# What do tourists need to know about driving in Morocco?

> Driving in Morocco: IDP rules, speed limits of 60, 100 and 120 km/h, new radars, police checkpoints, motorway tolls and when to hire a driver instead.

- Source: https://clevertourists.com/resources/driving-in-morocco-tourist-guide
- Authors: Evan & Clara, Clever Tourists (first-hand, from years of travel across 20 countries)
- Published: 2026-08-25

**Self-driving in Morocco is very doable on the motorways and the main routes south of Marrakech, as long as you carry an International Driving Permit, respect the speed limits (police and radars catch drivers at just a few km/h over), and never drive into the medinas. For the desert itself, hire a 4x4 with a driver.** We spent 24 days in Morocco from late August to mid September 2022, from Tangier and Chefchaouen through Fes, Rabat, Casablanca and Essaouira to Marrakech, then over the Atlas to Ouarzazate, Zagora, Tamegroute and Erg Chigaga. That covers almost every kind of Moroccan road, so this page is organised by what you will actually drive.

## Licence, IDP and documents

The UK Foreign Office says UK drivers need **both their UK licence and an International Driving Permit** in the car, that Morocco no longer accepts the 1949 IDP, and that you cannot buy an IDP outside the UK. US drivers should get an IDP from AAA before leaving. If your licence is not in the Latin alphabet, an IDP is effectively mandatory.

Keep your passport, licence, IDP, rental contract, registration and insurance papers in the car at all times. Police ask for them at checkpoints. If you bring your own car on the ferry from Spain, you need a green card valid for Morocco, and the authorities record the vehicle on entry: the FCDO warns you can be detained if you try to leave without the same vehicle. Ferry details are in [Tarifa to Tangier](https://clevertourists.com/resources/tarifa-to-tangier-ferry-day-trip-guide).

Rental companies often require a year or more of driving experience and set their own minimum age, so check before booking.

## Speed limits, radars and police checkpoints

The general limits are **60 km/h in towns** (40 km/h in some zones), **100 km/h outside towns** (80 km/h on some national roads) and **120 km/h on motorways**. Limits drop quickly through villages, often from 100 to 60 to 40 km/h within a few hundred metres, and that is where most tourists get stopped.

Enforcement is heavy. Police with handheld radars sit at town entrances and roundabouts, and the road safety agency NARSA added new automatic radars in 2025; Hespress reported hundreds of thousands of violations recorded within the first summer. Fines are issued on the spot. Ask for the official receipt.

Checkpoints at town entrances are normal: slow right down, make eye contact, and stop only if waved over. **Alcohol:** the FCDO says any alcohol found in your system can mean a fine and possible imprisonment. Treat the limit as zero.

## Motorways and tolls

Morocco's motorways are run by **ADM (Autoroutes du Maroc)** and are tolled. The network links Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca, Fes, Marrakech, Agadir and El Jadida, and it is the fastest and safest way between the big cities. You take a ticket on entry and pay on exit; carry dirhams, because card acceptance at toll lanes is not something to rely on. The **Jawaz** electronic pass is for residents and frequent users.

Toll rates were revised in 2025 and published figures online conflict, so we do not quote route prices here: check the current tariff on ADM's site before you go. Motorway service areas have fuel, food and toilets.

The FCDO warns about overloaded lorries and trucks overtaking where there is no hard shoulder, and about pedestrians and animals crossing even on main roads. Avoid driving after dark: lighting is poor and carts and bikes often have no lights.

## The Atlas and the south: Tizi n'Tichka, Ouarzazate and the Draa valley

The **N9 from Marrakech to Ouarzazate** crosses the High Atlas at the **Tizi n'Tichka pass, about 2,260 m**. It is paved and widened in many sections, but it is long, winding, and shared with tour minibuses and trucks. Allow about 4 to 5 hours with stops. In winter, snow can close it for short periods; check conditions before setting off.

