Morocco adds Latin letters to vehicle registration plates under new regulations

Morocco will begin adding Latin letters alongside Arabic characters on standard vehicle registration plates under new regulations published in the Official Gazette, as part of broader amendments to the country’s vehicle registration system.

The changes were introduced through Decision No. 640.26, issued by Minister of Transport and Logistics Abdessamad Kayouh on March 26, 2026, amending Decision No. 2711.10 governing the registration of motor vehicles and trailers.

Under the new rules, the second part of the standard registration number, which identifies the vehicle’s registration series, will now consist of one or two Arabic letters in a standardized Moroccan script accompanied by their Latin-letter equivalents. Previously, the registration series included only Arabic letters.

The decision allows vehicles already carrying the current registration plates to continue using them until the first transfer of ownership, when the new format will become mandatory.

The amendments also introduce changes affecting vehicle ownership procedures. Under the revised regulations, authorized dealers will now be allowed to submit applications for vehicle registration certificates, formerly known as “gray cards,” or ownership documents on behalf of buyers who purchase vehicles through Murabaha financing contracts.

The new legislation further expands the scope of registration rules to include motorcycles, light three-wheeled motor vehicles, and light quadricycles, in addition to the categories already covered under the previous regulation.

The provisions concerning these light vehicles will enter into force on Jan. 1, 2027. Ownership documents and registration plates issued before that date will remain valid until the vehicle’s first ownership transfer, the issuance of a duplicate ownership certificate, or the replacement of the registration plate.

The decision also introduces a temporary administrative exemption for newly purchased motorcycles, light three-wheeled vehicles, and light quadricycles. Until Dec. 31, 2027, owners registering these vehicles will not be required to submit a copy of Form 18 bearing the current year’s “sale of new vehicles” endorsement in the name of the authorized dealer that sold the vehicle.

For other motor vehicles, existing registration plates may continue to be used until the vehicle changes ownership.

However, the regulation sets Dec. 31, 2026, as the final deadline for using the current registration plates on Moroccan-registered motor vehicles operating in international traffic.