Taking a car to Morocco: insurance, green card and temporary import

Your Spanish insurance does not cover Morocco by default. According to Ofesauto, Morocco is among the countries where it is compulsory to drive with the International Insurance Certificate, the former green card (international insurance certificate). Since 2021 it has been a digital document that can be printed on a blank sheet.

The important detail: your insurer is not obliged to give it to you. Ask for it weeks ahead and check that the Morocco box (MA) is not crossed out.

If you cannot get it, the alternative is border insurance, which is taken out at the country's border. We have not found a rate published by a body we can cite, so we give no prices. The Foreign Ministry recommends, in any case, entering with the fullest cover possible.

On entry, Moroccan customs register the vehicle under the temporary import (admission temporaire) regime. The Spanish Embassy in Rabat states that temporary import is limited to six months a year and cannot exceed three consecutive months; after that the vehicle has to be taken out of the country. Other Moroccan sources talk of 180 days a year, consecutive or not: if you plan to stay more than three months, confirm it with customs before you travel.

The form is called D16 ter and, according to the Embassy, it can be filled in before you arrive. We could not verify the online procedure on the Moroccan customs website, which rejected all our queries; the port of Tanger Med refers travellers to it.

Entry with a vehicle is noted on your police record, and you have to leave with the same vehicle you entered with, unless you can show documentary proof of why it is staying in Morocco.

If the driver is not the registered keeper of the vehicle, the Foreign Ministry requires a loan document validated at the Embassy or a consulate of Morocco in Spain. The ferry companies check it too: GNV asks for the original vehicle registration document and a certified authorisation if the driver is not the owner.

This affects company cars, a relative's car and hire cars. We have not found a published rule on Spanish hire cars: ask the company in writing before you book, because without its authorisation and without valid insurance you will not be able to cross.

A Spanish driving licence is valid in Morocco for a maximum of one year, according to the Embassy.

We were unable to consult the Moroccan road safety agency. According to the regulations reproduced by a specialist website, the general limits are 60 km/h in town, 100 km/h on the open road and 120 km/h on motorways for cars, and driving with 0.20 g/l of alcohol in the blood or more is an offence. Take it as a reference and obey the road signs.

Royal Gendarmerie checks on the road are routine: keep your licence and the car papers to hand. According to the Spanish Foreign Ministry, after an accident the vehicle is not moved until the Royal Gendarmerie arrives and draws up the report.

Moroccan motorways are tolled and are run by Autoroutes du Maroc. There is an electronic toll tag, the Pass Jawaz, which is sold at its agencies, at toll stations and at service areas, and is topped up online or with the app.

From Tanger Med you join the motorway directly towards Tangier, Rabat and Casablanca.

Go through this the night before, not in the queue at the port.