Renting a car in Fez: the complete guide (documents, age, licence, deposit, insurance)

Renting a car is by far the best way to explore Fez and its region at your own pace: the medina in the morning, Ifrane or Meknes in the afternoon, the desert a few days later. But between the minimum age, the deposit, the insurance and the excess, it pays to know what to expect before you sign. Here is the complete, up-to-date guide to renting with total peace of mind at R2Y CAR in Fez.

The documents you will need

To rent a car in Morocco, bring three simple documents: a valid driving licence, an ID card or passport, and a bank card in the driver's name for the deposit. A foreign licence printed in the Latin alphabet (such as a French or UK licence) is accepted for driving in Morocco, in principle for one year from the date you enter the country, according to this overview of driving in Morocco. If your licence is not in the Latin alphabet, an International Driving Permit is strongly recommended — we cover this in a dedicated article.

Minimum age and how long you must have held your licence

On the Moroccan market, the minimum age to rent is generally 21, with a licence held for at least one year. Some categories (SUVs, 4x4s, premium vehicles) may require you to be 23 to 25 with two years of driving experience, as several specialist guides to car rental in Morocco point out. At R2Y CAR, we tell you clearly what applies to the vehicle you choose — if in doubt, a quick WhatsApp message is all it takes to check before booking.

The deposit (security hold)

The deposit is an amount held for the duration of the rental and released when you return the vehicle in good condition. On the market, it typically ranges from the equivalent of 1,000 to 2,000 €, usually via a pre-authorisation on a bank card in the driver's name, in line with standard rental company practice. The exact amount depends on the vehicle category. Always ask in advance how much will be held and in what form, so there are no surprises.

Insurance and excess: the point not to overlook

Every rental includes third-party liability cover (damage caused to others). On top of that, you will usually have collision damage and theft cover (CDW/LDW) — but beware: it generally comes with an excess — the share you still pay if something goes wrong — which can run to several thousand dirhams. An excess waiver is offered at the counter to reduce or remove this amount, sometimes with exclusions (tyres, underbody, glass), as detailed in guides to renting in Morocco. We explain all of this in depth in our article on insurance and deposits — read it before you travel; it is what saves you from nasty surprises.

Mileage, fuel and delivery

At R2Y CAR, mileage is unlimited: drive freely all over Morocco, no counter running. On fuel, the usual rule is "full to full": you return the car with the same fuel level it had at pick-up. Keep it in mind, because petrol stations thin out in the south and towards the desert. We also deliver the car to our Fez agency, to Fès-Saïss Airport or to your hotel — handy when you arrive by plane (see our guide to renting a car at Fès-Saïss Airport).

Before you set off: the checks

On handover day, take five minutes to walk around the vehicle with the agent: note every scratch on the condition report, check that the spare wheel and paperwork are there (registration document, insurance certificate), and test the air conditioning — essential in Morocco. Our pre-drive checklist covers it all. Finally, keep the assistance number to hand: at R2Y CAR, we answer 24/7 by phone or WhatsApp.

Payment

In Morocco, the local norm — and how we work — is payment on key handover (at the agency or on delivery), with no online payment. You book in a few clicks or via WhatsApp, and you pay when you collect the car, in complete confidence.

In a nutshell

• Documents: valid licence, ID card/passport, bank card for the deposit.
• Age: usually 21 (sometimes 23-25 for SUV/premium), licence held for at least 1 year.
• Deposit: ask in advance; card in the driver's name.
• Insurance: check the excess and whether an excess waiver is worth it.
• Unlimited mileage, full-to-full fuel, airport/hotel delivery, payment on key handover.