Rabat – Morocco’s National Road Safety Agency (NARSA) has moved to dispel confusion over the country’s new unified vehicle license plate model, stressing that December 31 is not a general deadline for replacing all plates currently in circulation.
The clarification follows reports and interpretations suggesting that all vehicle owners would be required to replace their existing plates by the end of 2026.
In a statement issued Friday, NARSA said the claim was inaccurate and pointed to Decision No. 640.26, published on August 3, which establishes different transitional rules depending on the type of registration plate and the vehicle’s use.
For vehicles registered under the normal series and carrying plates without Latin characters for domestic circulation, the existing plates remain valid until the vehicle’s first transfer of ownership. There is therefore no fixed replacement deadline for this category.
A different rule applies to vehicles carrying normal-series plates intended for international circulation, which feature Latin characters and the “MA” designation displayed separately from the plate.
These plates will remain valid only until December 31, 2026, making this the specific category covered by the year-end deadline.
The clarification effectively means that vehicle owners do not face a blanket obligation to replace their license plates before the end of 2026.
Meanwhile, NARSA stressed that the distinction between the two categories is key to understanding the new regulations and avoiding unnecessary plate replacements.
The agency concluded by urging road users to rely exclusively on official sources for information regarding Decision No. 640.26 and its transitional provisions.
