Opening a car rental agency in Morocco

The requirements in short

Since 15 April 2024, self-drive car rental follows a new cahier des charges from the Ministry of Transport and Logistics. The press reports these requirements:

• At least 7 cars, up from 5 before 2024.
• A fully paid-up capital of at least 500,000 MAD.
• A qualified manager: a technical or university degree, or two years of experience in the trade, proven through CNSS.
• A registered office, owned or rented, used only for the business.
• Cars no older than 5 years for petrol or diesel, 6 years for hybrids and 7 years for electric cars.
• A clean criminal record, and a company registered for self-drive car rental.

Some guides say that owned cars can stand in for the blocked capital. Have the transport office in your city confirm it.

The steps, in order

• Choose the company form (most often a SARL or a single-member SARL AU) and request the negative certificate for its name.
• Find the premises and sign the lease.
• Deposit the capital at the bank, or buy the cars, then set up the company: articles, trade register entry for self-drive car rental, tax number and CNSS registration.
• File with the regional or provincial transport office for the agreement in principle. The press says it is valid for 6 months.
• Register the cars in the company's name and insure them for rental.
• Complete the file to get the final decision, then open.

The papers to prepare

• The company's articles and trade register extract.
• The manager's criminal record.
• Their degree, or the work and CNSS certificates that prove their experience.
• The lease or title deed of the premises.
• The bank certificate of blocked capital, or the cars' registration cards.
• The cars' insurance certificates.

The exact list comes from the transport office: ask for it before you file, it saves a second trip.

The costs to plan for

The cars weigh more than everything else: paid cash, on credit or leased, the down payment and first instalments come before the first rentals. Also plan for:

• The premises: rent, lease deposit, sign and counter furniture.
• Setting up the company, and an accountant.
• Fleet insurance, the biggest cost after the cars.
• A GPS in each car, to follow the fleet and find a car.
• Management software for contracts, deposits and cash.

Keep three months of costs in reserve: an agency that opens off season fills its fleet slowly.

The first months

• Write a contract and a check-out report for every rental, with photos.
• Follow every deposit until it is returned, cash or card.
• Note each car's due dates: insurance, roadworthiness test, road tax.
• Watch each car's age so you replace it before the cahier des charges limit.
• Be easy to find: a Google Maps listing, WhatsApp and an online booking page.

How Tomobil helps

Tomobil prepares the contract in French and Arabic, follows deposits and each agent's cash, reminds you of paper due dates and flags the cars nearing the age limit. Your online booking page is included.

15 MAD excl. VAT per car per month (minimum 129 MAD), with a 3-month free trial.

Common questions