Australian Licence in Jordan 2026: 1949 IDP and Keep Right
Australia
Jordan
Yes, with a 1949 International Driving Permit beside your Australian licence; both countries belong to that convention. Jordan drives on the right, and the emergency number is 911.
Jordan suits a self-drive trip: the Desert Highway down to Petra and Wadi Rum, and the King’s Highway with its canyons and crusader castles, are far easier with your own car than on a tour bus. For an Australian the paperwork is specific, and the bigger change is in your hands and feet.
The permit Jordan expects
UK travel advice tells its drivers they need both the 1949 International Driving Permit and the licence in the car, and the same convention links Australia and Jordan: both are parties to the 1949 Geneva Convention, which is the model Australian motoring clubs issue. Get it before you fly and carry it with your licence and passport, because police run random checks and ask for ID. Canada’s advice adds a detail: a foreign licence or IDP lets you drive rental cars only. Heading on to Egypt or the UAE? The Driving Permit Checker shows what each one asks for.
From left to right
Australia drives on the left; Jordan drives on the right. The open highway is the easy part. The risk is reflex: pulling out of a fuel station into the wrong lane, a roundabout flowing the other way, the urge to look right first at a junction. Keep the first hour to quiet roads, away from Amman.
Speed, fines and alcohol
Limits run from 40 km/h in some urban areas to 120 km/h on some highways, so follow the signs. Police can issue on-the-spot fines of JOD 15-150, and every vehicle must carry a fire extinguisher and a warning triangle. Canada describes a zero-tolerance policy on drink-driving, with licences confiscated on the spot and heavy fines or prison on conviction, so drink nothing at all.
After dark and in winter
UK advice warns of stray animals, broken-down vehicles and unmarked roadworks, and of fatal crashes on the Desert Highway, especially at night on unlit stretches. Plan long legs for daylight, and remember that winter snow can close mountain roads, including around Petra. After an accident, stay at the scene until police arrive. The emergency number is 911.
The Jordan driving guide has the full rules, and the driving-fines-abroad guide explains how a penalty can follow you home.
Sources
- GOV.UK foreign travel advice, Jordan safety and security (1949 IDP plus licence; 40-120 km/h; JOD 15-150 on-the-spot fines; fire extinguisher and warning triangle; Desert Highway; snow around Petra; stay at the scene; 911): gov.uk
- Global Affairs Canada, Jordan travel advice (zero tolerance for drinking and driving; foreign licence or IDP for rental cars only; 911): travel.gc.ca
- UN Treaty Collection, 1949 Convention on Road Traffic (Australia 1954, Jordan 1960): treaties.un.org
Speed limits, fines, equipment & license requirements
Your home country driving rules for reference
Renting a Car?
Compare prices from all major rental companies. Free cancellation on most bookings.
Compare Car Rental PricesSome links on this page are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How our affiliate links work.
More Free Tools
Explore TyreMap
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, with the 1949 International Driving Permit alongside it. UK advice tells its drivers they need both the 1949 permit and the licence in the car, and Australia and Jordan are both parties to the 1949 Geneva Convention. Canada adds that a foreign licence or IDP covers rental cars only. Arrange the permit at home before you fly.
Jordan drives on the right, the opposite of Australia. Expect the first day to feel awkward at roundabouts and junctions, and start on quiet roads.
Do not drink at all. Canada's travel advice describes a zero-tolerance policy, with licences confiscated on the spot and heavy fines or prison on conviction, so Australia's 0.05 habit is no guide here.