How to leave vehicle for <180 days, fly out, then reinsure
 

December 2024: Customs form required again - sometimes


Leaving via Marrakech airport you can get the passport exit stamp without informing anyone you've left your vehicle in the country. But it's random. Early Dec 2024 one of us passed through; we two at other counters got sent right back, having to negotiate our way the wrong way through various security controls. So much of the info in posts below 2020/2 about offices etc is valid again.

UPDATE: My own experience below was early Dec '24. But see this post post mid Dec: the process has been simplified. The loop into Arrivals Customs office in the map below may be redundant.

• Go to the right corner to a service entrance leading into the Arrivals area. There will be a bloke and small xray. Explain 'fiche douane vehicule' or similar.
• Once xrayed, turn right and right by the Arrivals hall exit big luggage xrays to the public area you will see 3 Douane offices. Go in, show your white TVIP card and they will print off an A4 authorisation form. No need to show vehicle ownership doc.
• Go back out into the main public arrivals hall via a small service door and now proceed through the various departure controls as normal: boarding pass and passport hand scan > hand luggage xray > 2 Douaniers doing nothing.
• Right after them, as you enter the passport stamp hall queue, first go to 'Office 2' on the right. More Douaniers log your details off white card and A4 form. Or they give you a form to complete.
• Now proceed to police passport stamp, handing over your A4 form.
• After police stamp booths and before you go up the stairs to Duty Free/Departure, there is another exit stamp check.

https://sahara-overland.com/wp-conte...12/menara.jpeg

You have 180 days to retrieve the vehicle and leave Morocco.
Do not lose your small white TVIP card for when you come back.
When you fly back maybe months later the cop at immigration may remind you you have a vehicle in Morocco.

By then your Moroccan insurance (if needed) will have run out.
See later posts on how to reinsure (in Marrakech) without having to go back to a port.

Is there a time limit on how long you can leave it there without penalty (or worse)?

vehicles can only be in Morocco 180 days per calendar year

Chris you've been able to leave vehicles anywhere without keys for some time now.

New procedure at Marrakech Airport, turn right enter g the terminal, ask for customs office, go through metal detector and find office marked customs. Takes about 5 minutes and they give you a bit of paper. Present bit of paper at passport control, fly home. Simples

(I'm offering a vehicle babysitting service, payment in beer, food or diesel please)

As per TheWarden above, we did this yesterday. Very simple. No need to leave your keys.

Is there a waypoint or an arrow on a map for this Douanes airport office to save staggering about in the heat with all my gear?

Ta.

I've tried to find a floor plan online but no luck. I'll try to describe it.
If you enter the main terminal head to the right, follow the departure signs.
Go past the AirMoroc check-in desks and pass a pharmacy.
Continue to the entrances to the departure area (where you put your bags through the x-ray machines). Don't enter. Look to your right, there's a glass door with a "Services" sign above it.
Go through the door, there's an x-ray machine for your bags and yourself. Go through and turn right for maybe 30 metres.
You are now in the baggage reclaim area.
It feels like you're doing a u-turn back to the main terminal. The customs offices are just there, to your right.
Very helpful and easy:-)
They just need your passport, the credit card-sized white import document (TVIP) and vehicle registration.
Exit doors lead back int the main terminal.
You hand over the piece of paper to the Police when they stamp you out on the way through Departures

Ah, got it. Inside the terminal building.
For some reason I took it to mean some outpost portacabin in the airport complex.

That will be easy then.

ta

(thread shortened to stick to useful facts)

Got a safe place to leave my moto but where are people leaving their cars?
Some others in the same fix may need suggestions.
Does one have to pay?

Le Relais de Marrakech camping,
31.707179, -7.989949

airport carpark are 2 options.

I'll be out until May and happy to check in on vehicles stored when I'm in the vicinity

Tony and Jan Johnson said a couple of days ago they were headed south for a while but they have been maintaining a base camp at Le Relais for the past several weeks whilst visiting other parts of the country.

Given the choice between zombie-free Morocco and the nightmare of Spain (which in any case they can't reach), they will likely be in Morocco for some weeks.

