1968 International Driving Permit required
RequiredJordan recognises the 1968 Vienna Convention IDP, which must accompany your UK or EU photocard licence; the 1949 IDP is not officially accepted. Carry both documents at all times.
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Country driving guide · 2026
Driving in Jordan
Everything UK and EU drivers need before crossing the border into Jordan: 9 legal requirements + 7 other things worth knowing.
9
Required
2
Recommended
5
Good to know
Tick before you go
Pre-departure checklist for Jordan
9 legal must-haves. Print it, tick them off, throw it in the glovebox.
1968 International Driving Permit required
Jordan recognises the 1968 Vienna Convention IDP, which must accompany your UK or EU photocard licence; the 1949 IDP is not officially accepted. Carry both documents at all times.
Passport with 6 months validity
Passport must be valid for at least six months from entry and is checked at every police checkpoint alongside your licence and vehicle papers.
Local third-party insurance at the border
UK and EU green cards are not valid; you must buy Jordanian third-party motor insurance at the Aqaba, Sheikh Hussein or Wadi Araba border post, typically 25-50 JOD (about 32-65 EUR) for a short stay.
Carnet de Passage for own vehicle
Bringing your own car requires a Carnet de Passage en Douane plus the V5C/registration document in the owner's name; without a carnet customs will demand a refundable deposit equal to the vehicle's value.
Drive on the right
Traffic drives on the right and overtakes on the left, unlike the UK and Ireland.
Speed limits 110 / 90 / 50 km/h
Motorway (Desert Highway, Route 15) limit is 110 km/h, rural roads 90 km/h and urban areas 50 km/h; limits are enforced by fixed and mobile radar with on-the-spot fines.
Zero tolerance on alcohol
The blood alcohol limit is effectively 0.0 g/L; any detectable alcohol leads to arrest, heavy fines and possible deportation.
Seatbelts and no phone use
Front seatbelts are compulsory, handheld mobile phone use while driving is banned, and children under 10 may not travel in the front seat.
Warning triangle and first-aid kit
Vehicles must carry a warning triangle and a basic first-aid kit; a hi-vis vest and fire extinguisher are strongly recommended though not always enforced on foreign-plated cars.
Documents
Passport with 6 months validity
RequiredPassport must be valid for at least six months from entry and is checked at every police checkpoint alongside your licence and vehicle papers.
Local third-party insurance at the border
RequiredUK and EU green cards are not valid; you must buy Jordanian third-party motor insurance at the Aqaba, Sheikh Hussein or Wadi Araba border post, typically 25-50 JOD (about 32-65 EUR) for a short stay.
Carnet de Passage for own vehicle
RequiredBringing your own car requires a Carnet de Passage en Douane plus the V5C/registration document in the owner's name; without a carnet customs will demand a refundable deposit equal to the vehicle's value.
Avoid Syria and Iraq border zones
RecommendedFCDO advises against all travel within 3 km of the Syrian border and parts of the Iraqi border; rental agreements typically forbid driving in these areas.
FCDO Jordan adviceDriving rules
Drive on the right
RequiredTraffic drives on the right and overtakes on the left, unlike the UK and Ireland.
Speed limits 110 / 90 / 50 km/h
RequiredMotorway (Desert Highway, Route 15) limit is 110 km/h, rural roads 90 km/h and urban areas 50 km/h; limits are enforced by fixed and mobile radar with on-the-spot fines.
Zero tolerance on alcohol
RequiredThe blood alcohol limit is effectively 0.0 g/L; any detectable alcohol leads to arrest, heavy fines and possible deportation.
Seatbelts and no phone use
RequiredFront seatbelts are compulsory, handheld mobile phone use while driving is banned, and children under 10 may not travel in the front seat.
Emergency number 911
Good to knowDial 911 for police, ambulance and fire; the Tourist Police speak English and patrol Petra, Wadi Rum and Aqaba.
Required equipment
Warning triangle and first-aid kit
RequiredVehicles must carry a warning triangle and a basic first-aid kit; a hi-vis vest and fire extinguisher are strongly recommended though not always enforced on foreign-plated cars.
Tolls
No motorway tolls or vignette
Good to knowJordan has no motorway vignette, e-toll or ticket system; all highways including the Desert Highway and Dead Sea Highway are free to use.
Money
Jordanian Dinar and fuel around 1.05 EUR/L
Good to knowCurrency is the Jordanian Dinar (JOD), pegged near 1 JOD = 1.30 EUR; 95-octane petrol costs roughly 0.90 JOD/L (about 1.05 EUR/L) and fuel stations are attended: tip 200-500 fils.
Cash declaration limit 15,000 JOD
Good to knowYou must declare cash or equivalent over 15,000 JOD (about 19,500 EUR) at the border; cards work in cities but carry dinars for rural fuel stations and checkpoints.
Environment
Avoid Desert Highway after dark
RecommendedUnlit roads, stray camels, slow trucks and frequent overtaking accidents make night driving on the Desert Highway and Dead Sea road genuinely hazardous: plan to arrive before sunset.
Winter flash floods and snow on heights
Good to knowAmman, Petra and the King's Highway can see snow and ice from December to February, and wadis flood rapidly after winter rain; check conditions before crossing low-lying desert routes.
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Drive on the right
RequiredTraffic drives on the right and overtakes on the left, unlike the UK and Ireland.
Speed limits 110 / 90 / 50 km/h
RequiredMotorway (Desert Highway, Route 15) limit is 110 km/h, rural roads 90 km/h and urban areas 50 km/h; limits are enforced by fixed and mobile radar with on-the-spot fines.
Zero tolerance on alcohol
RequiredThe blood alcohol limit is effectively 0.0 g/L; any detectable alcohol leads to arrest, heavy fines and possible deportation.
Seatbelts and no phone use
RequiredFront seatbelts are compulsory, handheld mobile phone use while driving is banned, and children under 10 may not travel in the front seat.