Rabat – Morocco’s National Road Safety Agency (NARSA) has announced a new unified model for vehicle license plates that will combine Arabic letters with their Latin equivalents and include the “MA” country code on the same plate.
The new system is part of a broader effort to standardize vehicle registration and address practical difficulties faced by Moroccan vehicles traveling internationally.
The measure was introduced through Minister of Transport and Logistics Decision No. 640.26, which was published on August 3 in Official Gazette No. 7531. The decision amends and supplements an earlier decision issued on September 29, 2010, concerning the registration of motor vehicles and trailers.
What will change?
Under the new system, the Arabic letter used in the vehicle registration series will appear alongside its Latin equivalent. For example, an Arabic letter such as “أ” will be accompanied by its Latin equivalent “A.”
The “MA” code, which identifies Morocco, will also be integrated directly into the license plate instead of being displayed separately.
The new model also standardizes the shape, dimensions, and technical specifications of the plates for vehicles used both inside Morocco and abroad.
NARSA said the changes aim to address practical problems caused by differences between the plate format used in Morocco and the format previously required for international travel.
When will the new plates be used?
The new model has been mandatory since the publication of the decision for newly registered vehicles purchased in Morocco. It also applies to vehicles imported from abroad, whether they are new or used.
Existing plates, however, will remain valid under different conditions depending on the type of vehicle and its use.
Vehicles registered under the regular series that carry plates without Latin letters and comply with the requirements for driving in Morocco can continue using their existing plates until the first transfer of ownership.
For vehicles registered under the regular series and used for international travel, existing plates that carry Latin letters and the “MA” identifier separately from the plate will remain valid until December 31, 2026.
After that date, they must be replaced with the new unified model.
Motorcycles to follow in 2027
The new numbering system will also apply to motorcycles, with the new system for different motorcycle categories scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2027.
NARSA has called on all manufacturers of vehicle license plates to comply with Decision No. 640.26.
The agency said manufacturers must strictly follow the required design, dimensions, and technical specifications of the new plates and their components.
The reform is intended to create a single standardized system that can be used for vehicles operating within Morocco as well as those traveling abroad, while gradually replacing the different formats currently in circulation.