I spent a couple of nights in one of the bungalows at Le Relais, it's a lovely site. Just watch out for the peacock scat (polite word for shite).

PM'd you!

Reactivating a TVIP after Covid shutdown
 

Am I right in assuming on arrival at RAK, one goes to the same Customs office in the airport to reactivate the TVIP (even if it has been way more than 6 months)?

Not sure you need to Chris, they waived TVIP requirements for overstays until the end of the year.

But being Morocco and uncertain times, it wouldn't hurt to confirm with customs at the airport when you arrive

Morocco TVIP
 

Fyi, on flying in (to repair my bike) I didn’t bother visiting the Customs at the airport and it seems there was no need (to complicate matters unnecessarily).

On leaving from RAK a week later (I was flying back later for the bike) I was sent back from the Immigration Police (the last check before entering the departure lounge) back through scanning to the Customs, as the system recognised I had a vehicle in Mk and I needed a new authorisation form.

That was easily done in an office right behind the Customs inspection desk on the right as you enter the scanning area (and where Customs occasionally stop you and ask about money and stuff).
This was not the harder-to-find Customs office out in the Terminal I used last time and mentioned above (pre-Covid).

With my old 2020 TVIP white card he did me a new authorisation in a couple of minutes but said when I came back (and before the end of 2021) I would have to renew my TVIP white card at Customs in Gueliz (a west Marrakech suburb) where the bike happens to be), prior to riding north for the ferry.

I went back through scanning and immigration where the Police kept the new Customs authorisation (white A4) and stamped me out.

Bottom line: the Customs authorisation to leave a vehicle in Mk needs to be re-issued each time you fly out (makes sense) but only takes a couple of minutes.

But to get your vehicle out of the country before the end of 2021 (or if you have left it here for more than 6 months due to Covid shutdown) you need to renew your TVIP at Customs in town.
Now 2023, post Covid and back to normal, leaving it more than 6 months is probably not a good idea.

The Gueliz office is here, just off Place de la Liberté (Mohamed V)

Added November:
The place linked is correct but the Douanes entrance is down the side street and left again through the big blue gates.
Wait to go into office - explain situation - he takes your small, white TVIP, puts # in the system and prints off an A4 TVIP update with a QR and ending Dec 31 2021, as mentioned earlier with regard to overdue Covid vehicles.
All took about 60 seconds.

Leaving Landcruiser in Morocco
 

Any advise as to where to park up my Landcruiser when I depart Marrakesh in a couple of weeks? I’d like to leave it for a few months so hopefully somewhere not too expensive and secure

I’m assuming no change to the advise on the previous thread, able to leave vehicle for up to 180 days and simply get release from customs, on presenting your TVIP?

Thanks all in advance

no change in procedure.

Lots of people use Le Relais campsite or the airport parking

Brian please let me know if you succeeded in leaving car in La Relais. I am going to Morocco in March and need to leave the car there for few months as well. I have a guy in Asni (30km south of Marrakesh), but I dont want to rely only on him.
Thx

Update on leaving vehicle in Morocco
 

So I left my Landcruiser at Marrakesh Airport on Saturday morning before flying back to Ireland. Worth noting
- I choose airport rather than Le Relais as the cost difference is marginal and Le Relais is a half hour taxi ride (airport is 38 dhr p.d. And Relai is 30)
- I had emailed Relais and they confirmed they do still offer the service at the daily rate of 30 dhr (email - lerelaisedemarrakech @ hot mail.fr)
- customs process at the airport is pretty straight forward. Bring copy of passport, driving licence, vehicle registration and the temporary import slip). Customs office is in the arrivals section. I wasn’t asked for the customs approval letter when i went through departures so you may get away with it but frankly, as it only takes 10 mins, its worth the peace of mind
- Park in area F (long stay) of Parking 1

Thank you Brian..

W

Left car in Morroco yesterday and as Brian mentioned, nobody at immigration asked for customs approval...

.
UPDATED JAN 24 with actual location

Took a lot of finding online, this address
Version off their FB: Av. Allal El Fassi, Imm [building] A, app 8, operation El Boustane 2, MARRAKECH

Long story short: you will struggle to locate this address.
This is the actual location: 31.66181, -8.00743
Once there follow the signs, see pictures below.

