Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla.
Parts Moroccan mechanics are generally good and decent-sized towns should have at least
one garage, most with a range of spare parts for Renaults and other French cars. If you can fit
replacement parts yourself, ask a Moroccan friend to help you buy the parts, as this may help
to keep the price closer to local levels.
Hire
Age Most Moroccan car-rental companies require drivers to be at least 21 (or 23 in a few
cases).
Costs Renting a car in Morocco isn’t cheap, and may not make financial sense for individuals or
couples with standard itineraries. A three- or five-door economy model, typically a Dacia Logan,
costs about Dh300 per day for a week or so with unlimited mileage. For longer rentals of three
weeks or more, lower daily rates around Dh250 are sometimes available. Pre-booking a car
online before leaving home will enable you to find the cheapest deals. You can sometimes get
reasonable prices through the agent or airline you book your flight with.
Deposit Most companies demand a (returnable) cash deposit (Dh3000 to Dh5000) unless you
have a credit card, in which case an impression is made of your card (make sure you get this
back later).
Operators With international firms such as Hertz (www.hertz.com) , Budget (www.budget.ma,
in French) , Europcar (www.europcar.com) , National (www.nationalcar.com) and Avis
(www.avis.ma) , you can book online before leaving home. There are also numerous local
agencies, many with neighbouring booths at airports – good places to haggle. The best cities to
hire cars are Agadir, Casablanca, Fez, Marrakesh and Tangier, where competition is greatest.
Potential pitfalls No matter where you hire your car, make sure you understand what is
included in the price and what your liabilities are. Some travellers using smaller, less-reputable
firms have been stung after paying by credit card, realising they’ve been charged 10 times the
agreed fee after returning home. Always check the car’s condition before signing up, and make
sure it comes with a spare tyre, tool kit and full documentation – including insurance cover.
Keep the car’s documents and your licence in your room at night, rather than in the car, as you
will need to produce them if the car is stolen or damaged. Hold onto receipts for oil changes
and any mechanical repairs, as these costs should be reimbursed.
Insurance and tax Insurance must, by law, be sold along with all rental agreements. When
bargaining, make sure that prices include collision damage, insurance and tax (20%). You
should also take out Collision Damage Waiver insurance, typically about Dh35 to Dh60 a day.
Even with this, there is often an excess of up to Dh5000, meaning that if you have an accident
that’s your fault, you are liable to pay damages up to this amount. Super Collision Damage
Waiver, which eliminates or minimises the excess, may be available for an extra Dh60 or so a
day. It’s also a good idea to take out personal insurance (around Dh30 a day), although your
travel insurance may cover this.
Piste Unless you hire a 4WD, your rental agreement will probably not allow off-road (piste)
driving. If you damage the car or break down on a piste you will not be covered for damages. It
might be worthwhile to OK your route with the rental company before setting off.
Service International agencies do not necessarily offer better vehicles than local companies,
but usually provide better service in the event of a breakdown or accident, as they have
networks of offices around the country. Often a replacement car can be sent out to you from
the nearest depot. If you plan to stay in a particular region, a cheaper local company may have