Car rental in Marrakech

Marrakech beckons with bright colors, spice aromas and the atmosphere of an Eastern fairy tale. To see more than standard sightseeing routes offer, rent a car in Marrakech.

By car, you can easily reach the cool Ouzoud waterfalls, Berber villages in the Atlas foothills or palm groves in the Ourika Valley — all these points are within an hour's drive from the city. Turn off along the way to the clay fortresses of Ait Ben Haddou or stop at a viewpoint overlooking snow-capped peaks. After all, you won't have to overpay for taxis or follow a tour group.

Where to rent a car in Marrakech

Car rental in Morocco is a popular service among tourists, so many rental companies operate in Marrakech. However, their conditions, prices and car conditions vary greatly. Plus, during high season or weekends, there may be no available cars in the office.

To avoid wasting time searching on site, book a car in advance through the trusted Localrent platform. Here you'll find local rental companies with real reviews, and you can compare prices and choose a suitable option: from compact hatchbacks for narrow streets to SUVs for mountain roads.

Here are the main advantages of car rental on Localrent:

1. Small advance payment. Book a car by paying 15-20% of the cost online. The rest is paid when picking up the car.
2. Good condition of cars. Most of the fleet presented on Localrent is no older than 3 years. Filters help find a car with model guarantee.
3. Flexible deposit. Set the maximum deposit amount for you using the filter and choose only among suitable cars. By the way, Localrent has many cars that can be rented without a deposit or with a deposit less than €300.
4. Convenient filters. Configure search by transmission type, brand, technical characteristics, payment methods, included insurance and other criteria.
5. Fixed cost. No unexpected payments, commissions or additional charges.

Localrent will save you time and money so you can enjoy your vacation in Marrakech.

What you need to rent a car in Marrakech

To get a car, prepare three documents:

1. Passport — original for identity confirmation.
2. Valid driver's license. National license will work if the surname and name are indicated in Latin letters.
3. If a deposit is required by credit or debit card for rental, it must be issued in the name of the main driver.

Driver requirements:

• minimum conditions — 20 years old and 2 years of experience, limited car selection;
• widest selection for drivers from 24 years old and having 2 years of experience.

Conditions and requirements depend on the specific car. Even identical models may have different requirements. Always pay attention to the information in the car card.

Driving features in Marrakech

Here's what to pay attention to in order to feel confident behind the wheel in Marrakech:

• Taxi drivers and mopeds are the most active traffic participants. Taxi drivers often change lanes sharply, and mopeds can suddenly appear from the side. Keep your distance and watch your mirrors.
• Pedestrians cross the road in unexpected places, especially near markets and the Medina. Reduce speed in busy areas.
• Horse or donkey carts are found in tourist areas, for example, near Djemaa el-Fna square. They're slow but predictable: pass them carefully.
• Main roads within the city are smooth and well-lit, but in old quarters, for example, near the medina, narrow streets are not designed for cars. GPS sometimes shows passages that don't exist.
• Large roundabouts, for example, near Marrakech train station, are chaotic. Use turn signals and follow the flow: priority is not always obvious.
• If someone flashes their lights at you, it may mean a warning about a police checkpoint or danger on the road.
• Honking is often friendly: drivers warn about a maneuver or ask to speed up at a traffic light.

Within the city, night driving is comfortable: streets are lit and traffic is lighter. But outside Marrakech, especially in mountainous areas, there are no streetlights — it's better to plan trips during daylight hours.

Parking in Marrakech

In Marrakech, there are two main parking options:

• Street parking — usually there are parking attendants in yellow vests nearby. They'll approach themselves when you park your car. You can leave your car at such parking for a couple of hours.
• Guarded parking or Parking Gardé — fenced areas with 24-hour security. Such parking exists at shopping centers, hotels and near the medina. Suitable both for short parking and for leaving the car overnight.

Don't leave valuables in the cabin, even at guarded parking. Check signs — parking is often prohibited in narrow medina streets.

Parking payment methods in Marrakech:

1. Cash. The main payment method at street parking and many guarded areas. Always have small bills, attendants rarely give change. At the airport and shopping centers, payment through terminal at exit is provided: take a ticket when entering, and pay cash when leaving.
2. Bank cards can only be used to pay for parking at large parking lots: at the airport or shopping center parking. However, not all terminals accept foreign cards, it's better to always have cash.
3. If booking accommodation with parking, clarify whether it's included in the price. Some hotels reserve spaces for guests for free or for a fixed fee.

At street parking, attendants usually issue paper tickets. If you didn't receive one, clarify the amount and allowed parking time in advance.

