Driving in Syria on an Indian Licence — Side Switch & a Zero Alcohol Limit

A note of realism before the rules: Syria is a destination where security conditions change and official travel advice often counsels against travel. Treat the guidance below as the driving facts for a permitted, planned trip — and check your own government’s current advisory first. What follows uses only what we can verify, with no invented figures.

The verdict for Indian licence holders

On paper, an Indian licence holder can drive in Syria with an International Driving Permit carried alongside the licence and passport. The IDP is a recognised translation and the document most likely to be asked for. Whether you can practically hire or bring a car depends on current conditions far more than on the paperwork, so confirm access before you commit.

The biggest adjustment: switching to the right

India drives on the left; Syria drives on the right. This is a real side switch — the kind that catches drivers out in the first hour at junctions, roundabouts and when pulling away. If you do drive, give yourself a slow, deliberate start on quiet roads rather than in central Damascus traffic, and consciously check the correct direction at every turn until it stops feeling reversed.

A zero-alcohol limit and modest speeds

The drink-drive limit is a flat 0.0 BAC — stricter than India’s 0.03, so don’t drink at all before driving. Posted limits are 50 km/h in towns, 80 on rural roads and 110 km/h on the fastest stretches; treat these as ceilings and drive to the condition of the road, which varies widely. You can compare these limits with home on the Speed Limit Map.

Before any trip

Fuel is heavily subsidised at roughly $0.55/litre, the capital is Damascus, and the emergency number is 112. Read the broader context on our Syria driving guide, confirm your documents with the Driving Permit Checker, and — above all — verify current travel advice before you go.