Do I need extra car insurance in Morocco beyond CDW?
Usually yes, at least one extra. Basic CDW in Morocco still leaves you with an excess of thousands of dirhams, and tires and glass are often sold as a separate add-on. Third-party liability is normally already part of the rental, so the extras worth weighing are a lower excess and a tire and windshield cover.
What does basic CDW cover in Morocco?
CDW is the collision damage waiver. Some companies call it LDW (loss damage waiver) and include theft. It is a term in your rental contract: the company agrees to limit what you owe if the car is damaged or stolen, up to an excess.
The clearest published example we found is Sixt’s Morocco terms. If you refuse the waiver, “the customer will be held liable for the full value of the car.” The same page lists third-party liability with “unlimited cover for personal injuries and material damages.” It also says that protection is void if an unauthorized driver uses the car or the driver lacks the required license.
Treat those figures as one brand’s example, not a Moroccan rule. Your own contract decides.
How big is the excess on a rental car in Morocco?
The excess is the amount you pay before the waiver takes over. On Sixt’s Morocco page it depends on the car class and runs from 14,000 MAD to 45,000 MAD, with mid-range classes between 18,000 MAD and 40,000 MAD.
| Car class (Sixt code) | Standard excess | With reduced-excess option |
|---|---|---|
| Smallest listed (MDAR) | 14,000 MAD | 7,000 MAD |
| Largest listed (GFAR, UDAR, JFAR) | 45,000 MAD | 27,000 MAD |
| Any class, minimum-excess option | not applicable | 0 MAD |
Source: Sixt Morocco rental information. Other companies set their own amounts.
That gap matters because of the roads. The Government of Canada describes national roads as generally good but narrow and congested, warns that drivers do not always follow traffic rules, and advises against driving at night. The UK FCDO also notes that poor lighting makes night driving dangerous.
What does CDW not cover?
Several items are priced separately or left out. Here is how one brand’s terms treat them, and what to ask your own company.
| Item | What Sixt Morocco’s terms say | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Tires and glass | Covered only by the separate Tyre and Windscreen Protection, which includes side and rear windows and has a 0 MAD deductible. Without it you pay the full damage. | Is this add-on included in the price? |
| Underbody | The page does not mention it. | Is underbody damage excluded? This matters on gravel and mountain roads. |
| Interior and roof | Interior soiling or damage can be reduced or removed with Interior Protection. Roof and interior damage are excluded from the third-party cover. | What counts as interior damage? |
| Your own injuries | Personal Accident Protection limits: 20,000 MAD for invalidity, 20,000 MAD for death, 5,000 MAD for medical costs. | Is your travel insurance enough? |
| Extra drivers | Protection is void if an unauthorized driver uses the car. | Is every driver named on the contract? |
Does my credit card or home auto policy cover a rental in Morocco?
Possibly for damage to the rental car itself, and only if your card’s rules allow it. It will not cover liability, and your home auto policy generally does not travel with you.
- Your Mileage May Vary says card coverage is usually primary outside the US but covers only the vehicle: damage, theft and loss-of-use charges. Liability is “the one thing your credit card does not cover at all.” It names Ireland, Israel and Jamaica as common exclusions and does not mention Morocco.
- NerdWallet lists country exclusions for Visa, Mastercard and American Express, and Morocco is not among the countries it quotes. It also says luxury and high-value cars are excluded, and that card coverage can become primary when you drive abroad where your own auto policy does not apply.
The two guides describe primary versus secondary cover a little differently, so the issuer’s own Guide to Benefits settles it. Call the issuer and ask four things: is Morocco covered, is your car class covered, are tires and glass excluded, and must you decline the rental company’s waiver in full.
Is a reduced-excess or zero-excess option worth it?
