Renting a scooter in Morocco: the checklist before you ride off

Documents: what to bring

• Your original licence card. Police do not accept a photocopy or a photo on your phone.
• A 1968 International Driving Permit if you hold a UK licence, or a licence not in English, French or Arabic.
• A note of what the insurance covers, in the shop’s own words.

Full rules: scooter licence rules in Morocco.

Price and what is included, in writing

In Tamraght, walk-up rates for a 50cc run 220 to 310 MAD (20 to 28 EUR) a day, and weekly rates start around 1,500 MAD (135 EUR). Many shops quote only on WhatsApp, so the number you get depends on how you ask. A WhatsApp message is your written record: it is dated and both sides can see it.

• The total price for your dates, not just the day rate.
• Helmets: how many. You need two if you carry a passenger, and both must be worn.
• A lock, and a surf rack if you need one. Racks are usually included here, but confirm.
• Delivery and collection: free, paid, or not offered.
• The fuel level it comes with, and the level it should go back with.
• How you pay, and when.

Deposits and your passport

Deposit rules vary from shop to shop, so ask before you agree anything.

• Ask how much the deposit is, in what form, and exactly what can be deducted from it.
• Get the amount written down, with the condition for getting it back.
• If a shop asks to keep your passport, ask for a cash deposit instead. You need your passport for everyday things like buying a SIM.
• Count any cash deposit back in front of the owner when you return the bike.

For transparency: the scooters we arrange ourselves have no deposit, at 10 EUR (about 110 MAD) a day or 8 EUR (about 88 MAD) a day for a full week, which is 56 EUR (about 616 MAD), delivered in Tamraght or Taghazout. We earn a fee on each rental. The independent shop comparison is in scooter and bike rental in Tamraght.

Existing damage: photos before you ride

• Walk round the scooter and film it in one slow take, in daylight, with the owner there.
• Close-ups of every scratch, crack and dent: panels, mirrors, seat, levers, exhaust.
• A photo of the dashboard showing the fuel gauge and, if it has one, the odometer.
• Send the video to the owner on WhatsApp before you leave. Now you both have a dated copy.

Mechanical checks in two minutes

• Brakes: squeeze both levers and push the scooter. It should stop dead, without the lever touching the grip.
• Tyres: look for visible tread, cuts and bulges, and press them to feel for a soft one.
• Lights: headlight, brake light, indicators. Parts of the N1 have no street lighting, so this matters at dusk.
• Horn: give it a press.
• Mirrors: both there, both tight, both adjusted to you.
• Helmet straps: they fasten and hold.
• Rack straps, if you have a rack: no fraying.

Fuel: where to fill

• There is no fuel station in Tamraght village. Fill up at the stations on the N1 towards Aourir and Agadir.
• Ask the owner where they fill up and whether the tank comes full.
• Paradise Valley takes about a full 50cc tank for the round trip, and there is nothing on the valley road. Fill before you head inland.

Papers under the seat

The papers belong to the bike, not to you, so the owner has to hand them over.

• The registration papers.
• The insurance certificate.
• Check they are there before you leave. At a stop, police can ask for both, plus your licence and IDP where needed.
• Riding without insurance carries a fine, and an uninsured bike can be impounded.

Insurance: ask what exists

• Ask whether third-party insurance is included, and what the excess is if you damage the scooter.
• Ask who pays if the scooter is stolen while locked.
• Check your travel insurance covers scooters at that engine size, with your licence and a helmet worn.

Our own rentals include no extra insurance, so your licence and your travel cover matter more, not less.

Return terms

• The return day and time, and what happens if you are late.
• Where: collected from your place or dropped at the shop.
• The fuel level expected, matching what you got.
• A joint walk-round at handback, with your first video on your phone.

If it breaks down

• Save the owner’s WhatsApp number before you ride off, and ask what they want you to do if it breaks down.
• Agree up front who pays for a puncture or a dead battery.
• Do not let a roadside mechanic start work without the owner agreeing on the phone first.
• If you are far out, keep the price of a taxi home in cash. Shared grand taxis on the N1 thin out around 9 to 10 pm.

Common pitfalls

• Tuned 50cc mopeds. A moped modified to go past its legal limit is illegal, and the fines proposed during the 2025 roadside checks were 5,000 to 30,000 MAD. Rent from someone who keeps the bikes standard.
• Paying the walk-up day rate for a week. If you will ride most days, a weekly rate is far cheaper.
• Renting on day one. Tamraght is walkable, so learn your routine first. Our first 48 hours in Tamraght covers the order of things.
• Renting at all when you do not need to. For occasional trips, see getting around Tamraght.
• Riding after a drink. The limit is 0.2 grams per litre of blood, which in practice means none.

For the road itself, read scooter safety around Tamraght; for boards, renting with a surf rack.

The checklist on one screen

Before	During	Return
Licence and IDP packed	Helmet fastened, every trip	Agreed time and place
Price and extras in writing	Papers stay on the bike	Fuel back to the agreed level
Damage filmed and sent	Fill up on the N1	Joint walk-round with your video
Brakes, tyres, lights, horn, mirrors	Owner’s number saved	Deposit counted back, if any

Common questions

What should I check when renting a scooter?

The brakes, tyres, lights, horn and mirrors, plus any existing damage, which you should film before riding. Also check the registration papers and insurance certificate are with the bike.

What papers should be on a rental scooter?

The registration document and the insurance certificate should travel with the bike, usually under the seat. Police can ask for both at a stop, plus your licence and IDP where needed.

Should I leave my passport as a deposit for a scooter?

Ask for a cash deposit instead if you can, and get the amount and terms in writing. You need your passport for everyday things like buying a SIM.

Is insurance included when you rent a scooter in Morocco?

It varies, so ask whether third-party cover is included and what the excess is. Our own rentals include no extra insurance, so check that your travel insurance covers scooters.

Where do I get fuel for a scooter in Tamraght?

There is no fuel station in Tamraght village. Fill up at the stations on the N1 towards Aourir and Agadir.

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.