Rules for overlanding in Jordan

Our summary of the country advice published by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Viaggiare Sicuri) on 23 June 2026.

Which licence you need

All vehicles — An International Driving Permit is required, either the 1949 Geneva or the 1968 Vienna model. Only hire cars, recognisable by a green section on the plate, may be driven on an Italian licence — check what applies to the licence you hold. Watch that the plate is not entirely white, because a white-plate vehicle cannot be driven by anyone who does not hold a Jordanian licence.

An International Driving Permit states the categories it covers: check yours covers what you will actually drive. A car licence does not cover a motorcycle, and a heavy camper or a truck can need a higher category.

At the wheel

Insurance — Jordan is outside the Green Card system, so you need a policy taken out locally. Short-term cover can be bought at the border as you enter.
Temporary import — A Carnet de Passage is recommended for bringing a vehicle in temporarily. Without one, the vehicle's description is written into your passport and customs cancel it and note the date the vehicle left the country. Either way an entry tax of 20 JOD is due for the temporary import permit, and if the vehicle is not yours it is advisable to carry a letter of authority from the owner with a notarised signature.
Drive on the right — Traffic keeps to the right.
Alcohol — The legal limit is 0.08%. Over it, the licence and the registration document are confiscated on the spot and you are immediately banned from driving.
Compulsory equipment — Helmets are compulsory for motorcyclists and seatbelts for front-seat occupants, while child seats are not required. A fire extinguisher and a warning triangle must be carried on board.
Jail after a crash — If a crash injures a Jordanian citizen you can be held in prison until the health authorities declare the injured person recovered. Where a pedestrian is involved the driver is always considered at fault and can be arrested. After a crash call the police on 911 and do not leave the scene before they arrive.
Nights and Desert Highway — The accident rate is high. Avoid intercity driving at night and unlit roads, where stray animals, broken-down or unlit vehicles, roadworks and unmarked humps are common. Take particular care on the Desert Highway, which has numerous roadworks, dense heavy-truck traffic and a record of fatal crashes.
Car with driver — The ministry suggests hiring a car with a driver who can also act as a guide, since the cost is usually fairly contained.

What catches travellers out

Border closures — Because of the regional emergency, land crossings into Jordan can close suddenly, so check the state of play with the authorities on both sides before travelling, and expect possible temporary closures of Jordanian airspace too. The Jordan-Syria crossing at Jaber/Nasib is open and working, but its operation follows the situation inside Syria, so verify before heading there. At the King Hussein Bridge, also called Allenby, you must buy the shuttle bus ticket in advance from the JETT outlets in Amman or through the JETT app or website.
Visa and exit tax — A visa is required: 40 JOD for a single entry valid three months, extendable by three more at any police station, obtainable online, at Amman airport or at the land borders. For the King Hussein Bridge and the southern crossing served by the ferry from Egypt, buying online beforehand is strongly recommended, since on-the-spot purchase is subject to sudden procedural changes and long queues. Jordan Pass holders staying at least three nights pay no visa fee, and leaving by a land border costs an exit tax of 8 JOD.
Register your address — Since October 2025 every foreigner staying longer than two weeks must register their place of residence, within 14 days of actually entering the country, at a public security office or any police station. Missing the deadline can bring a fine of up to 200 JOD. Transit and Hajj visa holders and Jordan Pass holders are exempt.
Drugs and photography — Trafficking and possession, including modest amounts for personal use, carry long prison terms and heavy fines. Do not photograph government buildings, bridges or military targets.

Before you rely on this

This is our summary of advice written by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Italian travellers, published on 23 June 2026. We summarise in good faith, but we cannot guarantee it is accurate, current or complete, and we take no responsibility for decisions made on the basis of it. Rules change without notice and are applied by officials at the border, not by websites. Always read the original source and the travel advice your own government publishes for Jordan before you travel. GuideMeet has no way of checking whether an individual guide meets any standard mentioned here — ask them directly.

Source: Viaggiare Sicuri — Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, updated 23 June 2026. Last checked by GuideMeet on 2026-09-20.