Car Accident in Morocco: What to Do Next

A collision can turn a drive into a confusing few hours, especially if the vehicle is rented or registered abroad. Deal with anyone’s safety first, then make sure the accident is documented and the insurer or rental company knows what happened.

First: make the scene safe

Stop in a safe place if possible, warn approaching traffic without putting yourself in danger, and check for injuries. Call the appropriate emergency service if someone is hurt, trapped or in immediate danger. Never move a seriously injured person unless an immediate hazard makes it essential; follow emergency responders’ instructions.

If someone is injured, call civil protection or an ambulance on 150 from a mobile (15 from a landline). In towns and cities, call police on 190 from a mobile (19 from a landline); on rural roads and motorways, contact the Royal Gendarmerie on 177. The mobile number 112 also usually reaches police. See our emergency contacts for further guidance. If you are unsure whom to contact, ask an emergency dispatcher or your insurer’s assistance service. Do not pursue another driver or confront someone who leaves the scene.

Injuries versus material damage

Morocco’s Bureau Central Marocain des Sociétés d’Assurances distinguishes accidents involving only property damage from those with injury or death. For a purely material collision, the standard constat amiable records both drivers’ accounts; both parties normally complete and sign it. An injury or death requires an official report from police or the Royal Gendarmerie.

Do not sign a version of events you do not understand or agree with. If the other driver refuses to co-operate, contact the police or gendarmerie rather than inventing missing details. If there are injuries, do not try to replace the official process with a private cash settlement.

Record the details without escalating

If you can do so safely, record the location, time, vehicle plates, drivers’ names and contact details, insurers, witnesses and the positions and visible damage of the vehicles. Photograph the scene only where doing so is safe and appropriate. Keep copies of any report, accident form and paperwork you sign.

Tell your insurer as soon as possible and no later than five days after the accident. Article 20 of Morocco’s Insurance Code sets this reporting rule; regulator ACAPS also provides accident guidance. Missing the deadline can affect cover, subject to the law’s exceptions. Contact your insurer promptly to confirm required documents and whether any rental or international policy has additional procedures.

If the vehicle is rented

Call the rental firm’s emergency or accident number as soon as it is safe. Ask for its required report, police documentation, towing arrangements and replacement-vehicle policy. Keep the rental agreement and the pickup condition record.

Do not authorise repairs, recovery charges or a replacement vehicle without checking what the rental agreement and insurer permit. A damage excess, roadside assistance and liability protection are separate matters; ask which costs are covered and who pays upfront. Keep receipts and written messages. Do not hand your passport to another driver as security.

If the car has foreign registration

Carry your vehicle registration, driving licence and insurance evidence. Record the foreign vehicle’s insurance certificate or Green Card details where available. Contact your own insurer and ask whether it has a Moroccan correspondent for the claim. The BCMA is Morocco’s international motor-insurance bureau, but the claims route depends on which vehicle and insurer are involved. Confirm towing, reporting and temporary transport arrangements with your insurer.

If the vehicle is not drivable, establish where it will be stored and how any customs or temporary-admission arrangements will be handled before abandoning it. See our ferry-with-a-car guide if you entered Morocco with a vehicle registered abroad.

Getting people and belongings home

Ask the insurer or assistance provider about approved towing, safe onward transport, accommodation and help with passengers. The Moroccan insurance regulator ACAPS describes how vehicle-assistance cover can include recovery and help for passengers, depending on the contract.

Before leaving the scene, confirm whether the police, rental provider or insurer still need you there. Record the location of the damaged vehicle and the contact details of whoever has taken it. If you were injured, seek appropriate medical care and preserve reports and invoices.

The next day

Before arranging repairs, ask whether your insurer requires an expert inspection or has waived it in writing. Repairing the vehicle before damage is documented can complicate a claim. Send the documents requested by the insurer promptly. Keep a dated record of calls and written decisions. If any account of the event is disputed, ask the insurer how to request a correction or escalate. Avoid promising payment or accepting blame simply to make a tense situation end faster.

For emergency numbers and broader travel safety, use our Morocco safety guide.