Jordan 2026 for Chinese Drivers: The 1949 Permit Gap
China
Jordan
No treaty route: Jordan expects visiting drivers to pair the licence with a 1949 IDP, and China issues none. Ask a Jordanian embassy before relying on a Chinese licence.
Jordan drives on the right, exactly as China does, so the road layout will feel familiar. The paperwork will not. Sort it out before anything else.
The licence verdict
Official travel advice for Jordan, such as the UK government’s, tells visiting drivers to carry the 1949 version of the International Driving Permit together with their home licence. Mainland China is party to neither the 1949 Geneva nor the 1968 Vienna road traffic convention and issues no IDP of any kind, so a Chinese driver cannot complete that pair. No official source names a translation or other substitute, which means there is no recognised route for a Chinese licence. Before planning a self-drive loop to Petra or Wadi Rum, ask a Jordanian embassy or consulate in writing whether your licence will be accepted, and get the hire company’s answer in writing too. A driver with a hotel or tour operator is the fallback.
A counterintuitive alcohol rule — but don’t be fooled
Jordan’s blood-alcohol limit is 0.08, looser than China’s strict 0.02. That sounds like more freedom, but it is the wrong lesson to take. Jordanian roads — assertive overtaking, busy junctions, mixed conditions outside the cities — reward a clear head, and the safe policy remains zero alcohol before driving.
Speeds and the kit to carry
Town limit is a low 40 km/h, rising to 80 km/h on rural roads and 110 km/h on motorways. The 40 is lower than many visitors expect, and worth watching in Amman. Check that any car you drive carries a warning triangle, first-aid kit and fire extinguisher. Fuel runs around $1.32/litre, and the emergency number is 911 for ambulance, fire and police.
Read the full rules on the Jordan driving guide, compare other destinations with the Driving Permit Checker, and estimate any penalty with the Speeding Fine Calculator.
Sources
- GOV.UK foreign travel advice, Jordan, safety and security (1949 IDP together with the licence): gov.uk
- GOV.UK foreign travel advice, Jordan, getting help (911 for ambulance, fire and police): gov.uk
- UN Treaty Collection, 1949 Convention on Road Traffic (participants): treaties.un.org
Speed limits, fines, equipment & license requirements
Your home country driving rules for reference
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Frequently Asked Questions
There is no treaty route. UK government advice for Jordan says drivers need the 1949 International Driving Permit together with their licence, and China, which is outside both road conventions, does not issue one. Ask a Jordanian embassy or consulate whether a Chinese licence is accepted before you book a car.
Yes, on the right. There is no side-switch adjustment for a Chinese driver. The real adjustments are assertive local driving and the low 40 km/h town limit.
Jordan's limit is 0.08 — higher than China's 0.02 — but that is not a reason to drink and drive. Enforcement and road conditions make zero alcohol the sensible policy.