Radical Change in Morocco’s License Plates: Details of the New Decree and Mandatory Deadlines

The Ministry of Transport and Logistics has issued a significant decree published in the Official Gazette under No. 640.26, introducing radical amendments to the previous decision No. 2711.10 regarding the registration of motor vehicles and trailers. This new measure aims to modernize the legal and logistical framework of the Kingdom’s transport sector, in line with modern standards and rapid technical developments.

In this context, the decree revealed prominent updates that will affect all car and motorcycle owners across various regions of Morocco, most notably the changes to the design and content of license plates to reflect a more modern and effective organizational identity.

Adoption of Latin Characters in License Plates

The new ministerial decree explicitly mandates the adoption of Latin characters alongside traditional Arabic letters in the standard series of vehicle license plates. This is not limited to characters alone; the decree precisely defines the shape, dimensions, and technical specifications of these new plates to ensure nationwide uniformity and facilitate reading by smart systems.

Deadlines for Changing Current Plates

The Ministry of Transport and Logistics has set a precise timeline for implementing this decision on the ground, specifying how vehicles with old plates will be handled according to the following cases:

Continued use of current plates: Owners of existing vehicles may continue to use their old plates normally until the first sale or transfer of vehicle ownership.

International traffic: Owners of vehicles used in international transport are required to adopt the entirely new plates before the end of December 2026.

Updates on Motorcycle Registration

The new legal framework has not neglected the motorcycle category, as the decree includes new regulatory provisions for the registration of certain classes of motorcycles. This regulatory part will take effect starting January 1, 2027, putting an end to the disorder that previously characterized some registration processes.

Administrative Facilitation for Islamic Finance Contracts

In a move aimed at encouraging modern financial transactions and simplifying procedures for citizens, the new decree introduced important provisions regarding vehicle acquisition under Islamic finance frameworks. The decree allows the dealer, in cases of vehicle acquisition via a Murabaha contract, to file the registration certificate or ownership title application on behalf of the customer. This will significantly contribute to reducing administrative hurdles and saving time for beneficiaries of these financing models.

This comprehensive regulatory overhaul is part of the competent authorities’ efforts to modernize the automotive and logistics sector in Morocco, enhance road safety, and provide a digital and advanced administrative environment that serves the aspirations of both citizens and investors.