Long term car rental vs buying in Marrakech

I can get you a great deal on car hire.

If you're alone or a couple with no more than one child, I really don't think you need a car in Marrakesh. There are a zillion petits taxis that will take you wherever you want to go at a low rate (just be sure that the driver uses his meter). Most trips around town will cost between 10-20 dh ($1-2 US). City buses are available, too, but are often crowded and slow, so taxis are preferable. To travel outside of the city, there are grands taxis, as well as very good train and bus service. Trains and buses are inexpensive. For example, you can travel by air-conditioned bus from Marrakesh to Agadir for 110 dh ($11). 

Petits taxis have a passenger limit of three people, so if you're a family of more than three, you'd more likely need a car.

Cars are expensive -- purchase price, insurance, maintenance, taxes, inspections -- so you'll save a lot of money using taxis. Also, in a taxi, you'll usually get a language lesson included in each trip. Taxi drivers are almost always great conversationalists.

At least go with taxis and public transportation for the first few months. Then, if you must have a car, you will have had a chance to get familiar with the market.

Hello if you are looking to stay in Morocco for years you will have to apply for a residence permit (carte de sejour). Also UK driving licence only valid for 3 months after arrival  after whicb you will need to take a Moroccan driving test if you want to drive. The theory part of the test is answering multi-choice questions in French or Arabe. Pass mark is 95 percent. If you have a French license permis de conduit you can get a Moroccan licence without taking a test. Best thing about a hire car is you only pay for fuel everything else the hire company takes care of  I never use the 'Blue Taxi's'
the standard of driving is very poor as the owner/driver has to get to the destinations as soon as possible to pick up another fare which means he drives far too fast and reckless. Road safety in Morocco is a big problem.
Best of luck.

Thank you Guys!

Hi,

I am currently living in Marrakech and will be working at a University 45 min away.   I am interested in buying a used car, preferably automatic, as I'm American and 99% of us do not know how to drive a manual car, myself included. Any suggestions? Thank you

It all depends on where you need to go. Taxis are cheap, 20dh or so for a 15 minute drive, therefore more economical than renting a Clio 250dh per day + fuel charges. It all depends if you have the finances to pay for the convenience.

From recollection your UK license only becomes invalid 6 months after obtaining your residence permit, where you'll need the Moroccan license. No residence permit, no UK license problems.

Renting from a local on the cheap is illegal, same as it would be in the UK; if you have an accident, or get stopped by police, how are you going to explain your relationship to the owner, what happens if the car breaks down for a long period etc.

Just realised this post was resurrected by the previous poster... hope my info helps all the same.

You need a carte de séjour to buy a car in Morocco.

In Marrakech, you don't need to buy a car. As the others mentioned, taxis and buses are cheap. Most Moroccans can't even afford cars, so they use public transportation or drive mopeds. You don't need license for moped. As for MIstral Travel, it's obvious he's just looking for money in his pocket. From my experience, even worse for hired car as safety goes, we had a driver  that was dosing off to sleep while driving from Marrakech to Casa while going to airport when we left after fajr.

@Yahya411 Do you need a carte de séjour to buy a 50cc moped?