Jordan on an Italian Licence — Same Side, but an IDP for the Arabic Signs

Italian drivers arrive in Jordan with one advantage already in the bag: the country drives on the right, exactly as Italy does, so there is no side switch to relearn. Lanes, junctions and roundabouts all flow the way your instincts expect, which removes the hazard that catches out visitors from left-driving countries.

The real reason to carry an International Driving Permit here is language. Jordanian signage and police paperwork are in Arabic script, and an IDP sets out your name, photo and licence category in a form an officer or rental clerk can read at once. It is recommended rather than legally required — your Italian licence is accepted for stays of up to three months — but having it alongside your licence and passport keeps the desk straightforward. The Driving Permit Checker confirms it.

Equipment rules are firmer than at home. A Jordanian car must carry a warning triangle, first-aid kit and fire extinguisher, and roadside checks do look for them — verify all three are present before you drive off.

After Italy’s autostrade, the pace feels measured: the motorway limit is 110 km/h, rural roads 80 and towns a low 40 km/h. The Desert Highway and the King’s Highway are long and scenic, with good surfaces on the main routes, but watch for drifting sand, stray livestock near Bedouin areas and trucks that lose speed on the climbs. On alcohol, Jordan’s 0.08 limit is higher than Italy’s 0.05, yet enforcement is strict — keep it at zero when driving, and remember speeding fines come fast at the fixed points, which you can estimate with the Speeding Fine Calculator.

Petrol is roughly $1.32/litre, all emergency services answer on 112, and signal drops between towns, so download offline maps. Our Jordan driving guide has the rest.