Contents
In short
To rent a car in Morocco with Choumacars, you need a driving licence held for at least 2 years, your passport or national ID, and to be at least 22. Visitors with a UK licence must also carry the 1968 International Driving Permit, according to GOV.UK. Bring the original documents to the handover.
Most problems at a car handover come from a single missing document. We are Choumacars, a car rental agency in Marrakech open 24/7, and we hand over cars every day at Menara airport, at hotels and riads, and at our office. This guide explains the driving licence and documents to rent a car in Morocco, the rules for foreign licences, the International Driving Permit, what to keep in the car during police checks, and how a second driver is added.
What documents do you need to rent a car in Morocco?
You need three things to rent a car in Morocco with Choumacars: a valid driving licence held for at least 2 years, a passport or national ID, and a minimum age of 22. These conditions are the same for every car in our fleet, from the Hyundai Grand i10 to the Range Rover Sport.
- Your driving licence, valid for the whole rental and held for at least 2 years on the day you collect the car.
- Your passport or national ID, to confirm your identity. Foreign visitors usually show their passport; Moroccan residents can show their national ID.
- Proof of age: every driver must be at least 22 years old. Your passport or ID covers this.
- An International Driving Permit, only if your licence requires one (see below). UK licence holders need the 1968 version.
There is no young driver supplement at Choumacars: once you meet the conditions of age 22 and 2 years of licence, the rental is the same for every driver.
| Document | Who needs it | Original required? | When it is checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driving licence held for at least 2 years | Every driver | Yes | Handover and police checks |
| Passport or national ID | Every driver | Yes | Handover and police checks |
| Minimum age of 22 | Every driver | Shown on passport or ID | Handover |
| 1968 International Driving Permit | UK licence holders; others according to their government | Yes | Police checks, with your licence |
| Car papers and rental documents | Kept in the car | Provided by Choumacars | Police checks |
What is the short answer for travellers?
The driving licence and documents to rent a car in Morocco are a licence that is valid on the day you collect the car and that you have held for at least two years, together with an identity document: a passport for foreign visitors or a national ID for residents. The main driver must be at least 22, and so must any second driver. Some licences also need an International Driving Permit: the UK government states that British drivers need the 1968 version of the IDP in addition to their UK licence, and that Morocco no longer accepts the 1949 version. Drivers from other countries should read the travel advice published by their own government before leaving. At Choumacars, you choose your dates, then your car, add your name and phone number, and confirm on WhatsApp. On the day, we check your licence and identity document in person, walk around the car with you and hand over the keys at the airport, at your hotel or at our office.
Can you drive in Morocco with a foreign licence?
Yes, visitors can drive in Morocco with their national licence, as long as it is valid and they carry any additional permit their own government requires. For stays longer than one year, GOV.UK notes that a Moroccan driving licence is needed.
The rules depend on the country that issued your licence, and they can change. Here is what official sources say today for the most common nationalities among our guests.
- United Kingdom: the GOV.UK travel advice for Morocco says you need both the 1968 International Driving Permit and your UK licence in the car, that the 1949 version is no longer accepted, and that an IDP cannot be bought outside the UK.
- United States: the CIA World Factbook travel facts list an International Driving Permit as suggested for Morocco. In the US, IDPs are issued by AAA and AATA.
- Canada, Australia and other countries: read your government’s travel advice for Morocco a few weeks before departure, as rules and recommendations differ.
- Licences not written in the Latin alphabet: an International Driving Permit is the safest way to make your licence readable at a police check.
Do you need an International Driving Permit for Morocco?
You need an International Driving Permit for Morocco if your government’s advice requires it, which is the case for UK licence holders, who must carry the 1968 version. For other nationalities, it is often recommended rather than required, and it never replaces your licence.
An International Driving Permit is a translation of your licence in a standard format recognised abroad. You always carry it together with your original licence. Get it in your home country before you travel: GOV.UK states that UK drivers cannot buy one outside the UK, and American travellers obtain theirs from AAA or AATA. Bring it to the handover with your licence, and keep both in the car for the whole rental.
How does the handover work, step by step?
The handover at Choumacars takes about 15 to 20 minutes and always includes a document check and a walk around the car with you. Here is how the process works, from booking to driving away, with times given as estimates.
- Book online (5 minutes). Choose your pick-up and return dates, then your car, add your full name and phone number, and confirm on WhatsApp.
- Confirmation on WhatsApp (shortly after). We confirm availability and the meeting point: Menara airport, your hotel or riad, or our office.
- Before travelling. Check that your licence is valid for the whole rental and that you have your passport or national ID, plus an IDP if needed.
- Meeting (at the agreed time). A member of our team meets you with the car, 24/7, including for night flights.
- Document check (about 5 minutes). We check the licence and identity document of every driver.
- Walk around the car (about 5 to 10 minutes). We note the condition of the car with you and explain the controls.
