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Car rental in Jordan is the simplest way to see the country at your own pace. The distances are modest, but the highlights are spread across the country: Amman in the north, Jerash a little further north, the Dead Sea to the west, Petra in the centre, and Wadi Rum and Aqaba further south on the Red Sea. The Desert Highway connects them all — a wide, smooth, well-travelled road suitable for anything from a compact saloon to a family minivan.
One important rule to know in advance: you cannot drive your rental car into the Wadi Rum reserve. Beyond the Visitor Centre or Wadi Rum Village, only Bedouin 4x4 vehicles with a local guide are permitted, even for residents. All other destinations — Petra, Jerash, the Dead Sea, Ajloun — lie on good asphalt roads, and a standard car will get you there.
A couple landed at Queen Alia in early March, signed the contract on the bonnet at arrivals, and were on the Desert Highway before the queues at the major rental companies had even started moving.
Most trips begin at Queen Alia Airport: pick up the car and head straight out of the city to find your rhythm on the open road.
The classic route
Nine out of ten self-drive trips in Jordan follow the same route. From Amman you head south on the Desert Highway to Petra — about 240 kilometres, or three and a half hours of relaxed driving. From Petra to Wadi Rum Village is another two hours. From there, Aqaba is one more hour on a flat, paved road, with the Red Sea already visible on the horizon.
The King's Highway winds through Karak, Shobak and the canyons as a slower alternative. Travellers usually take it in the opposite direction on the return journey, if they have an extra day. It is beautiful but slow — allow a full day of daylight. Another popular detour is the Dead Sea from Amman, about an hour each way; the descent to 430 metres below sea level is more noticeable in your ears than in the engine.
A family of four completed the full loop in six days last October. They visited Petra at dawn, took a jeep tour in Wadi Rum, spent two nights in Aqaba, then dropped off the car at the airport and flew home. The equivalent tour bus itinerary would have taken three days longer.
In practice, the Desert Highway is a smooth motorway with petrol stations, cafés, clear lane markings and obvious exits. It is easier than driving in most European capitals. Many travellers plan a one-way rental: collect the car in Amman and return it in Aqaba before flying out from there. Drop-off fees usually range from 30–80 USD, which is almost always worth the time saved.
Most tourists in Jordan start their trip here
Which car and what it costs
For the classic route, a standard saloon or compact crossover is sufficient. Economy cars — Hyundai Accent, Kia Picanto, Toyota Yaris — start at 25–45 USD per day. Mid-size models with an automatic gearbox cost 40–70. A full-size SUV costs 70–120. A proper 4x4 (Pajero, Land Cruiser) starts at 90–150, but you only need one for Dana, Mujib or overnight trips off the main routes.
The key point about Jordan is that every major attraction is accessible on paved roads. Petra, Jerash, the Dead Sea and Ajloun are all on asphalt. Wadi Rum is always explored with a Bedouin jeep, so a 4x4 rental will not help you there.
Many travellers hire an SUV because they hear the word desert. However, 95% of the route is paved, and the remaining 5% is covered by a local guide who provides the 4x4.
Automatic cars cost 5–10 USD more per day than manual ones and are the first to be booked. If you want an automatic, reserve two weeks in advance — or three weeks for March to May.
Seasonality is gentle but noticeable. Peak months are March–May and September–November; book one to two months ahead. July–August brings 40 °C heat, lighter traffic and lower rates. December–February is mild by day with cool desert nights, and a couple of weeks' notice is usually enough.
Kia Sportage in Jordan
Everything went well, the car met us at the airport, a polite driver handed it over to us. Of course, I encountered a couple of minor shortcomings, but still the first one on the website says that if the deposit is in cash, it will be returned when returning the car. We were refused this; they told us to wait a week and they would send it via Western I paid the union transfer commission, we refused this option, then they asked to block the deposit on the visa card and return it in a week. To be honest, I chose this company only because I could leave a deposit in cash. The second minus is the front brake discs were a little faulty, of course it’s not very scary at low speeds you can’t feel it, but on the highway it’s a little annoying.
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Instant booking
You choose a specific car with real photos and confirm it on the spot, no waiting for a stock check.
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Direct chat with the supplier
Message the car's owner before you arrive to agree delivery, deposit and any extras.
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Free cancellation up to 7 days
Plans change, and rescheduling without losing your money should be normal.
Documents and the Jordan Pass
Documents
You need your national driving licence, passport and a credit card in the driver's name. If your licence includes a Latin or Arabic section, that is usually sufficient at the rental agency. We still recommend an International Driving Permit (IDP) for everyone: checkpoints request it more often, and insurance can be voided without one.
Licences in non-Latin scripts — Cyrillic, Greek, Arabic — do require an IDP. It is not a formality: officers may turn you back at checkpoints.
Age
Minimum age is 21 with one year of driving experience. SUVs and premium cars require drivers to be at least 25; luxury cars require drivers aged 25–30 with two to three years of experience. Drivers under 25 may pay a young-driver fee — a modest amount shown in the booking calculator.
An IDP is inexpensive and takes a day or two to obtain at home, but it can save several problems at the roadside.
The Jordan Pass
This is the country's most useful practical tip. The pass costs 70–80 JOD, covers Petra, Wadi Rum, Jerash and around forty other sites, and for stays of three nights or longer it includes your tourist visa. Without it, the visa costs 40 JOD on arrival plus a ticket at every site. Buy it at jordanpass.jo before you fly.
