4 July 2026
We arrange transport across Morocco every week, and a rental car remains the best way to explore on your own terms — the Atlas Mountains, the coast at Essaouira, desert kasbahs. But driving here has quirks. These are the seven things we tell every traveller before they book.
In a hurry? Compare car rental deals in Marrakech here — free cancellation on most bookings.
Yes, renting a car in Marrakech is safe for confident drivers. Morocco's main roads are well maintained and signposted. City traffic is busy and the medina is car-free, so most visitors park outside the old town. Drive defensively, avoid mountain roads after dark, and you'll be fine.
The nervousness travellers feel usually fades within an hour. The roads to the coast and mountains are genuinely straightforward.
Morocco drives on the right, and most rental cars are manual. An EU, UK, or US licence is generally accepted for tourists, though carrying an International Driving Permit alongside it is a cheap safeguard. Seatbelts are mandatory and speed limits are strictly enforced by radar.
Request an automatic well in advance if you need one — they're limited and go quickly.
We strongly recommend full coverage with a reduced deposit. Basic rates often carry a high excess (deductible) that leaves you exposed. Comparison sites let you filter for full-coverage options up front, so you avoid being upsold expensive insurance at the rental desk.
This is where travellers get caught out most. Always check exactly what's covered before you sign anything.
Use guarded parking lots and never park inside the medina. Look for a gardien — an attendant in a blue coat who watches parked cars for a few dirhams. It's cheap, completely normal, and worth it. Choose accommodation with parking, and never leave valuables visible.
The medina is largely car-free, so plan to park outside the old city and walk or taxi in.
Pick up your car at Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK). It has the widest choice of rental desks and is usually the easiest and cheapest collection point — no navigating narrow medina streets with luggage. Choose a full-to-full fuel policy, which almost always beats pre-paid fuel.
Motorways between major cities are toll roads — keep some cash handy for the booths.
Comparing prices takes about a minute. Search across all the major providers in one place, filter for full insurance and free cancellation, and book with confidence.
Search and compare car rental in Marrakech now, then hit the road.
