Desert Evasion rents 4x4 and minibus in Ouarzazate
Frequently asked questions

Is it more expensive to rent a 4 wheels with a driver than to drive it ourselves ?

No, on the contrary.

Why ? Car rental agencies who rent vehicules without a driver have higher maintenance costs. The cars can be badly handled by unexperienced drivers, specially four wheels drive, and particularly off-road.

Besides, the Moroccan way of driving has some peculiarities, which can be difficult for tourists. This means higher insurances costs, with a noticeable excess amount for the driver.

And finally, when you rent a car without a driver, it is delivered with an empty tank. But the fuel you could have spent, giving it back with a quarter of half a tank, will not be reimbursed.

Summing up the cost of the rent, fuel, insurances with excess amount, you realize that it is less expensive to rent a car with driver than without .

 

How can we pay you ?

For prepayments, we accept :

• International credit cards (Visa and Mastercard)
• Swift transfers to our bank acocunt
• Moroccan checks

 

For the total payment, we also accept cash, in dirhams, euros or dollars.

 

Incase of a bank transfer, costs are at your charge.

 

When you pay us in foreign currency, we apply the official exchange rate from the Bank of Morocco, displayed in all banks and exhange offices. Your prepayment, when made in foreign currency, will be converted at the same rate.

 

Why do you ask for a prepayment ?

We are (still) a middle size structure, and we do not (yet) manage a fleet of hundreds of cars. Specially in high season, last minutes cancellations are real losses for us. The prepayment protects us from this risk. If you have your own cancellation insurance, and have a reason accepted by your insurance company, it will reimburse you this prepayment.

 

What is included in your price ?

• the vehicule
• the fuel
• illimited kilometres (except specified otherwise)
• salary and costs of the driver
• our insurances
• legal taxes
• oil and maintenance
• replacement of the vehicule in maximum half a day in case of accident or breakdown.

 

What to do in case of dispute ?

We hope you will not be disappointed, and will never have to complain. Nevertheless, in such a case, you have the following alternative :

You booked through a travel agency. You place your complaint to your agency, and it will solve the problem, with you on one side, us on the other side.

You dealed directly with us. In this case, you have a manager at the Tourist Information Centre (Délégation Touristique), which is nearby, who will advise us, and make an inquiry to understand the problem. As a general procedure, we are regularly controlled by the Ministry of Tourism.

 

How do you mantain your vehicules ?

our cars and minibus undergo a technical control every year. When coming back from a tour, they are thouroughly cleaned and inspected. Each driver is responsible for his vehicule, and must make the necessary maintenance before leaving with a new customer.

Our 4x4 and minibus are all recent, and we regularly replace them, renewing our fleet quickly.

How are we insured ?

You are covered by our professional insurance for everuthing we are responsible for.

Typically, that includes all dommages and responsabilities in case of an accident, including of course your persons, the luggages, and the involved people.

Of course, this insurance covers us only when the car is driven by our eployee.

This insurance does not cover your responsability when you are not in the car, neither your sanitary transportation to Europe, in case of an accident. We strongly recommend you subscribe your own sanitary insurance.

 

Are moroccan roads dangerous ?

Apart from a few spectacular accidents that make the front page, we have to acknowledge that moroccan roads are more dangerous than in most European countries. There are several reasons, including bad quality of the roads, the high age of the vehicules in general, the lack of lights at night, the presence on the sides of many bicycles, pedestrians, donkey cars... and driving bad habits.

Moroccan government started a campaign mixing sensibilization and repression.

But we also have to say that the most dangerous parts, well known, are far away from the tourist itineraries.

Our drivers are also perfectly used to this context, and master security rules, on and off-road.

In Morocc, your are safe in the hands of a professional driver.

 

What is the experience of your drivers ?

Our drivers have been working with us for many years. They are all experienced people, with several thousand hundred kilometers in their record.

New drivers work in pair with experienced ones for some time. We train them this way. Also, a driver will never be alone on a route he does not know, off-road. In that case, we prefer to send two people, of course without extra cost.

 

What to do in case of an accident ?

In case of material accident, the normal procedure in Morocco is to fill a common declaration, called "constat amiable". When the two drivers disagree, or in case of wounded people or physical casualties, it is mandatory to call the police.

Your driver will take care of all the formalities, and will contact us.

The replacement vehicle will be provided as soon as possible, in half a day the latest.

If your driver is not available, or hurt, you will have to contact us immediatly (you will receive a cellular number for emergency cases), so that we can assist you as quickly as possible.

Finally, if a passenger is hurt, he or the other participants have to contact his sanitary insurance as quickly as possible, as they complete our own insurances, and will take measures to insure a proper handling.

 

I never travelled with a guide, I cherish being self-standing

Our drivers are not guide in the strictest meaning. Even if we can advise you on your itinerary, and help your to organize your trip (hotels and so on...), the way you go is your own choice. You are subjected to the constraints of an organized group, your driver is at your disposal, and you can, at any time, modify the planned road.

Your driver knows the time constraints, to reach your destination of the day, and within these limits, you are totally free. He will warned you, for example, if you risk to arrive too late in the evening, or miss a visit, but the final decision remains yours.

Just one thing : if you decide to keep a car longer than initially planned, we will be delighted, but we ask that you advise us two or three days ahead.

 

Im not used to travel with foreigners, I would like to keep my privacy.

Your driver is not with you 24 hours a day. He is in the car with you, but he does not share your meals, neither your walks or other moments (exceptt if you invite him). Once arrived in the hotel, you make an appointment for the morrow, and spend yor evening quietly.

Our driver is there to help you, not to enforce his presence.

 

I would like to meet Moroccans and their culture, but I don't speak the language

Your driver can be your go-between, and translator, he can hel you to get in touch with the people you meet. He knows the different tribes, and can open new windows on our county and its inhabitants.