Car Rental in Casablanca

Why rent a car in Casablanca?

Casablanca is a great place for renting a car. With the freedom of your own wheels you can both see this modern and diverse metropolis and travel to nearby landmarks and to cities full of history. Moreover, Casablanca is also an excellent starting point for exploring Morocco by car, as its well-developed road infrastructure, central coastal location, and proximity to major highways make it convenient for travelers to drive to various destinations throughout the country.

Top ways to enter Casablanca

• Casablanca Airport: The busiest in the country and among the ten busiest in all of Africa, Casablanca Mohammed V Airport handled 8.2 million travelers in 2018. The airport is a large hub for Air Arabia Maroc and Royal Air Maroc, and hosts flights to and from all over Africa, as well as other continents of the world. Located about 33 km (20.5 mi) southeast of the city center, the airport can be reached in 35 minutes.
• Rabat Airport: Also known as Rabat-Sale, the airport serving the Moroccan capital handled about one million travelers in 2018. The airport has flights by nine different airlines, including European low-cost carriers Ryanair and Transavia. Located 113 km (70 mi) northeast of Casablanca, the airport can be reached in about 1 hour and 20 minutes.
• Marrakesh Menara Airport: Serving the beautiful city of Marrakesh, this airport handled more than 5.2 million travelers in 2018. The airport has flights by more than 20 different airlines, offering connections all over North Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Located 248 km (154 mi) southeast of Casablanca, Marrakesh Airport can be reached in about three hours.
• By rail: If you’re arriving in Casablanca by train, you can conveniently pick up your rental car at the Casa-Port Railway Station or Casa-Voyageurs Railway Station.

City facts

• Although located on the Atlantic Coast and influenced by the Canary Current, Casablanca enjoys warm and pleasant climate. Summers are hot and extremely dry, and even in winter the temperature rarely drops below 10 °C  (50 °F).
• Although not the capital, Casablanca is by far the largest city in Morocco. More than 3 million people live within the city borders and another 3.5 million call the wider Casablanca Metropolitan Region their home.

Top sights and activities

• Hassan II Mosque. Overlooking the nearby Atlantic Ocean, this impressive mosque is the seventh-largest in the world. Open to both worshippers and tourists, it can accommodate more than 25 thousand people at once. It boasts both an impressive courtyard and a transparent glass floor which lets you the sea under it.
• Museum of Moroccan Judaism. Although now very few still reside in Morocco, for hundreds of years Jews and Muslims shared their lives in Casablanca. Visiting the museum will let you see the displays of Moroccan synagogues, as well as Jewish clothing, paintings, and other objects from their daily life. This unique museum is the only museum dedicated to the Jewish people in the Arab world.
• The Arab League Park. Built 100 years ago, Casablanca’s largest park is the best place to relax among the palm trees and see different other unique plants, drink real Moroccan coffee, or meet locals who come here for the picnic on every sunny day.
• Mahkamat al-Pasha. Although only built in the 1940s, the style of this courthouse is strongly reminiscent of its medieval Moorish equivalents found in Andalusia. The builders’ attention to detail was superb, and there are countless ornate elements everywhere you look, as well as an inner courtyard garden. Appropriately, the courthouse is in the historical Habous neighborhood that’s nowadays known for its many bookshops.
• L'Uzine. Literally meaning The Factory, L’Uzine is one of the main contemporary art spaces of Morocco. In a move that would be characteristic of the European metropolises, but is still quite rare in the cities of the MENA region, the cultural institution can be found not in the city center but instead in the industrial, eastern part of Casablanca (hence the name). L’Uzine frequently hosts various cultural events, workshops, and performances.

Traffic and parking

• Unless specifically indicated otherwise, the speed limits are 120 km/h on motorways (autoroutes), 100 km/h on roads outside urban cities that are not motorways, and 40 km/h within populated areas.
• Even inside some big cities, and in most smaller towns and villages, there are no special lanes for cyclists or sometimes even pavements for pedestrians. In those cases, you’ll be sharing a road with them, so be extra careful.
• Road signs are written in both Arabic and French. If you don’t know either of these languages, it’s good to learn at least the main terms in one of them before renting a car.
• The legal alcohol limit is 0.00% for both experienced and novice drivers. Drunk driving can lead to large fines and even jail time or deportation.
• The insurance and car documentation needs to be in the car whenever you’re driving.
• If you’re the driver, you need to have your passport or ID card with you at all times.
• The nation-wide emergency police number is 19 and the nation-wide ambulance and fire safety department number is 15.