Gas stations in Marrakech

There are many gas stations in Marrakech, and it's easy to find gas stations outside the city too. However, in mountainous areas it's better to monitor fuel level and refuel in advance, at about half tank. You don't need to get out of the car — the gas station employee will fill the tank himself, just tell him the fuel type and amount.

Cash is accepted at all gas stations. Bank cards can almost always be used to pay for fuel in the city, but small gas stations on highways often accept only cash.

Large gas stations have a store selling water, snacks and local sweets. Toilets are also available here.

How to book a car in Marrakech

Booking a car for rental in Marrakech is simple:

1. Select rental dates and configure filters for personalized search.
2. Study the car card. In it, you can also add additional options to your order.
3. Choose pickup/return location and time, fill in main driver data, contacts and pay the advance. Prepayment is 15-20%, the rest is paid when picking up the car. A voucher with rental company contacts will be sent to your email.
4. Check the car when picking up. Inspect the body and interior, photograph scratches, dents, cracks on glass. Make sure all defects are noted in the acceptance report.

From May to September is high season in Marrakech — car demand increases and car selection decreases. If you're going on vacation during this time, book in advance!

Where to go from Marrakech

Just an hour's drive from Marrakech, mountain landscapes, valleys and authentic villages await you. Here are the TOP-5 places easily accessible by paved roads:

1. Ourika Valley. Cascading waterfalls, Berber gardens and cafés with views of the Atlas Mountains. Perfect for trekking or picnicking by the river. Visit the Souk Tnine Ourika market, where you can buy fresh vegetables and fruits, traditional sweets and dried fruits.
2. Imlil Village. A small but very beautiful village with views of Toubkal — the highest peak of the Atlas Mountains. Try Berber tagine in cafés with terraces, leave your car in the parking lot and walk to the waterfalls — distance is no more than 1 km.
3. Lalla Takerkoust Dam. Head to the northern part of the lake, to Lalla Takerkoust town. Here you can rent a quad bike and ride through the desert, play golf, try jet skiing or even flyboarding. There are many excellent hotels here, so you can stay for a couple of days.
4. Ouarzazate. Here awaits the ksar Ait Benhaddou — an ancient clay fortress city protected by UNESCO, and Atlas Studios film studio, where "Gladiator" and "Game of Thrones" were filmed. See Hollywood movie sets, ride a camel through the dunes or immerse yourself in the noise of the local market selling carpets and spices.
5. Ouzoud Waterfalls. From a height of 110 meters, Ouzoud waters cascade into the El-Abid river gorge — this is the highest waterfall in North Africa. Along the paths beside the cascades, you'll descend to the foot, where spray creates rainbows. After the walk, visit a café on the rocks: they serve Berber mint tea and roasted nuts with a view of the waterfall.

There are many interesting attractions in Marrakech itself. The historic Medina center is known for its labyrinth of streets with craft workshops and markets selling ceramics and spices. Must-see — the 12th-century Koutoubia Mosque with its 77-meter minaret, and a 15-minute walk away is the 19th-century Bahia Palace — an example of Moorish architecture with mosaic halls, carved doors and an orange garden.

5 km from the center is the Majorelle Garden, founded in the 1920s by artist Jacques Majorelle: here are collected more than 300 plant species, including cacti and bamboo, and blue pavilions house the Berber culture museum and Yves Saint Laurent memorial.

Where to pick up your rental car in Marrakech

You can pick up your car at 3 main locations:

1. Marrakech-Menara Airport. Check in the car card: some cars require an additional fee for airport pickup. There may also be an additional fee for car pickup outside business hours.
2. City office. Offices are often located in the Gueliz or Hivernage area, 10-15 minutes from the Medina.
3. Address delivery. The car will be brought to your hotel. Service is not available for all cars, if you're looking for a car specifically with delivery, use filters.

Even identical models may have different pickup conditions. Some companies work only at the airport, others — in the city. Available pickup locations are indicated in each car's card.

Tips and recommendations for those planning to rent a car in Marrakech

Marrakech's medina with its narrow streets and dense flow of people is not designed for cars — even if GPS shows a through passage, in practice roads are often blocked or too tight. It's better to leave your car at guarded parking near the old city walls and explore the medina on foot.

Compact cars like Kia Picanto or Hyundai i10 are popular due to low price. But air conditioners in such cars may not cope with summer heat: air in Marrakech in summer can reach +40°C and higher. If renting a car from May to September, take a more powerful model with good air conditioning. For example, Peugeot 301, Hyundai Accent or Volkswagen Golf 8.

Avoid traveling during rush hour: morning from 8:00 to 10:00 and evening from 17:00 to 19:00. At this time, traffic around the train station and Djemaa el-Fna square becomes very dense and stressful.

Questions and answers about car rental in Marrakech