Or call 05 24 29 21 11
and they will whatsapp you the location.
(another number worked whatsapping: 06 61 41 38 63, but did not respond on the day)

Email (untested): hiba.assurance @gmail. com
https://www.facebook.com/www.hibaassurance.ma/

Not sure anyone speaks English.

Once located, took 10 mins with V5, passport and maybe white TVIP card to get sorted.
Two months for my 300cc moto 1550dh. Started next day.
Two months later I needed another week; 10 days was minimum and cost me 660dh - not such a good deal.
Feb 2025 another month was 970dh - took 10 mins.

I was told office is open Mon-Fri 9 - 6.30
Saturdays 9.30 - 11

Casablanca
 

Does anyone know where the custom is at in Casablanca Airport? I am leaving my moto until January or February. They still require me to notify them, since its stamped on my passport?


I cleared customs and immigrations, without anyone asking about leaving moto. I assume since I have TVIP permit is still current and I intend on returning before it expires.
I entered by ferry from Tangier and they had the immigration on the ferry over, and I remember handing my moto registration , again at customs when exciting. My passport was never actually stamped, but again I assumed they inputed it in the computer. The entry to Morocco was super easy and efficient. I passed on the insurance since a group of 80 were still being processed from the previous ferry, I returned the next day after trying numerous insurance places in different cities. CAT is the only insurance that will cover foreign vehicles and then some of their offices don't bind it except at the ferrys or major cities. I rode almost 3 weeks and was never stopped for any inspections , just a wave and a smile!
Morocco Rocks!!

Left my bike in RAK the other week.
As some have mentioned lately, in the airport departure chain of queues, at Customs had I not volunteered to fill out a form (VIN, location, etc - 10 mins) and complete another authorisation form to show Police (next step), the immigration Police would have been none the wiser.
Immigration policewoman looked baffled at my Customs authorisation form and handed it back.
I did it because in Oct 2021 I was sent back to do it (see earlier post).
So now it seems C and P systems not as connected as was thought and you can dodge the form filling.
At worst you're sent back; will take 10 mins.

Important thing will be to not lose your white TVIP card for overland exit with vehicle before 6 months are up.

A few weeks later flew in for a week.
Heading back, did not bother stopping a Customs and passed through immigration police with no bother.

Another note worthy change is they no longer stamp or sign the little card when you exit Morocco.

It’s all processed online but means you have no proof that the vehicle has left. Historically I’ve always kept my last card as evidence I took the vehicle out. Now you get no confirmation. Could cause some problems on re entry if the computer systems aren’t updated correctly. When I entered in September a UK biker was stopped from entry because the computer said they hadn’t removed an old bike previously.

Exit Morocco
 

[QUOTE=Chris Scott

Important thing will be to not lose your white TVIP card for overland exit with vehicle before 6 months are up.
[/QUOTE] Cris
Great Book!! I will use it when I return to Casablanca in January

I am still looking at getting my moto to Cape Town, not any luck with shipping info, so
I will go to the cargo in Casablanca and ask around, went to DHL, last time, told to go directly to airport.
I will then decide if I will ride south and possibly leave it in Dakar?
Either way I will have to exit or extend my TVIP.
Can I go to West Sahara and check it out or do they consider this still Morocco?
Alot of pleasant options!!

smiles
Jeff

There’s no way to extend the Morocco TVIP it’s 180 days per year and that’s it.

And yes the WS is still Morocco

Dakar?
 

Thanks, I am good until March, so I will have time to decide,
How is the border crossing into Mauritana? I assume I can check my moto out from Morocco there?
I have read they will issue a TVIP? Only for 10 days?
Has anyone left their moto in Dakar for 6 months of storage? Good option?
Just considering my options since I will eventually have to leave Morocco.

Thanks for your sage advice.
Jeff

Mauri crossing is ok and yes you can check your bike out from there.

