Explore Morocco
Morocco is the classic UK motorhomer's long-haul winter escape. A short ferry from southern Spain drops you on a different continent, with empty Atlantic beaches, the High Atlas, the Sahara, and the souks of Marrakech and Fez all reachable in one trip. The driving and the campsites are great value, but the paperwork is more involved than anywhere in Europe and the rules around vehicle import, insurance, drones, and pet re-entry catch a lot of first-timers out. Here is what to sort before you sail.
Last verified: 27 April 2026
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Getting there: ferries from Spain and France
Morocco sits an hour by ferry from southern Spain. Most UK motorhomers drive down through France and Spain over five to seven days, then sail from Algeciras or Tarifa. Sete in southern France is a longer overnight option that skips the Spain leg.
Tanger Med is the main motorhome port. On arrival, allow at least 90 minutes for police passport stamping, customs vehicle import (D16ter), and insurance check. On the way home, arrive 2 hours before sailing.
Vehicle import: the D16ter
Morocco does not let foreign vehicles in on the passport stamp alone. You complete a free D16ter Temporary Vehicle Import declaration at customs (Douanes) on arrival. It is valid for up to 6 months in any 12-month period.
The vehicle MUST leave Morocco before the D16ter expires. Overstay penalties are heavy and can include vehicle impoundment. Carry the D16ter with your passport at all times; gendarmerie checkpoints often ask to see both.
Insurance and the Green Card
Morocco is outside the EU green-card-waiver area. Many UK insurers do not include Morocco automatically.
- Best option: ask your UK insurer for a Green Card extension covering Morocco before you leave. Some insurers add it free, others charge a small fee, a few will refuse.
- Backup option: if your insurer refuses, buy short-term Moroccan cover at the Assurance Frontiere desk at Tanger Med or on the ferry from Tarifa. It is straightforward but more expensive than a UK extension.
- Travel insurance: check your travel policy explicitly covers Morocco. Many UK policies cap North Africa cover or exclude it entirely.
Without valid Moroccan motor insurance you cannot legally drive a metre off the port. Check this before you sail; sorting it on the dock is stressful and slower than people make out.
Visa, passport, and currency
Get your passport stamped on the way IN and on the way OUT. Customs surrender the D16ter and police stamp the passport on departure; if the exit stamp is missed, it can complicate your next entry.
Driving rules
Driving tips
- Avoid driving at night outside cities. Unlit vehicles, livestock, and pedestrians on rural roads are the single biggest hazard in Morocco.
- Police checkpoints (Gendarmerie Royale) are common. Slow to walking pace, lower window, smile, hand over passport and Green Card if asked. Most are routine.
- Speed limits drop sharply on the approach to villages, often from 100 to 60 to 40 within 200 metres. Police set up radar at the lowest sign.
- Refuse all requests for cash from anyone other than a uniformed officer issuing an official ticket. Even then, ask for a receipt.
- Do not photograph police, military, border posts, or the royal family.
- The Atlas passes (Tizi n Tichka, Tizi n Test) have tight switchbacks and unprotected drops. In winter they can close at short notice for snow. Long rigs and twin-axle caravans should plan coastal alternatives.
- Friday is the holy day; many small businesses close Friday afternoons. During Ramadan, daytime cafe and restaurant service is reduced; carry food and water in the cab.
- The land border with Algeria has been closed since 1994. Do not approach it.
Required kit
Drones: do not pack one
Customs at Tanger Med routinely confiscate drones, even for personal use. Even an unflown drone packed in your van can result in confiscation, fines, or refused entry. The cleanest answer is: leave it at home.
Tolls and vignettes
Tolls
Moroccan tolls are cheap by European standards. The autoroute network (A-prefixed) is dramatically faster and safer than the parallel N-routes; pay the tolls.
Vignette
No vignette needed in Morocco. Tolls are paid per journey at the booth or via the Jawaz electronic tag.
Low emission zones
No low emission zones. Older diesel motorhomes face no entry restrictions in Moroccan cities.
Supermarkets and shopping
Budget
Mid-range
Premium
Opening hours
Most supermarkets open seven days. Small shops and souks may close Friday afternoons for prayers and during Ramadan daylight hours.
Alcohol
Locally produced wine (Meknes region) is decent and cheap. Imported beer and spirits are heavily taxed.
Local tips
- Souks are cash-only and prices are negotiable. A starting offer of 30-50% of the asking price is normal in tourist areas.
- Stock up on fresh produce at souks rather than supermarkets; quality is dramatically better and prices are a fraction.
- Bottled water is cheap (Sidi Ali, Ain Saiss); tap water is not recommended for drinking.
- Carry small denominations (5, 10, 20 MAD notes); change is often scarce.
