Do you need a licence to ride a scooter in Morocco?

What Moroccan law says

Moroccan driving rules sit in Law 52-05, the road code. It splits two-wheelers into licence categories much like the EU system: AM for mopeds (cyclomoteurs, the 50cc class), A1 for light motorbikes up to 125cc and 15 kW, and A for anything bigger.

The useful part for visitors: Moroccan rules let a category B (car) or A1 licence cover category AM too. So if you hold a full car licence, you can legally ride a 50cc. There is no such rule for 125cc: a car licence does not cover A1.

Engine size and the licence you need

Scooter	Licence needed	Notes
50cc moped	AM, or a car (B) licence	The usual rental scooter in Tamraght. Rental shops set their own minimum age.
125cc	A1 or A motorbike licence	A car licence is not enough. B196 and code 111 do not count here.
Over 125cc	A motorbike licence	Rarely rented for local use around Tamraght.

One catch with 50cc scooters: in August 2025 the road safety agency NARSA began roadside speed tests on mopeds, because many had been modified to go well past their legal limit. The government paused the campaign within weeks, but a modified moped is still illegal, and the fines proposed were 5,000 to 30,000 MAD. Rent from someone who keeps the bikes standard.

Is your home licence valid in Morocco?

For a holiday, yes. The UK and German governments both say a national licence is recognised for stays of up to a year; after that you need a Moroccan licence. Carry the original card. Police do not accept a photocopy or a photo on your phone.

The International Driving Permit (IDP) is where people get caught out. Morocco uses the 1968 Vienna Convention version and no longer accepts the 1949 one. The UK government says UK drivers need both the 1968 IDP and their licence, and that you cannot buy one once you are outside the UK. If your licence is not in English, French or Arabic, you should carry a 1968 IDP too. A 1968 IDP is valid for up to three years, or until your licence expires if that comes first.

German B196 and Austrian code 111

Both let car drivers ride a 125cc at home without a motorbike test. Germany’s ADAC is clear that B196 is valid only in Germany, and Austria’s ÖAMTC says code 111 is recognised in only a handful of European countries. Morocco is not one of them. In Morocco, treat your licence as a plain car licence: 50cc yes, 125cc no.

Helmets, alcohol and what police check

Helmets are compulsory for the rider and the passenger on any moped or motorbike, and they must be an approved type. Riding without one brings an on-the-spot fine. Wear it fastened, every trip.

Morocco has effectively zero tolerance on alcohol: the legal limit is 0.2 grams per litre of blood, which one drink can exceed. The fine for drink-driving runs from 5,000 to 10,000 MAD (about 450 to 900 EUR), with possible prison and a licence ban.

At a stop, police can ask for your licence (plus IDP where needed), the scooter’s registration papers and its insurance certificate. The papers belong to the bike, so make sure the owner has handed them over before you ride off. Riding without the right licence category or without insurance each carry fines, and an uninsured bike can be impounded.

What actually happens in Tamraght

In practice, most rental shops along the coast glance at a licence or do not ask at all, and the checkpoints on the N1 coast road between Agadir, Tamraght and Taghazout usually wave scooters through.

The problem comes after a crash. Travel insurance policies commonly exclude riding without a licence valid for that vehicle, or without a helmet. A broken wrist in a private clinic in Agadir, or damage to someone else’s car, is then your bill. That is the real reason to get the licence question right. More in our scooter rental guide for Tamraght.

A note on our own rentals: Tamraght Insider arranges scooters itself, at 10 EUR (about 110 MAD) a day or 8 EUR (about 88 MAD) a day for a full week, delivered in Tamraght or Taghazout with no deposit. We earn a fee on each rental. No extra insurance is included, which makes your own licence and travel cover matter more, not less. Prices, models and how booking works are in renting a scooter in Tamraght.

Before you ride

• Check the scooter matches your licence: 50cc on a car licence, 125cc only with A1 or A.
• Pack your physical licence, not a copy.
• UK licence, or a licence not in English, French or Arabic: get a 1968 IDP before you leave home.
• Read your travel insurance wording on scooters, engine size and licences.
• Ask the owner for the registration papers and insurance certificate, and keep them on the bike.
• Get two helmets if you are carrying a passenger, and check the straps work.
• No alcohol at all before riding.
• Photograph the scooter before you take it, so existing damage is on record.

If you have only just landed, our first 48 hours in Tamraght covers getting set up, and is Tamraght safe has more on the roads and riding after dark.

Common questions

Can I ride a 50cc scooter in Morocco with a car licence?

Yes. Moroccan law treats a category B car licence as valid for the AM moped category, which covers 50cc scooters.

Do I need a motorbike licence for a 125cc scooter in Morocco?

Yes. A 125cc needs an A1 or A motorbike licence. A car licence does not cover it, even with a German B196 or Austrian code 111 entry.

Do I need an International Driving Permit to ride a scooter in Morocco?

UK licence holders need a 1968 IDP alongside their licence, according to the UK government. You should also carry one if your licence is not in English, French or Arabic. Morocco no longer accepts the 1949 version.

Do rental shops in Tamraght check your licence?

Often not, or only briefly. That does not change the law or your insurance, which can refuse a claim if you were not licensed for the bike.

Is a helmet compulsory on a scooter in Morocco?

Yes, for both the rider and any passenger, and it must be an approved type. Police can fine you on the spot.

What is the drink-driving limit in Morocco?

0.2 grams of alcohol per litre of blood, which in practice means none. Penalties include fines of 5,000 to 10,000 MAD, possible prison and losing your licence.

How long can I use my foreign licence in Morocco?

The UK and German governments say a national licence is recognised for stays of up to a year. Longer than that, you need a Moroccan licence.

We arrange scooter rentals and airport taxis ourselves and earn a fee on those; nobody pays to be listed on this page. Prices move fast on this coast; we use roughly 11 MAD to 1 euro and date everything. Treat every number as a starting point.