Do I need to haggle for taxis, and do petit taxis use meters?

Taxis in Morocco come in two distinct types, and the rules differ, so let me separate them. Within cities you take petit taxis — small, colour-coded cars (the colour varies by city: beige in Marrakech, red in Casablanca, blue in Rabat, and so on) that carry up to three passengers on short urban hops. These are the ones most travellers use constantly, and the crucial fact is that petit taxis are legally required to run a meter. When the meter is used, you simply pay the fair, regulated fare shown, and there's no negotiation needed at all.

In practice, though, drivers don't always switch the meter on for an obvious tourist, hoping to quote an inflated flat price instead. The fix is straightforward and confident: as you get in, say "le compteur, s'il vous plaît" (the meter, please) and make sure they start it. If the driver claims the meter is "broken," is reluctant, or only offers a fixed price that sounds high, you have two good options — politely insist on the meter, or simply decline and flag down another taxi, of which there are usually plenty. Never set off with the meter off and the price unspoken, because that's exactly how the end-of-ride dispute happens.

When metered use genuinely isn't happening — late at night, from the airport, or for an agreed longer trip — then yes, you negotiate, and you do it before you get in, not after. Agree the total fare clearly and out loud, confirm it covers all your passengers and bags, and only then climb in. A bit of gentle haggling is normal and expected in this situation; settle on a number you're happy with, hold to it, and there'll be no drama on arrival. Having a rough idea of the fair local rate (your riad or hotel can tell you) makes this painless. Note that fares are also legitimately a little higher at night.

Grands taxis are the other type — older, larger cars (often classic Mercedes) that run fixed routes between towns and cities, traditionally shared among up to six passengers who split the cost. These don't use meters; instead there's an established per-seat price for each route. You either pay for your seat and share the ride, or pay for all the seats to have the car to yourself. Either way, confirm the per-seat fare or the whole-car price before departure so everyone's clear. For longer intercity journeys many guests prefer the comfort and certainty of a private car and driver instead, which sidesteps the whole shared-taxi experience.

Two habits make taxi life smooth: always carry small notes and coins, because drivers rarely have change for big notes and "I have no change" is a classic way to round your fare up; and decide the basis of the fare before the wheels turn — meter for petit taxis, agreed total if no meter, fixed per-seat for grands taxis. Do that and you'll get around cheaply and fairly, with none of the friction that catches unprepared visitors.