Rules for overlanding in Morocco
Our summary of the country advice published by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Viaggiare Sicuri) on 19 April 2026.
Which licence you need
- All vehicles — An Italian licence is valid for up to 12 months, and International Driving Permits are recognised when carried together with a national licence. Check what applies to the licence you hold.
An International Driving Permit states the categories it covers: check yours covers what you will actually drive. A car licence does not cover a motorcycle, and a heavy camper or a truck can need a higher category.
At the wheel
- Driving someone else's vehicle — You need a letter of authority from the owner, with the signature notarised.
- Insurance — Third-party liability cover is compulsory. Carry a Green Card or buy temporary cover at the border.
- Alcohol — Zero tolerance: the legal limit is 0%. Police can require a breath test and, if positive, a blood test.
- Helmets and seatbelts — Helmets are compulsory on motorcycles and mopeds. Seatbelts are compulsory front and rear, and children under 10 cannot travel in the front seats.
- Equipment on board — Privately owned vehicles brought in temporarily are exempt from carrying a warning triangle, first-aid kit and fire extinguisher.
- Fines and vehicle seizure — Police normally issue fines on the spot, and can seize a vehicle driven without a valid licence or without insurance.
- Fuel — Unleaded and good-quality diesel are widely available, but stations thin out in the south — fill up whenever you get the chance. Cards are accepted at some chains (Afriquia, Somepi, Total, Esso).
- Roads — Roads are generally in good condition and the motorway network runs about 1,480 km, with tolls. The accident and fatality rate outside urban areas is high, so drive defensively. Motorway assistance: 5050, 24/7.
What catches travellers out
- Drugs — Buying or using drugs is prohibited and the law is applied harshly, including for small quantities of hashish for personal use. It is not rare for the seller to report the buyer to the police. Europeans are jailed for this every year.
- Taking currency out — Dirhams cannot be taken out of Morocco. At the end of your stay you can only convert back dirhams you bought earlier, on production of the receipts.
Before you rely on this
This is our summary of advice written by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Italian travellers, published on 19 April 2026. We summarise in good faith, but we cannot guarantee it is accurate, current or complete, and we take no responsibility for decisions made on the basis of it. Rules change without notice and are applied by officials at the border, not by websites. Always read the original source and the travel advice your own government publishes for Morocco before you travel. GuideMeet has no way of checking whether an individual guide meets any standard mentioned here — ask them directly.
Source: Viaggiare Sicuri — Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, updated 19 April 2026. Last checked by GuideMeet on 2026-09-20.