Car rental in Casablanca

Drive defensively in town. The UK government notes that taxi drivers sometimes speed and ignore other driving rules, particularly in big cities, so keep your distance and expect sudden manoeuvres. At roundabouts, priority to the right applies unless signs say otherwise, so check the signs at each one.

France's foreign ministry calls the Rabat–Casablanca motorway the busiest in the country and advises care on it, especially between the Casa-Aïn Sebaâ and Casa-Anfa exits, which are overloaded because they serve as a bypass. The same ministry lists the national roads from Casablanca to Marrakech and to El Jadida among the most dangerous, and advises against driving at night.

Casablanca has metered on-street parking in parts of the city. In early 2025 the city announced plans to extend it, starting with the Aïn Diab corniche, the city centre and main roads in outer districts, according to Le360. Parking attendants also work in the streets. Follow the signs and pay machines where you park, and don't park where the roadside has red and white stripes. For overnight parking, ask your hotel about a car park.

Expect the rental company to block a security deposit on a credit card in the main driver's name when you collect the car. Hertz Morocco, for example, takes the deposit only on a valid credit card in the driver's name and does not accept cash or cheques. Its terms set the deposit equal to the excess, which is the share of any damage you would pay yourself. Because the deposit follows the excess, it changes with the cover you choose, so check the amount in the rental terms before you pay.

Hertz Morocco says the amount stays blocked for the rental period and is released automatically when you return the car. Under its terms you pay for missing fuel and for damage up to the excess, and you are liable for fines and penalties linked to your use of the car. Buying the rental company's excess reduction lowers what you would pay after damage, so check on your voucher what it covers. Make sure your card limit covers the deposit plus your travel spending.

Visitors may drive in Morocco on a valid foreign licence for up to one year from the start of their stay, according to France's foreign ministry, which strongly encourages an International Driving Permit. The permit is an official translation of your licence and must always be carried with the original. The UK government says UK drivers need the 1968 version of the permit along with their licence, because Morocco no longer accepts the 1949 version. Rental terms differ too: Hertz Morocco's general terms ask non-EU citizens for an international licence. Each company also sets its own minimum age. Hertz Morocco, for example, requires age 21 and one year with a licence, or age 23 and two years for some categories.

Traffic drives on the right, and road signs are in Arabic and French. According to ADAC, the German automobile club, the speed limit for cars is 40 km/h in built-up areas (up to 60 km/h where signed), 100 km/h outside them and 120 km/h on motorways. The posted signs always apply. Morocco's road safety agency NARSA reminds drivers that everyone in the car, front and rear, must wear a seat belt and that children under 10 must sit in the back. Phone calls while driving are allowed only with a hands-free system. The alcohol limit is zero, and the UK government warns that any alcohol found in a test leads to a fine and possible imprisonment.

Motorways run by Autoroutes du Maroc (ADM) charge tolls. You can pay in the toll lanes in cash or by bank card, or use a Jawaz electronic pass in the lanes marked with the Jawaz sign. Driving or stopping on the hard shoulder is strictly forbidden except in an extreme emergency. Red and white stripes at the roadside mean no parking. Approach police and military checkpoints slowly, and stop or drive on only when signalled. Carry your licence, insurance papers and the car's registration documents at all times.

After an accident with injuries, always call the police. For a medical emergency, call 141, Morocco's national toll-free number. Minor damage can be settled with a joint accident report (constat amiable), but don't sign a report you can't read. Tell the rental company quickly, because its terms may set a deadline: Hertz Morocco's ask for the report within 24 hours. Rules can change, so check the rental terms before booking.

Morocco's official tourism site suggests visiting Casablanca from April to June and from September to October, when the weather is mild. Winter can be rainy. In summer many Moroccans living abroad come home: in 2026, Opération Marhaba ran from 10 June to 15 September, and Casablanca airport was one of its reception points. Book well ahead for July and August.

Motorway traffic also peaks around Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, whose dates move each year. Autoroutes du Maroc warns of heavy traffic at these times and advises planning ahead and checking its ADM Trafic app. If you need an automatic car, book early, because most cars in Morocco are manual.