There's been some unsubstantiated reports today of possible problems at the border and WS region yesterday and today but friends travelled from Tantan to Dakhla without issue over the last 2 days

Yep, there is now way to extend TVIP, I tried at several customs offices. BUT if your TVIP expires, you are just charged 1000MAD which you pay at the bank as happened to me on september 2023. So at the border you get paper with bank account and the sum, then you go to the nearest bank (at Morocco Mauritania border it is just shed on the left side before you enter border gate) and pay the money. Then you go back and pass receipt of payment and good to go. What I understood if you leave country in 3 month AFTER TVIP expires and pay the money, nothing happens.
Michal

Thanks for all the info provided here, it was very helpful! I just left my car at RAK parking today, the price is now 42dh per day. If anyone wonders - you have to pay once you pickup the car and card payments are possible. At the airport you have to check-in before going to customs (the guard there wanted to see my boarding pass).

Just to confirm the current procedure in Marrakech. December 2023.

I left my vehicles (van with bike in the back) at the hotel.

Go through to departures and the first desk/check that you come to is customs where people can declare stuff they are taking with them. Explain that you have a vehicle and need authorization to leave it. They take you to a side office to fill in a form - basically swearing that you are temporarily leaving the vehicle and will come back for it. He then gives you the authorisation (sheet of A4) which you hand in at passport control. And that's it !

This can only be done on the day of travel.

Details for renewing insurance in Marrakech clarified/updated.
See:
https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hu...0-2#post635507

See 1st post of this thread.
https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hu...630#post609286
Back to the old rules: form needed.

Just done this - details
 

This is now a very straightforward procedure - no need to find service doors or anything else.
1. Check in as normal first (technically you DO need to print off a boarding pass , but EasyJet will print one out for you with no fuss. Can’t speak for other airlines). You do need to check in before customs. Head for departures.
2. When you get to the gates where you have to scan your boarding pass, do so and walk through. To your immediate right is the customs building, and you will be funnelled towards the end of the building where two customs people will be sitting. If they aren’t, knock on the door.
3. Show them your white vehicle TIP card. They will give you a pre-stamped authorisation form on which you write your name and passport number.
4. You are done. Smile at the nice people and continue to passport control.
5. If asked, you can show passport control your authorisation form.

That’s it!

The procedure for Essaouira airport. Just now am leaving Morocco for a flying visit to Germany. Bike parked at the hotel I stayed at in town. Essaouira airport is very small.

1. In the entry hall as you enter, look left where the arrivals exit is and go there. Explain your situation to someone in uniform loitering there. There are lots of uninformed types everywhere.

I was escorted the wrong way through arrivals security to the customs office. I think I spoke to the main customs boss. All very friendly and professional. I again explained in dubious French what I was doing. He completed a form that I signed. He then gave me a different piece of paper for immigration. I was then escorted back thought arrivals security into the entry hall.

2. Got my boarding pass from the airline.

3. Passed through departures security

4. At immigration/ passport control, the officer stamped me out. I volunteered the document that the customs boss had given me. The immigration officer transcribed something from his screen (he still had my passport) onto that piece of paper. I asked if I could have it back, but he said he'd keep it. (I'd taken a picture of it in the interim).

Am now waiting for the flight. I wish German immigration/ customs/ security were as pleasant as their Moroccan brethren.

TVIP over-stay
 

If, like me, you leave your vehicle in Mk for months at a time, make sure you check your white TVIP card expiry date on subsequent visits.
I didn’t when I arrived in late October,, assuming I’d be clear till April ’25 (6 months).
I omitted to factor in several months last winter with another bike, so the six-month/year rule was automatically applied to my ID, not vehicle and my November white card stated expiry Feb 10 2025.
Being 10 days overdue cost me an hour and 1043dh (80 quid) at Tan Med today.
Customs inspector was very agreeable and apologetic that the system was playing up and he had to go to another building to process it. Receipt looked like 1000dh fee (100/day?) plus a few taxes.
(Just realised it was my golden opportunity to ask the chief about bringing in vehicles with owners not present. Darn.)
You don’t even need to show your white card any more. Bloke with a tablet scans your reg and you drive on down to the scanner. Unless you’re over-stayed, like me.

Was resigned to missing my ‘1pm’ ferry, but luckily what I thought was the ferry pulling away at 13.20 was the ferry backing up to berth. Didn’t leave till 3pm, as is common. I should have known.