine checks.

Get the free printable driving checklist

The minimum age to drive a car in Morocco is 18 years old. Some categories of vehicles (such as motorcycles or heavy vehicles) may have different age requirements. Novice drivers may face additional restrictions during their first years of driving.

Check driving age requirements

Driving in Morocco is generally safe for tourists who are prepared. Before driving, familiarize yourself with local traffic rules, road signs, and driving customs. Consider downloading offline maps, carrying emergency supplies, and purchasing comprehensive insurance. Avoid driving at night in unfamiliar areas if possible.

See driving safety rankings by country

Key fines in Morocco that catch tourists: mobile phone use while driving (MAD 300-700 (approx. EUR 28-65)), not wearing a seatbelt (MAD 300-700 (approx. EUR 28-65)). Police in some countries can demand immediate payment from foreign drivers. Always carry local currency or a credit card for potential fines.

Yes, for up to 12 months as a visitor. Pair it with a 1968-version International Driving Permit: UK government advice says Morocco no longer accepts the 1949 version. Always carry your original licence alongside the permit.

Check if your licence is valid

Get Driving Law Updates

Speed limits, fines and tyre laws change frequently. Get monthly updates for the countries you drive in.

Related Articles

Common Questions

Explore Guides

How Morocco compares worldwide

Morocco Tyre Laws

Winter tyres, tread depth & tyre regulations

Advertisement