Can a British Driver Use Their Licence in Jordan? — Yes, with an IDP
United Kingdom
Jordan
Yes — a British licence holder can drive in Jordan, with an International Driving Permit recommended alongside it. The biggest change is swapping from left-hand UK roads to right-hand traffic, and Jordan's 0.08 limit is more lenient than the UK's identical figure suggests in practice.
Jordan is one of the more popular self-drive destinations for British travellers, and for good reason — the run from Amman to Petra and Wadi Rum is built for a hire car. The licence question is straightforward; the part that needs real attention is that you will be driving on the wrong side for the first time.
The verdict: you can drive in Jordan on your UK licence, and an International Driving Permit is recommended. It is the document rental desks and police expect to see, so carry the IDP, your UK licence and your passport as a set, and arrange the IDP before you fly — it cannot be obtained locally. Foreign licences are accepted for tourist stays.
The headline change for a British driver is the side of the road. The UK drives on the left; Jordan drives on the right. The motorway-grade highways are the easy part; what catches people out is reflex — pulling out of a fuel station, a roundabout that now flows anticlockwise the other way, or the instinct to look right when you should look left. Keep your first hour to quiet roads, away from Amman, and treat every turn as a conscious decision until it stops feeling backwards.
On speed, towns are held to a low 40 km/h, well below UK urban limits; rural roads run to 80 and main highways to 110 km/h. The fine for a minor speeding offence is not clearly documented locally, so drive to the posted signs rather than assuming a tolerance. The alcohol limit is 0.08 — the same number used in England and Wales — but alcohol is not part of everyday driving here, so the safe amount before driving is none.
Practical points: fuel is cheap at about $1.32 a litre, the emergency number is 112, and Amman’s traffic is the most demanding driving of the trip, so collecting the car on the city edge is worth considering. Coverage is good on main routes but patchy off them, so download offline maps first.
The full rules are on our Jordan driving guide; confirm your documents with the Driving Permit Checker, and the driving-fines-abroad guide covers how a penalty can reach you after you fly home.
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. Learn more.
More Free Tools
Explore TyreMap
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. British licence holders can drive in Jordan as tourists. An International Driving Permit is recommended — carry it with your UK licence and passport, and arrange it before you fly, as it cannot be issued in Jordan.
No. Jordan drives on the right, the opposite of the UK. This is the main adjustment for British drivers — roundabouts and junctions will feel reversed for the first day.
Jordan's limit is 0.08 BAC, the same figure used in England and Wales. Even so, alcohol is not part of local driving culture, so treat zero as the rule before driving.