Jordan on a South Korean Licence — IDP Recommended, Same Side of the Road
South Korea
Jordan
Yes — a South Korean licence holder can drive in Jordan, with an International Driving Permit recommended to carry alongside it. Jordan drives on the right, the same as Korea, so there is no side switch; the real adjustments are a strict 40 km/h in towns and an assertive driving culture in Amman.
For a Korean driver, Jordan removes the scariest variable: you do not have to relearn which side of the road you are on. Jordan drives on the right, the same as South Korea, so the car layout, junctions and roundabouts all behave the way you expect. What takes adjustment is the pace of the traffic and the low urban limit.
Can you drive on a South Korean licence? Yes — carry an IDP
A South Korean licence holder can drive in Jordan as a tourist, and an International Driving Permit is recommended. It is not always demanded by law, but rental firms in Amman and Aqaba routinely ask for one, and a police officer at a checkpoint will be reassured to see it alongside your Korean licence. The IDP is only valid as a companion to your national licence, so carry both plus your passport. Arrange the IDP in Korea before departure — you cannot obtain it on arrival.
The real adjustment: speed and driving style, not the side
The town limit is a strict 40 km/h — lower than you may instinctively drive — while rural roads allow around 80 and motorways 110. Amman traffic is dense and assertive: lane discipline is loose, and merging is done by nerve as much as by signal. Out on the Desert Highway the road opens up but fatigue and fast lorries become the hazard. Drive defensively, leave a gap, and do not assume an indicator means what it would at home.
The blood-alcohol limit here is 0.08, higher than Korea’s tight 0.03 — but that is not licence to drink and drive. Treat alcohol and driving as incompatible, especially on unfamiliar roads at night.
Practical notes before you set off
Fuel runs around $1.32 a litre, and the emergency number is 112. Mobile coverage is good in the populated west but thins out towards the desert and the southern routes to Wadi Rum and Aqaba, so download offline maps first.
Read the full country rules on the Jordan driving guide, confirm your paperwork with the Driving Permit Checker, and if you are mapping a loop from Amman down to Petra and Wadi Rum, plan fuel stops deliberately — stations thin out on the long desert legs.
Speed limits, fines, equipment & license requirements
Your home country driving rules for reference
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. South Korean visitors can drive in Jordan on their national licence, and an International Driving Permit is recommended — rental desks and police prefer to see one. Carry your Korean licence, the IDP and your passport together.
Yes. Jordan drives on the right, exactly like South Korea, so there is no left-hand-side adjustment for Korean drivers. The handling and roundabout flow feel familiar from day one.
Town limits are a low 40 km/h, rural roads run to about 80 km/h, and the motorway ceiling is 110 km/h. Enforcement is real around Amman and on the Desert Highway, so watch the urban limit in particular.