Introduction
The annual car road tax — officially called TSAVA (Taxe Spéciale Annuelle sur les Véhicules Automobiles) — is a tax obligation that every vehicle owner in Morocco must fulfil each year. Established under the General Tax Code (Code Général des Impôts) and collected by the Direction Générale des Impôts (DGI), it is one of the unavoidable administrative requirements for legally driving on Moroccan roads.
Failing to pay the vignette exposes the owner to late surcharges. Beyond the financial aspect, an unpaid vignette can cause complications at the vehicle inspection (contrôle technique), when transferring the carte grise, or when selling the vehicle.
This guide covers everything: what the vignette is, how it is calculated, where and when to pay it, and what happens in case of default.
Legal notice: This guide is for informational purposes. Procedures and rates may evolve. For official information, consult the DGI (tax.gov.ma), the General Tax Code, and the Bulletin Officiel. When in doubt, seek advice from a licensed professional.
What Is the Car Road Tax?
Definition and legal framework
The car road tax is an annual levy on all motor vehicles registered in Morocco. It features in the General Tax Code under special taxes, and its proceeds contribute to road infrastructure funding and local public services.
Unlike the carte grise or vehicle inspection (one-off procedures), the vignette must be paid every year. It constitutes proof that the owner is meeting their fiscal obligations related to vehicle ownership.
Who is affected?
Every vehicle registered in Morocco is subject to TSAVA:
- Private cars (sedans, SUVs, city cars)
- Commercial vehicles (vans, lorries)
- Motorcycles and scooters
- Company vehicles (fleet)
- Permanently imported vehicles
Some categories benefit from exemptions or special regimes (agricultural vehicles, diplomatic vehicles, electric vehicles per current regulations — see the Special Cases section).
Who collects it?
The vignette is collected by the Direction Générale des Impôts (DGI). Payment can be made directly to the DGI or via approved channels (banks, post offices, online portal). Payment is strictly in the owner's name as shown on the carte grise.
Source: Direction Générale des Impôts — tax.gov.ma
How Is the Vignette Calculated?
Calculation criteria
The amount depends primarily on:
- Fiscal horsepower (puissance fiscale, in CV)
- Engine type (petrol, diesel, LPG, hybrid, electric)
- Year of first registration (vehicle age)
- Vehicle category (private car, commercial vehicle, motorcycle)
Official tariff
TSAVA rates are set by the annual Finance Law and published in the Bulletin Officiel. They are revised periodically to reflect fiscal and environmental policy.
Important: exact amounts vary by fiscal horsepower and engine type. To find the rate applicable to your vehicle, consult the official tariff on the DGI portal: 👉 tax.gov.ma — TSAVA tariff
Diesel vehicles
Historically, diesel vehicles were subject to a higher rate reflecting their environmental footprint. This differentiation remains in current schedules, though the gap is progressively narrowing.
Petrol vehicles
Petrol cars generally benefit from a slightly lower rate per fiscal horsepower. This schedule is detailed in the General Tax Code.
Hybrid and electric vehicles
Morocco encourages the energy transition by offering partial or total exemptions for new electric and hybrid vehicles. These measures are detailed in successive Finance Laws and may change annually. Consult the DGI to verify your eligibility.
Source: General Tax Code and current Finance Law — available at sgg.gov.ma (Bulletin Officiel).
When and How to Pay
Payment period
The vignette must be paid each year during the first quarter. Traditionally, the payment window runs from January to February, though the DGI may announce specific extensions via its official channels.
Pay as soon as the campaign opens to avoid forgetting. Once paid, you receive a receipt (paper or electronic) to keep carefully.
Available payment channels
-
Online via tax.gov.ma (recommended)
- Log in with your tax credentials
- Select "Paiement vignette automobile"
- Pay by bank card or transfer
- Download your receipt immediately
-
At bank branches
- Present your carte grise
- The bank calculates and collects the amount
- You receive a stamped receipt
-
At DGI offices
- Visit the counter in your prefecture or province
- Bring a copy of the carte grise
- Pay by cash or cheque
-
At approved post offices / BPL points (Barid Al-Maghrib)
- Some post offices and tobacco shops offer the service
- Check the list of approved points on the DGI website
Documents required
- Carte grise (copy or original)
- Owner's identity document (CIN or passport)
- Previous year's payment receipt (if a check is requested)
Keep the receipt
Keep the payment receipt for at least 3 years. It may be required:
- At the vehicle inspection (contrôle technique)
- When transferring the carte grise
- At a roadside check
- When selling the vehicle
Penalties for Late Payment
Late surcharges
Failure to pay the vignette within the deadline results in late surcharges. These are calculated on a progressive scale defined by the General Tax Code.
While exact rates may vary with legislative changes, the general principle is:
- 1st month of delay: mild surcharge
- Beyond 3 months: increased surcharge
- Delay over 12 months: cumulative annual surcharges
Recommendation: regularise as soon as you notice an omission. Penalties accumulate quickly and can double the initial amount.
Practical consequences
Beyond financial penalties, an unpaid vignette can:
- Block the vehicle inspection (NARSA requires an up-to-date vignette receipt)
- Prevent the carte grise transfer at resale
- Trigger roadside fines at police or gendarmerie checks
- Complicate car insurance (some insurers check tax compliance)
Source: General Tax Code — chapter on fiscal penalties.
Special Cases
Electric and hybrid vehicles
Morocco encourages electromobility with tax exemptions for clean vehicles. Per current Finance Laws:
- 100% electric vehicles: total TSAVA exemption for a defined period (generally 5 years from first registration)
- Plug-in hybrids: partial rate reduction
These measures are reviewed annually. Consult the DGI or the Bulletin Officiel to verify the regime applicable to your model.
Company vehicles (fleets)
Companies with multiple vehicles may benefit from simplified procedures for bulk payment. The DGI offers a service for fleet managers allowing all TSAVA payments via a single transfer.
Temporarily imported vehicles
Vehicles under temporary admission (foreign tourists, expatriates with carnet de passage) are generally not subject to TSAVA during the admission period. Once permanently registered in Morocco, the tax becomes payable.
Agricultural vehicles and construction equipment
Certain purpose-specific vehicles (farm tractors, construction plant) benefit from exemptions or special fiscal regimes. Consult the DGI to verify eligibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I sell my car mid-year? The vignette is due for the full year regardless of when the sale occurs. There is no pro-rata refund. However, at the carte grise transfer, the new owner must ensure the current year's vignette has been paid.
Can I pay several years in advance? No. The vignette is an annual tax that must be paid each year during the collection period. Paying multiple years in advance is not possible.
How do I recover a lost receipt? If you paid online via tax.gov.ma, log into your account and re-download the receipt. If you paid at a bank or DGI counter, visit the office with your carte grise and ID to obtain a duplicate.
Is the vignette required for the vehicle inspection? Yes. NARSA requires an up-to-date vignette payment receipt at the vehicle inspection. Without it, the inspection may be refused.
Conclusion
The TSAVA vignette is an unavoidable annual fiscal obligation for all owners of vehicles registered in Morocco. Understanding how it works, meeting payment deadlines, and keeping receipts carefully avoids administrative complications and financial penalties.
With the digitalisation of DGI services, paying the vignette online via tax.gov.ma in a few clicks has never been simpler. Don't wait until the last days of the collection period: pay early, do it online, and download your receipt immediately.
For more on vehicle administrative procedures in Morocco, read our complete guide to vehicle registration transfer.
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