Every summer, hundreds of thousands of MREs enter Morocco with their European-registered cars. The regulations are precise and fines for non-compliance are heavy. This guide covers all the obligations: temporary admission (AT) which authorises your foreign vehicle to circulate in Morocco, mandatory international insurance, the Moroccan vignette, tolls and specific driving rules. Main source: Moroccan Customs (ADII) and General Directorate of Taxes (DGI).
Costs & fees
| Temporary Admission (AT) | Free | No charge for AT registration at the border |
| Fine for AT overstay (minor) | 1,000 to 5,000 MAD | Depending on length of overstay and vehicle value |
| Fine for AT overstay (serious, seizure possible) | Up to 20,000 MAD | Import duties also due if vehicle is seized (17.5% to 40% of vehicle value) |
| Morocco insurance extension (if not covered) | EUR 50 to 150 | To be arranged with your European insurer or at the border |
| Casablanca-Rabat toll (A1) | 23 MAD | Private car rate, payable in MAD or by bank card |
| Casablanca-Marrakech toll | 92 MAD | Private car rate (approximately 240 km) |
Timeline
Understanding Temporary Admission (AT) for your vehicle
Temporary Admission is the customs regime that authorises a foreign-registered vehicle to circulate temporarily in Morocco without paying import duties. For MREs, the maximum duration is 180 days per calendar year (January 1 to December 31). This is not 180 consecutive days: it is the cumulative presence of the vehicle on Moroccan territory. At the border, the customs officer records your vehicle on the D16ter form (both the officer and driver keep a copy). Keep this document throughout your stay.
💡 Tip — The D16ter form is available on douane.gov.ma and at all border crossings. Fill it in in advance to save time at the border.
⚠️ Warning — Exceeding the 180-day AT limit carries a fine of 1,000 to 20,000 MAD. If the vehicle is found on Moroccan territory after expiry, it may be seized and you will have to pay import duties (17.5% to 40% of the vehicle's value).
Checking and preparing your international insurance
Morocco is a member of the international Green Card insurance system (Bureau Central Marocain, member of IMIC). Your European car insurance automatically covers Morocco if your country is in the IMIC zone and your policy includes international cover. Check your Green Card: Morocco must be listed in the covered countries (or the mention 'uncrossed countries' must appear). If your insurance does not cover Morocco, purchase a territorial extension before departure or buy border insurance on arrival.
💡 Tip — Contact your insurer 2 to 3 weeks before departure to check coverage and obtain the Green Card in paper format. Some insurers require prior declaration for stays of more than 30 days.
⚠️ Warning — Foreign vehicles registered in a European country do not pay the Moroccan TSAV (Special Annual Vehicle Tax). Do not be misled by incorrect information on this point.
The Moroccan vignette for foreign vehicles
The vignette (vehicle tax) is legally not required for foreign vehicles under AT (it is required for Moroccan-registered vehicles). However, some checkpoints may ask for it. In practice, the vast majority of MREs drive without a Moroccan vignette without any problem.
💡 Tip — To avoid any risk, you can purchase a temporary vignette from Moroccan tax administration offices or approved sales points (petrol stations, travel agencies).
⚠️ Warning — Do not confuse the vignette (vehicle tax) with insurance or technical inspection. These are three separate obligations. Only insurance is mandatory under AT.
Using Moroccan motorways and paying tolls
The Moroccan motorway network is managed by ADM (Autoroutes du Maroc). Toll payments are made in dirhams (MAD), cash or bank card (Visa/Mastercard accepted since 2023). Sample prices for a private car: Casablanca-Rabat (60 km): 23 MAD. Casablanca-Marrakech (240 km): 92 MAD. Rabat-Tanger (195 km): 88 MAD. There is no electronic toll badge usable by foreign vehicles. Always have dirhams in cash for tolls.
💡 Tip — The ADM Autoroutes app and adm.ma website give toll details by route. Calculation is by vehicle category (car, motorhome, motorcycle, etc.).
⚠️ Warning — Speed limits in Morocco: 120 km/h on motorways, 100 km/h on dual-carriageway national roads, 80 km/h on two-lane national roads, 60 km/h in built-up areas unless otherwise indicated. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.20 g/L (near-zero tolerance for drivers).
What to do in case of problems: accident, breakdown, AT extension
In case of accident: call 177 (gendarmerie) or 190 (police). Stay at the scene, do not move vehicles, exchange information with the other driver (Moroccan constat amiable). Contact your insurer within 24 hours. If your vehicle must remain in Morocco beyond 180 AT days due to a documented accident or breakdown, customs can grant an extension with supporting evidence (gendarmerie report, garage certificate). Apply to the nearest customs office. In case of theft: file a police report immediately and inform customs within 48 hours to avoid being prosecuted for AT violation.
💡 Tip — Photograph the D16ter form and keep it on your phone. If you lose the paper document, you can recover it from the customs office in the nearest city.
⚠️ Warning — If you leave Morocco without your vehicle (e.g. for medical reasons), you must file a declaration with customs and have the vehicle placed in official custody. Leaving an AT vehicle without declaration exposes you to a fine and seizure.
In depth
## Technical details on Temporary Admission AT for vehicles is governed by the Moroccan Customs and Indirect Taxes Code and Circular No. 6568/311 of May 30, 2024, which set the annual cumulative limit at 180 days for MREs. **Calculating the 180 days:** This is the total of all nights spent in Morocco with the vehicle between January 1 and December 31. Example: 60 days in July-August + 30 days in December = 90 cumulative days. 90 days remain available for the rest of the calendar year. **Power of attorney for AT:** An MRE can bring their AT vehicle into Morocco via a notarised power of attorney given to a third party (family member, friend). This power of attorney does not need to be legalised by the consulate for customs use. It must clearly mention the vehicle (make, model, registration) and the authorised person. **Common Moroccan traffic violations:** - Mobile phone while driving: 700 MAD fine + possible licence withdrawal - Not wearing seatbelt: 400 MAD fine - Running a red light: 700 MAD fine - Speeding: from 700 MAD to licence suspension/withdrawal depending on excess - Drink driving (>0.20 g/L): immediate licence withdrawal + fine + possible imprisonment **Technical inspection:** Foreign vehicles under AT are not subject to Moroccan technical inspection. Your European technical inspection currently in force is sufficient. **Green insurance sticker:** Different from the tax vignette, the green insurance sticker is displayed on the windscreen. If your European insurance covers Morocco via Green Card/IMIC, you do not need to take out additional local insurance.
❌ Common mistakes to avoid
- ✕Believing the 180-day AT limit resets with each exit and re-entry: days accumulate over the calendar year
- ✕Forgetting to check that Morocco is covered by your European car insurance before departure
- ✕Losing the D16ter form without keeping a copy: difficult to recover if far from a customs office
- ✕Thinking foreign vehicles must pay the Moroccan TSAV: this tax does not apply to AT vehicles
- ✕Driving in Morocco at 0.5 g/L blood alcohol as in France: the legal limit in Morocco is 0.20 g/L
🔗 Official links and resources
ADII — D16ter form (Vehicle Temporary Admission)
Official AT vehicle form to download, complete and present at the Moroccan border
ADM — Motorway toll rates
Official toll rates by route and vehicle category on the Moroccan motorway network
Bureau Central Marocain — Green Card insurance
Moroccan Central Insurance Bureau: verify your Green Card coverage validity
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