One guest calculated that Petra and one full day in Wadi Rum already covered the cost of the pass, while Jerash on the return journey was effectively free.
Buy the pass before you board. The border officer scans the voucher from your phone — printed copies are not required.
Rules, fines, checkpoints
Speed and fines
Cities have a limit of 60 km/h, rural roads 80 km/h, and the Desert Highway and King's Highway up to 120 km/h. Cameras and patrols are frequent on the way to Aqaba. The alcohol limit is 0.0 ‰ — Jordan is a Muslim country and enforcement is strict.
Camera fines are sent to the rental company, which deducts them from your deposit along with a service fee. A roadside officer accepts cash but always issues an official receipt. No receipt, no fine.
Police checkpoints
Checkpoints are frequent on the Desert Highway and on the approach to Petra and Aqaba. For tourists it is a one-minute procedure: passport, driving licence, IDP, and a calm answer about your destination. There is no rudeness and no on-the-spot fees.
Keep a calm tone and use basic English. "Tourist, going to Petra" plus your documents is enough. Without an IDP the conversation takes longer.
Fuel and parking
90-octane petrol costs roughly 0.95–1.10 JOD per litre; diesel is in the same range. Petrol stations on the Desert Highway are regular, but fill up in Aqaba or Wadi Musa before heading to Wadi Rum. Most suppliers operate on a full-to-full basis — photograph the gauge at pick-up and return.
Central Amman parking is paid (around 0.5 JOD per hour); hotels are usually free. Petra has a free Visitor Centre car park in Wadi Musa.
In Amman itself, you can skip driving altogether: taxis and Uber are inexpensive and save you the hassle. Most travellers collect the car on the way out of the city.
Rates in Jordan vary throughout the year depending on the season and the rental length in days.
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How expensive is renting a car in Jordan: average daily rates for a one-week car rental, across all car classes. Delivery across Jordan not included.
FAQ
The supplier usually places a hold of $300–800 on your credit card: about $300–500 for an economy car and $500–800 for an SUV. Premium cars may require more than $1,000. The hold is usually released one to two weeks after you return the car. Some local suppliers accept a cash deposit of a similar amount.
With international chains, no — a credit card in the driver's name is required. Some local suppliers accept cash for both the rental and the deposit; that option is shown on the car page before you book.
You need an International Driving Permit if your licence is written in a non-Latin script, such as Cyrillic, Greek or Arabic. It may be optional for EU, UK and US licences written in the Latin alphabet, but carrying one is still advisable because it may be requested at police checkpoints or by the insurer.
The Jordan Pass costs 70–80 JOD and includes entry to more than 40 attractions, including Petra, Wadi Rum, Jerash and Ajloun. It also includes the cost of a tourist visa if you stay in Jordan for at least three nights. It usually offers good value after visiting two major sites. Buy it at jordanpass.jo before you travel.
The standard minimum age is 21, with at least one year of driving experience. SUVs and premium cars usually require a minimum age of 25, while luxury cars may require drivers to be 25–30 and to have held a licence for two to three years. Drivers under 25 may pay a young-driver fee, which is shown when you book.
No. You may drive only as far as the Visitor Centre or Wadi Rum Village. From there, travel inside the reserve is permitted only in a Bedouin-operated 4×4 with a guide. Parking at the entrance is free, and you book the guided tour separately with a local operator.
Most travellers do not need one. The roads to Petra, Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea, Jerash and Ajloun are paved. A 4×4 is useful only if your itinerary includes permitted off-road routes around Dana or Mujib and you have suitable driving experience. Check the route restrictions with your rental supplier.
No. Standard Collision Damage Waiver excludes off-road driving, sand and unpaved tracks, including routes inside Wadi Rum and Dana. You will be personally responsible for any damage that occurs off-road. This is why travel within the Wadi Rum reserve is normally arranged in a guided Bedouin jeep.
A police officer who issues a roadside fine should give you an official receipt; do not pay cash without one. Camera fines are sent to the rental company, which deducts the amount from your deposit and may add an administration fee. At checkpoints, keep your passport, driving licence, International Driving Permit and car documents ready.
Yes. The Dead Sea is about an hour from Amman on the paved Dead Sea Highway. The descent is steep, but the road surface is good and a standard saloon is suitable. Beach resorts may charge for parking when you enter.
Free parking is available at the Petra Visitor Centre in Wadi Musa, which is the main official car park. Some nearby hotels and restaurants charge for parking. From the car park, it takes about 25 minutes to walk downhill to the Treasury. Horses and golf carts are available for visitors who do not want to walk back uphill.
One to two months ahead for peak season (March–May, September–November). In low season, two to three weeks is usually enough. Automatic gearboxes are the first thing to sell out — book those earlier.
A car with a driver can make sense for trips of less than four days, very busy itineraries such as Amman–Petra–Wadi Rum in three days, or travellers who do not want to drive. The total cost may be similar to self-drive rental once fuel and other expenses are included. A saloon with a driver costs around $80–150 per day, while an SUV costs $120–200.
Daily rates are around $25–45 for an economy car, $40–70 for a mid-size car, $70–120 for an SUV and $90–150 for a full-size 4×4. Prices are highest from March to May and September to November, and lower in July and August. For the peak seasons, booking one or two months in advance usually gives you a better price and a wider choice.
In practice, no. Rentals in Jordan do not allow crossings into Israel, Palestine or Saudi Arabia. Egypt is occasionally possible by ferry as a special arrangement. In most cases, hire a separate car on the other side.