- Tipping (around 10%) is expected in restaurants and for parking attendants ('gardiens') who watch your motorhome on the street.
Motorhome LPG and Gas in Morocco
GPL (autogas) is rare in Morocco. A handful of stations sell it, but the fitting differs from the European Euronozzle and coverage is patchy. If you rely on LPG for cooking and refrigeration, top up to full in southern Spain (Algeciras, Malaga, or earlier) before crossing the Strait. Carry a French/Italian/Spanish adapter set as a backup.
Bottled butane (Afriquia, Total) is sold in Moroccan-fitted bottles you cannot connect without a specific regulator. Most UK motorhomers manage on the gas they bring across.
UK Calor bottles cannot be swapped anywhere outside the UK. Either bring enough bottled gas for the whole trip or fit a refillable system before you leave home. Read our complete guide to motorhome gas and LPG in Europe.
Motorhome Electric Hook-ups in Morocco
Most Moroccan campsites offer hook-ups, typically 6A to 10A, but voltage and earth quality vary widely. Cheaper coastal sites can sit well below 230V at peak, and reverse polarity is common.
Pack a plug-in socket tester and a crossover cable. Many sites use unfamiliar socket types; a continental adapter set is essential.
Read our complete guide to motorhome electric hook-ups in Europe.
Documents you need
Your own vehicle
- Passport (6+ months validity, blank page)
- UK driving licence (photocard)
- International Driving Permit (1949 Convention)
- V5C log book
- Insurance certificate with Morocco extension or Green Card
- D16ter Temporary Vehicle Import declaration (issued at port on arrival)
- Travel insurance with Morocco cover
Rental or hire vehicle
- Passport
- UK driving licence + IDP 1949
- VE103 certificate
- Hire company written authorisation to take vehicle to Morocco
- Licence check code
Travelling with dogs (the EU re-entry catch)
Morocco entry with a dog is straightforward enough. Coming back to the EU is the hard part.
Plan the FAVN titre test 4 to 6 months before departure. Many UK motorhomers leave the dog at home for Morocco trips specifically because of these rules. If you do bring a dog, also be aware that strays are common around towns and campsites; rabies is endemic in stray populations.
What to pack
- Dog lead
- Water bowl
- Vaccination records
- Rabies titre certificate (FAVN)
- AHC for EU return (organise in Morocco)
- EU Pet Passport (if held)
Food import rules
Morocco follows its own SPS rules. Avoid bringing pork products and raw dairy. Small quantities of vacuum-packed beef, chicken, hard cheese, and shop-sealed UHT milk are typically waved through but not guaranteed. Customs can search the habitation if they want; do not give them an easy reason.
Border and entry
No-go zones
Useful links
- Gov.uk Morocco Travel Advice: the official Foreign Office page, updated when conditions change.
- Moroccan Customs (Douanes) D16ter info: official temporary vehicle admission rules.
- Autoroutes du Maroc (ADM): toll information and the Jawaz electronic tag.
- Gov.uk Pet Travel from non-EU countries: the UK government's pet re-entry rules.
Common questions
Do I need a visa to take my motorhome to Morocco?
UK passport holders enter Morocco visa-free for up to 90 days. Your passport must have at least 6 months validity beyond the entry date and at least one blank page. The vehicle is imported separately under a free D16ter Temporary Admission, valid for up to 6 months in any 12-month period.
Is my UK motor insurance valid in Morocco?
Morocco is outside the EU green-card-waiver area. Many UK insurers do not include Morocco automatically. Either obtain a Green Card extension covering MA before you leave, or buy short-term local cover at the Assurance Frontiere desk at Tanger Med or Tarifa on arrival. Without valid Moroccan motor insurance you cannot legally drive off the port.
How do I get my motorhome to Morocco from the UK?
The standard route is UK to France or Spain by ferry or tunnel, then drive south to Algeciras and take the 1 hour FRS, Balearia, or Africa Morocco Link ferry to Tanger Med. Tarifa to Tanger Ville is a similar option that lands in central Tangier. Sete to Tanger Med is a 30 to 40 hour overnight crossing that skips the Spain leg entirely.
Can I take my dog to Morocco?
Technically yes, but the EU re-entry rules are the hard part. Returning to the EU from Morocco requires a rabies titre (FAVN) blood test from an EU-approved lab, drawn at least 30 days after the most recent rabies booster and processed at least 3 months before EU re-entry, plus a Moroccan AHC. Plan the FAVN test 4 to 6 months before departure. Many UK motorhomers leave the dog at home for Morocco trips.
Can I take a drone to Morocco?
No. Drones are banned from import without prior written authorisation from the Ministry of Interior. Customs at Tanger Med routinely confiscate drones, even unflown and in their case. Leave it at home.