- Keys and papers. We give you the keys, the car’s papers and our phone number for any question during the trip.
For the airport meeting in detail, see our page on car rental at Marrakech airport.
Can a second driver be added?
Yes, a second driver can be added to your Choumacars rental, on exactly the same conditions as the main driver: at least 22 years old, a licence held for at least 2 years and a valid passport or national ID.
Tell us when you book that a second person will drive, and bring the second driver’s documents to the handover so we can check them in person. Sharing the wheel is useful for long trips such as Marrakech to Agadir or a road trip through the Atlas. Never let someone drive the car who has not been registered at the handover.
What should you carry in the car while driving in Morocco?
Keep your driving licence, your passport or national ID, any International Driving Permit and the car’s papers in the car at all times, because police and Gendarmerie checks are common on Moroccan roads. GOV.UK gives the same advice: always carry your insurance, licence and registration documents when driving.
- Your licence and, if you need one, your International Driving Permit.
- Your passport or national ID. A photocopy is not enough for checks.
- The car’s papers and rental documents we give you at the handover. Insurance is included in every Choumacars rental, and its documents stay with the car.
- Our phone number, saved in your phone, in case an officer or a situation needs a call to the agency.
Checks usually take place at the entrance of towns, on the roads to the Atlas and on the main roads to the coast. Slow down when you see officers, stop if you are signalled, stay calm and polite, and hand over the documents requested. For more on local traffic habits, read our guide on driving in Marrakech.
Which car should you choose once your documents are ready?
Your documents are the same whatever the car, so the choice depends on your trip. A compact automatic such as the Renault Clio 5 suits city driving and short trips, while an SUV such as the Hyundai Tucson gives space for families and mountain roads.
What are the local tips for your documents?
Our main local tip is to keep all your driving documents together in one pouch that never leaves the car while you drive, and to take it with you when you park. Here is what our team tells guests.
- Check the expiry date of your licence before booking. It must be valid until the last day of the rental.
- Bring your physical licence, even if your country issues a digital version.
- Keep a photo of each document on your phone as a backup, while carrying the originals.
- Get your IDP early, as it cannot be obtained once you are in Morocco.
- Use the same name in your booking as on your licence and passport.
Which mistakes should you avoid?
The most common mistake is arriving with only a photo or a photocopy of the licence, which we cannot accept. The others are just as easy to avoid.
- Forgetting the IDP when your licence requires one, especially with a UK licence.
- Bringing an expired licence or one that expires during the rental.
- Having held the licence for less than 2 years. Check the issue date on your licence.
- Letting an unregistered person drive. Every driver must be checked at the handover.
- Leaving documents in the hotel when you go out for the day by car.
Is a car right for your stay at all? Read our guide is it worth renting a car in Marrakech.
Frequently asked questions
What documents do I need to rent a car in Morocco?
With Choumacars you need a driving licence held for at least 2 years, a passport or national ID, and to be at least 22 years old. UK licence holders must also carry the 1968 International Driving Permit, according to GOV.UK. Bring the original documents to the handover.
Can I rent a car in Morocco with a licence held for less than 2 years?
Not with Choumacars. Every driver must have held a full licence for at least 2 years and be at least 22 years old. If someone in your group does not meet both conditions, the car must be driven by a person who does.
Is there a young driver supplement?
No. Choumacars has no young driver supplement. The conditions are simply a minimum age of 22 and a licence held for at least 2 years, the same for every driver and every car.
Do I need an International Driving Permit with a UK licence?
Yes. GOV.UK states that UK drivers need the 1968 International Driving Permit together with their UK licence in Morocco, that the 1949 version is no longer accepted, and that the IDP cannot be bought outside the UK. Get it before you fly.
Do American drivers need an International Driving Permit in Morocco?
The CIA World Factbook lists an International Driving Permit as suggested for Morocco. It is a sensible precaution for police checks. In the United States, IDPs are issued by AAA and AATA. Always carry it together with your US licence.
Is a photo of my licence on my phone enough?
No. Bring your original driving licence and your original passport or national ID. We check them in person at the handover, and officers on the road also ask for the originals. A photo is useful only before booking, if you want us to check your licence.
Can I add a second driver?
Yes. A second driver can be added on the same conditions as the main driver: at least 22 years old, a licence held for at least 2 years and a passport or national ID. Tell us when you book and bring the second driver’s documents to the handover.
What happens if I forget a document?
Without a valid licence and identity document, we cannot hand over the car, because the checks protect you as much as us. If you notice a missing document before your trip, contact Choumacars on WhatsApp straight away and we will look at the options with you.
Ready to book with your documents in hand?
Booking takes a few minutes: choose your dates, pick a car in our fleet, add your name and phone number, then confirm on WhatsApp. For an overview of our service, see our page on car rental in Marrakech. With the right driving licence and documents to rent a car in Morocco, the handover takes only a few minutes.
