Renting a Car at a Moroccan Airport: Process, Pitfalls and Practical Tips
A great many holidays and family visits to Morocco begin on the runway of an international airport: Mohammed V in Casablanca, Menara in Marrakech, Ibn Battouta in Tangier or Al Massira in Agadir. Taking the keys the moment you land gives you complete freedom, but a few simple habits will spare you an endless queue and charges you never saw coming.
Contents
Desk inside the terminal, or a personal hand-over in the car park?
Delayed flights and late arrivals: the one precaution that matters
Leaving the car park, small change and the first few kilometres
Planning the return on your departure day
Desk inside the terminal, or a personal hand-over in the car park?
Moroccan airports run two delivery models side by side. The big international franchises keep desks in the arrivals hall. The classic pitfall there is sheer volume: when several European flights land back to back, the queue can easily run past an hour.
The independent agencies listed on Loccor mostly favour a personal hand-over. An agent waits for you at the exit of the baggage area holding a sign with your name, or arranges to meet you in the official car park opposite the terminal. The car is already prepared and parked: you walk round it for the condition report, sign the contract and drive off within minutes.
Delayed flights and late arrivals: the one precaution that matters
Flight delays are common, especially at the height of the summer season. When you book on Loccor, always enter your flight number exactly.
That detail lets the agency track how your flight is actually running. Even if your plane touches down two hours late in the middle of the night, the agent will know and will keep your car available. If you arrive outside the agency's opening hours, a 250 dirham night pick-up surcharge applies: it pays for the agent staying on duty, and it is stated when you book, never sprung on you at the counter.
Leaving the car park, small change and the first few kilometres
When the keys change hands, check with the agent that the airport car park ticket is covered by the agency, so you are not the one paying at the barrier for the hours the car spent waiting.
Before you leave the terminal grounds, stop at a cash machine in the arrivals hall. The motorways into the city centres have toll plazas whose manual booths do not always take foreign bank cards. Carrying 100 to 200 dirhams in small notes and coins will keep you out of trouble.
Planning the return on your departure day
On the day of your return flight, plan to reach the airport at least two and a half to three hours before take-off.
Handing the car back takes only ten minutes or so (a walk around the vehicle, a look at the fuel gauge and the release of the deposit hold), but security screening and border police formalities can be heavy. Agree the exact meeting point with the agency the day before, either in the car park or at departures, so the hand-back runs smoothly.
Frequently asked questions
Is airport delivery charged for?
It depends on the agency. Any airport delivery fee appears on the vehicle listing before payment, so you know it before you book, just like the deposit and the options.
Where can I refuel before returning the car to the airport?
Every major Moroccan airport has petrol stations a few kilometres away on the direct access roads. Fill up there just before heading to the terminal.
What happens if my flight lands in the middle of the night?
Enter your flight number when you book: the agency follows the real arrival time and keeps the car for you. Picking it up outside opening hours adds a 250 dirham night surcharge, stated at the time of booking.
Can I return the car to a different airport from the one I collected it at?
It is possible if the agency has a branch in the destination city or offers one-way rentals. This option usually carries a repatriation surcharge, shown on the vehicle listing.
Further reading
rent a car at Casablanca Mohammed V airport
rent a car at Marrakech Menara airport
rent a car at Tangier Ibn Battouta airport
read the complete guide to renting a car in Morocco
Written by the Loccor editorial team, the platform connecting travellers with car rental agencies in Morocco.