Car Rental in Rabat

Why rent a car in Rabat?

Rabat is a great place for renting a car. Having the freedom of your own wheels will let you to experience all of the city, not just its downtown, as well as to travel to other cities and nature areas nearby.

Top ways to enter Rabat

• Rabat Airport. Also known as Rabat–Salé, the main airport serving the capital region handles about one million travelers every year. Made up of a single terminal, the airport has flights by nine different airlines. Rabat Airport is some 15km (9.3 miles) from downtown Rabat and takes about 25 minutes to reach by car.
• Casablanca Airport. Also called Mohammed V Airport after the former monarch of Morocco, Casablanca Airport handles more than ten million travelers every year, making it by far the busiest in the country. The airport is the main hub of the national carrier Royal Air Maroc and also has flights by around 25 other airlines. Located 115km (68 miles) southwest of Rabat, the airport can be reached in 1 hour and 20 minutes.
• Fez Airport. Serving the historic city in the interior of the country, Fez–Saïs Airport handles about 1.2 million travelers per year. The airport is a large hub for Air Arabia Maroc and Ryanair, and is also served by eight other airlines. Fez Airport is located 215km (133 miles) east of Rabat and can be reached in about 2 hours and 20 minutes.
• Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport. Located in the northwestern corner of the country and named after the legendary Arab traveler, Tangier-Ibn Battouta has flights by around 15 airlines, including the low-cost carriers easyJet, Transavia, and Volotea. Rabat is 250km (155 miles) south and takes about 2 hours and 40 minutes to reach. 

City facts

• Located on the coast of the ocean, Rabat has a Mediterranean climate. With hot, long summers and mild, short winters. The average high temperature is 27°C (81°F) in August, the warmest month, and 17°C (63°F) in January, the coldest. Precipitation is extremely low during the summer months, but winters are very rainy, with an especial increase in November and December.
• Rabat has been inhabited since the 12th century when a military outpost was established in the area by the Almohad dynasty (the city’s name means ‘fortification’ in Arabic). Later, the city was ruled by the Spanish, Barbary pirates, and French colonialists before replacing Fez as the capital of the French protectorate of Morocco in 1912. Despite being only the seventh-largest city in Morocco, Rabat retains the title to this day. 

Top sights and activities

• Kasbah of the Oudaias. The oldest part of the capital city, the fortress of the Oudaias (or Udayas) was first built in the 12th century by the Almohad Caliphate. You can get lost in its cute labyrinthine streets, visit the beautiful Andalusian Gardens, or enjoy the view of the nearby Atlantic Ocean.
• Chellah. First founded by Carthaginians more than 2000 years ago and later ruled by Romans and Moroccans, in this old city you can learn about the rich history of Rabat in one place. In more recent times, a great number of bird species have found home here, including a stork nest on the top of an old minaret.
• Rabat Zoo. Home to different species of animals from Morocco, Sahara, and the rest of Africa, Rabat Zoo tries to provide them with homes that are similar to their natural habitats, be they mountains, desert, or rain forest.
• Hassan Tower and nearby mausoleum. The tower was intended to become the minaret for the largest mosque in the entire world but the Moroccan ruler Yacoub al-Mansour, who had initiated the project, died before it could be completed. The beautiful patterns on the tower, and the pillars arranged in symmetrical perfection on the ground make this place a must-see on your visit to Rabat!
• Medina. Although not as vast as the one in Marrakesh or as full of craftsmen as that of Fez, Rabat’s Medina, or Old Town, is one of the most atmospheric areas of the capital city. Known for its medieval fountains and gates, and surrounded by some of the nicest green areas of the city, the Rabat Medina has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

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 60 km/h within populated areas.
• Even inside some big cities, and in the 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

• Skhirat. Just a half an hour’s drive from downtown Rabat, Skhirat is perhaps the most famous beach town near the capital city. Although Skhitar’s central area has become rather posh and crowded in recent years, you can easily find more quiet spots if you drive up or down the coast.
• Fez. Just a couple of hours drive from Rabat, Fez is one of the most famous cities of Morocco, and, indeed, North Africa. Visit its great markets or souks, where skilled leather tanners still practice their craft to this day.
• Maâmora Forest. Holding the title of the world’s largest cork oak forest, this nature reserve is home to many species of flora and fauna and is one of the largest green areas in all of Morocco.
• Casablanca. Just an hour’s drive from Rabat, you can visit the modern metropolis of Casablanca. Walk in the medina, which is one of the latest built in Morocco, visit the center and its art-deco buildings and marvel at the splendid architecture of the Hassan II mosque, built on the water.

Most popular cars

The most popular rental cars in Morocco are the Hyundai i10, the Dacia Logan, and the Renault Clio. Most national highways are in great shape, but if you plan to drive in the Atlas Mountains or in the Sahara Desert, getting a 4x4 vehicle can be a good idea. The most popular rental car types in Morocco are Economy, Mini, and Intermediate.

Further destinations

• Meknes. This is one of the four imperial cities of Morocco. Architect lovers should the huge gates of Bab Mansour, one of the largest - and considered as one of the most beautiful - city gates of Morocco with its tall columns, ancient arches and intricate turquoise tiles.  Other places worth visiting in Meknes are the Mausoleum of Sultan Moulay Ismail, the Royal Stables and its ancient medina. You can also take a day trip to the holy city of Moulay Idriss and Volubilis, one of Morocco's best-preserved Roman ruins and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 
• Essaouira. Located on the Atlantic Coast, beautiful Essaouira has long captured the imaginations of Arab poets and Western rock stars alike. Although the title is passionately contested, it also has a strong claim for being the seafood capital of Morocco.
• Marrakech. Timeless Morocco attracts visitors with Jemaa el-Fnaa, a square and a market in its historic medina quarter that is like the whole of Morocco in miniature. Watch street performers and snake and lizard charmers from the desert, join a local concert next to a bonfire, bargain for local crafts, and, when you’ve soaked yourself in the atmosphere for good, travel further to visit the snowy peaks of the nearby Atlas Mountains.
• Agadir. Located way down south, Agadir has quickly grown in stature to become one of Morocco’s main tourist attractions. The heart of the country’s Berber culture, the large port city is known for its museums, as well as some stunning nearby nature and some of the loveliest surfing spots on the Moroccan Atlantic coast. The drive from Rabat takes about five to six hours, with the possibility to travel either through Marrakesh or right along the coast and past the previously mentioned gem that is Essaouira.

Car rental prices in Rabat

• Small cars - from $17 per day
• Medium cars - from $18 per day
• Station wagons - from $34 per day
• Large cars - from $23 per day
• SUVs - from $23 per day
• Vans - from $38 per day
• Premium cars - from $49 per day

Money-saving and other tips

There are things you can do to get a good rental car deal in Rabat:

• Compare the rates of different rental car providers
• Book your rental car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit during the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Rabat is the cheapest in January when renting a car is almost 45% cheaper than the yearly average.