Jordan 2026: Pack an IDP, Then Brace for the Dead Sea Drop

Jordan is, in the technical details, an unusually comfortable place for an American to get behind the wheel. Traffic runs on the right, exactly as at home, so there’s no mirror-image relearning — and the alcohol limit of 0.08 matches what most US states use. The one thing to sort out before you fly is the permit.

Licence plus IDP

The U.S. State Department’s country page says “drivers must have a valid Jordanian license or a valid foreign license with an International Driving Permit to drive in Jordan,” and advises U.S. visitors who intend to drive to get an IDP before travel. The single exception: temporary visitors “may use their valid American driver’s licenses only to rent ‘green’ plated rental cars.” Since anything outside that rental desk needs the permit, get an IDP from AAA or AATA at home and keep it with your US licence and passport. Licensed drivers must also carry local third-party insurance, and after a crash police often hold the driver’s licence or passport. Check other countries on your route with the driving permit checker.

Amman and the desert roads

The first adjustment is Amman’s traffic, which is dense, fast and assertive. Lane markings are treated as suggestions, horns substitute for indicators, and you’re expected to merge decisively rather than wait for a polite gap. Drive your first stint with the flow rather than against it, and don’t let hesitation put you in a worse spot than confidence would. Outside the capital it eases considerably.

The second is terrain and distance. The Desert Highway and the Dead Sea Highway are long, fast and exposed, with stretches where a wrong turn means a serious detour — and the descent toward the Dead Sea is one of the steepest sustained drops you can drive, dropping to the lowest point on Earth, so use engine braking and don’t ride the brakes the whole way down. The scenic Kings Highway through the mountains is slower and more rewarding but demands attention on its bends. The Jordan driving guide covers the main corridors and fuel stops.

A few practicalities. Limits are roughly 40 in town, 80 on rural roads and 110 on the highways; speed cameras operate on the main routes, so keep to the posted figure and check any penalty on the speeding fine calculator. The car should carry a warning triangle and first-aid kit. Fuel runs around €1.32 a litre, and the all-services emergency number is 911 (112 also connects).

Sources

• U.S. Department of State, Country Information, Jordan (“Drivers must have a valid Jordanian license or a valid foreign license with an International Driving Permit to drive in Jordan”; US licence alone only for green-plated rentals; third-party insurance), last updated May 14, 2026: cadataapi.state.gov