Your Ouarzazate Adventure Starts with a Car Rental from OZZ

You'll need both. US licenses alone aren't accepted in Morocco—police checkpoints are frequent and fines for missing documentation start at MAD 300 (~$30). An International Driving Permit (IDP) costs ~$20 through AAA and is mandatory. Your US license must be valid, and the IDP is essentially your translation document. Carry both at all times when driving.

Yes, it catches many visitors off guard. Morocco uses left-hand traffic (like the UK), but vehicles are right-hand drive. At roundabouts, traffic flows clockwise and you must yield to vehicles already inside—Americans often forget this. Take extra caution at intersections and give yourself a few hours to adjust before heading into desert areas. Blind corners on mountain roads are especially hazardous for those unaccustomed to left-hand driving.

Gasoline (essence) costs approximately MAD 14-15 per liter (~$1.40-1.50 per liter). Most rental agencies offer full-to-full policies—prepay options are usually a bad deal. Diesel (gazole) is slightly cheaper at ~MAD 11 per liter. Fill up before leaving Ouarzazate if heading toward the Sahara; the stretch between Ouarzazate and Merzouga (Erfoud) has sparse, irregularly-stocked stations. Always keep a 5-10 liter reserve canister when traveling remote routes.

Credit card CDW coverage is generally not honored in Morocco—most card companies explicitly exclude it. Budget MAD 80-150 ($8-15) per day for mandatory basic liability insurance included in rental rates, then seriously consider upgrading to full coverage (MAD 200-350/day) if driving in desert or gravel areas. Sand damage and tire punctures are not covered by standard policies. Without full coverage, a single scratched rim from a desert detour can cost MAD 2,000+ out of pocket.

The N9 highway south toward Zagora and the R703 toward Merzouga/Erfoud are mostly paved but poorly lit at night and have frequent unmarked speed bumps. However, once you leave the main tarmac for desert camps or oasis detours (like to Khemliya or M'Hamid), you'll encounter unpaved, sandy tracks where a 4WD SUV is strongly recommended. A sedan works fine for main highways but rent a 4WD if you plan to visit Erg Chebbi dunes or off-track kasbahs—ground clearance and desert tires matter.

Speed cameras are active on major routes—fines are typically MAD 150-300 and sometimes deducted directly at rental return. Police checkpoints are extremely common entering and exiting Ouarzazate; always stop fully and present documents without argument. Morocco has a zero-tolerance policy for mobile phone use while driving (MAD 300 fine). Children under 10 must not sit in front seats. At night, expect donkey carts, pedestrians, and cyclists with no lights on secondary roads—high beams are your friend but switch them off for oncoming traffic.