**Ouarzazate to Zagora** (N9 again, through the Draa valley) is a straightforward paved road through palm groves and kasbah villages. Tamegroute, with its pottery workshops and old Quranic library, is just south of Zagora. Our route ran Marrakech to Ouarzazate, over the Atlas to Zagora and Tamegroute, then out to **Erg Chigaga**, and back to Ouarzazate and Marrakech.

The road ends at **M'Hamid**. Erg Chigaga is reached by off-road piste, so **do not try it in a rental car**: camps arrange 4x4 transfers from M'Hamid. Merzouga, by contrast, has a paved road to the dunes. Our [Erg Chigaga vs Merzouga](https://clevertourists.com/resources/erg-chigaga-vs-merzouga-sahara-desert-trip-from-marrakech-guide) comparison covers which suits a self-drive.

## Cities, medinas and parking

**Do not drive into the medinas** of Fes, Marrakech or Chefchaouen. Most lanes are pedestrian-only or too narrow for cars. Park at a guarded lot at the medina edge and walk or pay a porter. Car park attendants in fluorescent vests (gardiens) watch street parking for a small tip in dirhams; agree before leaving the car.

Casablanca and Marrakech traffic is dense and chaotic, with scooters on every side. Roundabout priority is not always what Europeans expect, so slow down and watch. On our route, the cities were easier without a car. Many travellers rent a car only for the Atlas and desert stretch, pick up in Marrakech, and use trains between Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca and Marrakech plus CTM buses or grand taxis for Fes and Chefchaouen (see [Fes to Chefchaouen](https://clevertourists.com/resources/fes-to-chefchaouen-ctm-bus-grand-taxi-guide)).

If you would rather not drive at all, a private driver for the Marrakech to desert loop is common and costs less than many expect. Our [Morocco driver tipping guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/morocco-private-tour-driver-tipping-guide-cash-etiquette) covers the etiquette, and the [Morocco itinerary](https://clevertourists.com/resources/morocco-itinerary-our-24-day-route-tangier-to-the-sahara) shows how the stops fit together.

## Accidents, fuel and emergency numbers

After an accident, both drivers fill in a **constat amiable** (joint accident report), which the FCDO notes is sold at insurance booths at Tangier port and at tobacconists. Keep a blank one in the glovebox. If someone is hurt, call the police on **19** in towns or the **Gendarmerie Royale on 177** outside them; ambulance is **15**.

Fuel stations are plentiful on motorways and main roads, but fill up in Ouarzazate and Zagora before heading further south. Carry cash: many stations take cards, rural ones may not. Our [dirham and ATM guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/morocco-dirham-closed-currency-exchange-atm-guide) explains why you cannot get dirhams before you arrive.

Ramadan changes driving too: roads get busy and impatient in the hour before sunset. See [visiting Morocco during Ramadan 2027](https://clevertourists.com/resources/visiting-morocco-during-ramadan-2027-guide).

## Frequently asked questions

### Do I need an International Driving Permit to drive in Morocco?

Yes, carry one. The UK FCDO says UK drivers need both their licence and an IDP, and that the 1949 IDP is not accepted. US drivers should get an IDP from AAA.

### What are the speed limits in Morocco?

60 km/h in towns (40 km/h in some zones), 100 km/h outside towns (80 km/h on some national roads) and 120 km/h on motorways. Limits drop quickly through villages, and police and radars enforce them closely.

### Can I drive a rental car to the Sahara in Morocco?

To Merzouga, yes, on a paved road. Erg Chigaga is reached by off-road piste from M'Hamid, so use the camp's 4x4 transfer instead of a rental car.

### Is it safe to drive in Morocco?

On motorways and main roads by day it is manageable. Avoid driving after dark, never drive into medinas, and take care with trucks, scooters, pedestrians and animals.

### Are Moroccan motorways tolled?

Yes. ADM runs the motorways; you take a ticket on entry and pay on exit. Carry dirhams and check current rates on ADM's site, since rates were revised in 2025.