It is worth it when the excess is larger than the loss you are willing to carry. Multiply the add-on’s daily price by the days you will drive, then compare that total with the excess you would owe on a bad day.
| Your situation | What tends to make sense |
|---|---|
| Your card covers Morocco and your car class, and you can absorb the excess | The basic waiver may be enough. Get the card’s cover confirmed first. |
| You are not sure your card applies, or it excludes tires and glass | Take a reduced-excess option and the tire and windshield cover. |
| You plan mountain passes, gravel or night driving | Ask about underbody, wheels and glass before you book. The Tizi n’Tichka guide covers that road. |
| You want no dispute at drop-off | A minimum-excess option, where offered, lowers what you can owe to 0 MAD on Sixt’s terms. |
Also ask whether a lower excess changes the deposit. Sixt’s page says an advance charge approval is held on your card, from 14,000 MAD to 45,000 MAD depending on the car, but it does not say the amount falls with a lower excess.
What should I check on the contract before I pay?
Read these lines on the paper in front of you, not on the website:
- The excess in MAD for the exact car you are taking.
- Whether tires, the windshield, and the side and rear windows are covered.
- Whether underbody and wheel damage are excluded.
- The deposit amount and the date it is released.
- That every driver is named on the contract and holds a valid license. Sixt requires two years of license holding.
- The roadside assistance number and what it covers.
- The accident procedure. The Government of Canada advises keeping a “constat à l’amiable” in the vehicle, and says police usually do not attend damage-only accidents, so the drivers fill in a joint report.
Take photos or a short video of every panel, the wheels and the windshield before you leave the lot. For wider road advice, read our guide on whether it is safe to drive in Morocco.
FAQ: car rental insurance in Morocco
Is insurance included when I rent a car in Morocco?
Basic third-party liability is normally part of the rental. Sixt’s Morocco terms describe it as unlimited for personal injuries and material damages. Cover for the rental car itself comes through the waiver, with an excess.
Can I refuse the CDW in Morocco?
Each company sets its own rules. At Sixt Morocco, a renter who does not accept the loss damage waiver is liable for the full value of the car. Ask how refusing changes the deposit before you rely on a card.
Does my US auto insurance cover a rental car in Morocco?
Generally not. Your Mileage May Vary says a home auto policy generally does not extend overseas, so you rely on a card, the rental company’s cover or an add-on.
Does Visa, Mastercard or American Express cover Morocco?
The two guides we read do not name Morocco among excluded countries, but that is not a confirmation. Ask your issuer. Coverage can also exclude luxury and high-value cars.
Are tires and the windshield covered by CDW?
Not by default on the terms we read. Sixt sells a separate Tyre and Windscreen Protection. Check the same line on your contract.
What should I do after an accident?
The Government of Canada says police usually do not attend damage-only accidents, so both drivers complete a joint report, and you should not move the cars after an injury accident until police arrive. The UK FCDO says both parties sign a “constat amiable”. Then call the rental company.
Do I still need travel insurance?
Yes. The UK FCDO tells travelers to get insurance that covers their itinerary and activities. The Government of Canada notes that doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment, and recommends cover for medical evacuation and hospital stays.
Does my driving license affect my cover?
It can. Sixt says protection is void if the driver lacks the required license. The UK FCDO says UK drivers need their UK license and a 1968 international driving permit, so confirm the rule that applies to you before you travel.
Want to check cover before you book?
Marralux hands over cars at six Moroccan airports, with 24/7 roadside assistance and insurance support on WhatsApp at +212 764-025773. Ask there which cover applies to the car you want, or look through the Marralux fleet.
Sources
Pages opened for this article, all checked on 1 November 2026.
- Sixt Morocco rental information: protections, excess amounts, deposit, license rules.
- UK FCDO, Morocco safety and security: driving license and IDP, accidents, night driving. Page shows an update of 19 August 2026.
- UK FCDO, Morocco travel advice: travel insurance advice.
- Government of Canada, Morocco travel advice: road conditions, accidents, medical payment.
- NerdWallet, what credit card rental coverage does not include
- Your Mileage May Vary, rental car insurance abroad