Toll roads

A toll needs to be paid for using most of Morocco’s motorways or autoroutes. All of the toll roads in Morocco are administered by the state-owned company Autoroutes du Maroc (ADM). 

Morocco uses a “closed system” for its toll roads, meaning that there is a toll booth both at the entrance and the exit of the toll road. You pay either by cash or by credit card (although some toll points might only accept cash so it’s good to have some available at all times). Make sure to keep any proof that you have paid for the toll road as police checks are frequent and fines can be hefty. The prices for using the toll roads are generally quite low.

Most of the toll roads connect the largest cities of the country. Oftentimes you can opt to use regional roads instead - while traveling along those will be much slower, the views are usually much more scenic.

Ideas for day trips

• Azemmour. Located on the Atlantic Coast, just an hour’s drive from Casablanca, this colorful and friendly town is a great place to learn about the region’s diverse history through Jewish, Portuguese, and, of course, Muslim heritage that you can observe here.
• Safi. Although Safi is two-and-a-half hours drive south along the coast from Casablanca, the long distance is well worth the time. This old coastal city offers everything from beautiful mosques to stunning beaches, famous local pottery, interesting fishing port, and friendly, relaxed atmosphere.
• Oualidia. Known home and abroad for its oysters, Oualidia is a proper foodie destination. The many varieties of local seafoods can be enjoyed anywhere from small local taverns to high-class restaurants. If at any point you start to crave for more visual enjoyment, hit the local beach where pink flamingos can often be observed.
• Rabat. Smaller than Casablanca and surprisingly relaxed for a capital, Rabat is one of the underrated Moroccan destinations. In addition to its pleasant atmosphere, the city is home to such stunning landmarks as the Oudaias Kasbah and Andalusian Gardens, the abandoned city of Chellah, and the Archaeological Museum. The drive from Casablanca takes about an hour and 10 minutes.

Most popular cars

The most popular rental car type in Morocco is an Economy, followed by Mini and Intermediate. Most national motorways are in great shape and perfectly driveable by all types of rental cars. However, if you plan to drive in the Atlas Mountains or in the Sahara Desert, getting a 4x4 vehicle is a good idea. The most popular rental cars in Morocco are the Hyundai i10, the Dacia Logan, and the Renault Clio.

Further destinations

• Meknes. Although no more the national capital, Meknes is still an inviting destination to visit. Founded 1000 years ago, it boasts long and impressive history which is perhaps best observed in its stunning architecture, from the Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail and the Museum of Moroccan Art to beautiful city medina. 
• Fez. About three hours drive from Casablanca, Fez is one of the most famous cities of the Arab world. It is best known for its labyrinth of markets or souks, tanneries, and shops of local craftsmen, but Fez is also an important religious center as you’ll learn if you visit its many mosques and museums.
• Atlas Mountains. The Atlas Mountains in Morocco is a breathtaking natural wonder that stretches across the country, separating the Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines from the vast Sahara Desert. This rugged and picturesque mountain range offers not only breathtaking scenery and hiking opportunities but also a rich cultural tapestry. Berber villages and traditions are interwoven with the stunning vistas.
• Marrakesh. Similar to Fez, Marrakesh is one of the destinations that give Morocco its special, timeless aura. Its historical market square, Djemaa el-Fna, is second to none, and Marrakesh is also home to many historical mosques, as well as providing access to the nearby Atlas Mountains. The drive from Casablanca takes only about 2 hours and 40 minutes.
• Essaouira. Located on the Atlantic coast some four-and-a-half-hour drive further south, the blue city of Essaouira is another magical Moroccan destination. Known for its distinctive architecture and well-preserved medina, the city also boasts a delicious cuisine and has fascinating stories to tell, a few involving some of the most famous Western rock stars ever to live. If you have time to spare, after seeing Essaouira you can continue the drive further south to eventually reach some of the loveliest beaches in the country.

Car rental prices in Casablanca

• Small cars - from $19 per day
• SUVs - from $32 per day
• Medium cars - from $24 per day
• Premium cars - from $98 per day
• Vans - from $29 per day
• Large cars - from $24 per day
• Station wagons - from $27 per day

Money-saving and other tips

You can do a number of things to get a good car rental deal in Casablanca:

• Compare rates of different rental suppliers
• Book your rental car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit in the month when the rental prices are the lowest. According to our data, visiting Casablanca is the cheapest in January when renting a car is about 30% cheaper than the yearly average.