Petrol or Diesel in Morocco: Which Fuel Should You Pick for Your Rental Car?

Petrol or diesel: on a rental in Morocco, the choice matters less to your budget than it did a few years ago, because both fuels now sell at almost the same price. What decides it is the route: mountain passes and long days in the south, or a few days in town and along the coast. Here is what actually makes the difference.

Photo: Mike Peel — CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Published on 14 January 2026

Fuel prices in Morocco: what you need to know
Why diesel remains at ease on long road trips
What the figures from our fleet actually say
When is a petrol engine the smarter choice?
At the service station: how it works

Fuel prices in Morocco: what you need to know

The Moroccan state no longer sets fuel prices. Distributors revise them twice a month in line with world markets, and they vary between brands, stations and cities.

The old gap in favour of diesel has all but gone. In mid-September 2026, the Moroccan press reported diesel at about 15.30 dirhams a litre and petrol at about 15.20 dirhams in Casablanca. Those figures will have moved by the time you read this, so the only price that counts is the one on the pump on the day you fill up.

Why diesel remains at ease on long road trips

On a route over the Atlas passes, from Fez to Merzouga or down to the Atlantic south, diesel still earns its place. It pulls well at low revs, so on a long climb with four adults and their bags you change gear less often.

For a car of the same size, a diesel usually burns less fuel than a petrol engine on the open road, which buys you range in the south, where filling stations thin out. Treat the official consumption figure as a rough guide: the model, the load and the terrain all shift it.

What the figures from our fleet actually say

On our catalogue, an average petrol price set against an average diesel price tells you very little. Most of the diesels are SUVs and family estates, which cost more to rent whatever the engine, while the petrol side includes plenty of small city cars. Comparing the two averages is like comparing a Clio with a Duster.

To compare fairly, take two cars from the same category for the same dates. In the Loccor search, the fuel filter sorts the offer, and each listing shows the car's fuel type and its price for your dates.

When is a petrol engine the smarter choice?

A weekend in Marrakech, a few working days in Casablanca, some coastal drives around Agadir: you will cover a few hundred kilometres at most. For that kind of stay, a petrol city car is nearly always the right call.

With so little driving, the difference at the pump hardly shows. What matters is the rental price, a car that fits a tight space in Guéliz or Maârif, and an engine that stays quiet in traffic.

At the service station: how it works

In Morocco you don't fill up yourself: an attendant does it. Say clearly “gasoil” for diesel or “essence” for petrol, and watch the pump meter go back to zero before he starts.

People usually leave the attendant a few dirhams, especially if he has cleaned the windscreen or checked the tyres. Carry cash in dirhams: at small stations in the provinces, the card terminal does not always take foreign cards, if there is one at all.

Frequently asked questions

How do I ask for diesel at a Moroccan service station?

Say “gasoil”: everyone understands it, in French and in Darija. For unleaded petrol, “essence” is enough.

What should I do if I put the wrong fuel in?

Don't start the engine, or the wrong fuel will reach the injection system. Have the car pushed away from the pumps and call the agency that rented it to you. The agency arranges the recovery and the draining of the tank.

Which fuel is cheapest in Morocco?

Neither, or very nearly: in mid-September 2026, diesel and petrol were about ten centimes apart in Casablanca. Prices are free and change from one station and city to the next, so go by the pump display on the day.

How do I know which fuel my rental car takes?

The vehicle listing shows it when you book. You will also find it on the fuel flap and in the agency's contract. If in any doubt, ask the agent when you collect the car.

Sources

Conseil de la concurrence — conseil-concurrence.ma

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Written by the Loccor editorial team, the platform connecting travellers with car rental agencies in Morocco.

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