Can a British Driver Use Their Licence in Jordan? — Yes, with an IDP
United Kingdom
Jordan
Yes, but only with the 1949 IDP in the car beside your UK licence, and it cannot be bought abroad. Jordan drives on the right, and police can issue on-the-spot fines of JOD 15-150.
Jordan is one of the more popular self-drive trips for British travellers, and the run from Amman down to Petra and Wadi Rum suits a hire car. The paperwork is firmer than many guides suggest, and you will be driving on the other side of the road.
The licence verdict
UK travel advice is direct: you need both the 1949 International Driving Permit and your UK licence in the car. The permit is sold only in the UK, so arrange it before departure. Canada’s advice adds a detail worth knowing: a foreign licence or IDP lets you drive rental cars only, and any other vehicle needs a Jordanian licence. Police run random security checks and ask for ID, so keep your passport with the two driving documents. The Driving Permit Checker covers other countries on your route.
From left to right
The UK drives on the left; Jordan drives on the right. The highways are the easy part. What catches people out is reflex: pulling out of a fuel station into the wrong lane, a roundabout that now flows the other way, or looking right first at a junction. Keep your first hour to quiet roads away from Amman.
Speed, fines and alcohol
The limit runs from 40 km/h in some urban areas to 120 km/h on some highways, so follow the signs rather than a rule of thumb. Police issue on-the-spot fines of JOD 15-150. Seatbelts are compulsory in the front, phones are banned at the wheel, and every vehicle must carry a fire extinguisher and a warning triangle, so check the hire car has both.
On alcohol, Canada’s advice describes a zero-tolerance policy: officers can confiscate a licence on the spot, and a conviction brings heavy fines and possible prison. Do not drink at all if you are driving.
Roads after dark
Stray animals, broken-down vehicles and unmarked roadworks are common, and the UK notes fatal crashes on the Desert Highway, particularly at night on unlit stretches. Plan long legs for daylight, fill up before remote routes, and remember that winter snow can block mountain roads, including around Petra. If you have an accident, stay at the scene until police arrive. The emergency number is 911.
The full rules are on the Jordan driving guide, 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 UK licence; 40-120 km/h; JOD 15-150 on-the-spot fines; seatbelts and phones; fire extinguisher and warning triangle; Desert Highway; snow around Petra; 911 for police): gov.uk
- Global Affairs Canada, Jordan travel advice (zero tolerance for drinking and driving; foreign licence or IDP for rental cars only; avoid travelling after dark; 911): travel.gc.ca
- UN Treaty Collection, 1949 Convention on Road Traffic (Jordan acceded 1960; United Kingdom 1957): treaties.un.org
Speed limits, fines, equipment & license requirements
Your home country driving rules for reference
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, together with the 1949 version of the International Driving Permit. UK travel advice says you need both in the car. The IDP is sold in the UK only, so arrange it before you fly. Canada's advice adds that a foreign licence or IDP covers rental cars only.
No. Jordan drives on the right, the opposite of the UK. Roundabouts and junctions feel reversed for the first day, so start on quiet roads.
Do not drink at all. Canada's travel advice describes a zero-tolerance policy, with immediate licence confiscation and heavy fines or prison on conviction, so the UK habit of a single drink is no guide here.