How do I tip taxi drivers in Morocco?

Tipping taxi drivers in Morocco is genuinely low-key — nothing like the structured percentages some countries expect. For an ordinary city petit taxi running on the meter, the convention is simply to round up: if the meter says 23 dirham, hand over 25 and wave away the change, or round a 47 up to 50. A few dirham is a friendly gesture, not an obligation, and no driver will be offended if you pay the metered fare exactly. The whole interaction is meant to be quick and casual.

When you've negotiated a flat fare in advance — which is normal for petit taxis without a working meter, grands taxis between towns, and airport runs — that price already is the price, and a tip isn't expected on top. The exception is when the driver does something extra: hauls heavy luggage in and out, waits for you, takes a detour to find your hard-to-reach riad, or is especially helpful and pleasant. Then rounding up by 5 or 10 dirham is a nice acknowledgement. Use your judgement; it's about gratitude for effort, not a fixed rule.

A private driver hired for a full day or a multi-day tour is a different category. These drivers often double as informal guides, look after you for long hours and go well beyond door-to-door, so they warrant a proper tip at the end — think on the order of 100–200 dirham for a good full day, more across a multi-day journey, scaled to the service and your budget. If you're delighted with them, say so and tip accordingly; it means a lot and is a meaningful part of their income. Hand it over directly and warmly at the end.

The practical key to all of this is small change. Drivers frequently "can't" break a large note — sometimes genuinely, sometimes hopefully — so the traveller who carries a pocket of 5, 10 and 20 dirham coins and notes is the one who controls the transaction and tips smoothly. Agree the fare or confirm the meter before you set off so there's no awkwardness at the end, keep small denominations handy, round up by a few dirham when the ride's been fine, and you'll have warm, easy dealings with Morocco's drivers throughout your trip.