Morocco’s Vehicle Import Rules: What Expats Need to Know for Holiday Trips

A strictly regulated temporary admission regime

The customs regime of temporary admission allows MREs to import a personal vehicle - passenger car or light commercial vehicle - for a duration of 180 days per calendar year. This period can be used in one go or in several fractioned stays. However, this is a non-renewable annual limit: beyond these 180 days, the vehicle is in violation, even if it remains parked without being driven.

The main condition to benefit from this is to prove habitual residence abroad, via a residence permit, work contract, or any other official document. The vehicle registration must also be in the name of the MRE.

A possible extension, but under conditions

In certain cases, particularly when the stay in Morocco extends beyond December 31, an exceptional six-month extension can be granted. It applies only from December 1 of the current year, and provided that the request is made before the end of the initial period. This extension is automatically deducted from the following year’s quota.

It is important to note that this tolerance does not apply to people whose valid stay period has already elapsed before December. In this case, customs apply fixed penalties.

What are the penalties for exceeding the time limit?
Exceeding the authorized duration results in a progressive fine:

• 1,000 dirhams if the excess does not exceed 30 days;
• 2,500 dirhams between 31 and 60 days;
• 5,000 dirhams up to six months;
• And up to 10,000 dirhams beyond 180 days.

In addition to the fine, the vehicle can no longer circulate in Morocco without specific authorization. In the most serious cases, customs can proceed with the seizure of the vehicle.

How to regularize one’s situation?

Two solutions are available to MREs whose vehicle reaches the end of the 180 days:

• Re-export the vehicle outside Moroccan territory, personally or via a representative duly authorized by customs services;
• Regularize the customs status of the vehicle, meaning to register it permanently in Morocco, by paying the applicable duties and taxes.
• For those who can neither export nor regularize, a special scrapping procedure can be considered in case of serious breakdown or accident that has rendered the car unusable.

What to remember

Temporarily importing a car to Morocco is a right, but it comes with obligations. The vehicle’s stay duration is limited to six months per year, without possibility of renewal. Any violation of this rule exposes the owner to financial penalties, or even customs prosecution. It is therefore better to anticipate, know the procedures, and never let the temporary admission period expire without taking action.