Ireland licence 
IranCan you drive in Iran with an Ireland license?
Short answer: to drive in Iran with an Ireland license you need an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva format, carried together with your Ireland license.
Yes — to drive in Iran on an Ireland licence you should carry an International Driving Permit together with your Ireland licence. Iran expects foreign drivers to hold an IDP.
Irish drivers should carry an International Driving Permit with their licence when driving outside the EU and EEA. Your International Driving Permit is a certified multilingual translation of your existing licence, prepared in the 1949 Geneva format and carried alongside your national licence.
What driving in Iran is like
The Chalus Road (Road 59) from Karaj over the Alborz mountains to the Caspian coast is Iran's most celebrated scenic drive, with tunnels, deep valleys and dramatic viewpoints. For most visitors the real draw is the freedom to reach places trains and tours don't, on your own schedule, with the open road generally capped around 120 km/h freeways. Getting behind the wheel is the easy part: your International Driving Permit is a certified translation of your Ireland licence, carried alongside it, so rental staff and officials in Iran can read your credentials at a glance.
What applies to Ireland licence holders in Iran
| Ireland licence in Iran | |
|---|---|
| Do you need an IDP? | Yes — carry one alongside your licence |
| IDP format required | 1949 Geneva |
| Your Ireland licence script | Roman (Latin) alphabet |
| Ireland is party to | 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna |
| Drives on the | Right-hand side |
| Minimum driving age | 18 |
| Emergency number | 110 (police), 115 (ambulance) |
| Top speed limit | 120 km/h freeways |
| Currency | IRR |
Driving rules in Iran you should know
- Drive on the right amid heavy city traffic.
- Zero alcohol — alcohol is prohibited.
- Carry passport, IDP and home licence.
- Speed cameras on highways.
Local driving facts in Iran
Emergency number: 110 (police), 115 (ambulance) (112 also connects from most mobiles). Typical maximum for cars on the fastest road class: 120 km/h freeways. Posted limits always take precedence.
Tolls & road charges in Iran
Major intercity freeways (e.g. Tehran-Qom, Tehran-Karaj) are tolled, increasingly via automated free-flow camera systems billed to the vehicle owner; urban congestion-charge zones in Tehran also require a paid permit. Tolls are inexpensive in foreign-currency terms but a rental will pass them on.
Parking in Iran
Big-city parking is scarce and chaotic; Tehran uses paid zones and app/SMS-based payment in central districts, and cars parked in restricted areas are ticketed or towed. Use guarded car parks where possible, especially in central Tehran.
Penalties & enforcement in Iran
Speeding, phone use and no seatbelt are camera- and patrol-enforced with fines, and the odd/even and traffic-zone violations are charged automatically; fines are typically settled through the rental company or online rather than cash to an officer. Penalties for serious offences can escalate quickly.
If you have an accident in Iran
Contact the police immediately for any accident, even a minor fender-bender, and do not move the vehicles until officers document the scene; the road-police emergency number is 110. A police report is mandatory for insurance, and without a licence translation insurance coverage can be void.
City driving in Iran
Tehran traffic is intense and aggressive with loose lane discipline, and the central Traffic Zone and odd/even plate-restriction zone require paid permits during daytime hours on weekdays, with cameras enforcing entry.
Winter driving in Iran
Winter tyres or snow chains are needed from roughly November to March on the Alborz and Zagros mountain routes (including the Chalus Road and Tehran-north passes), where heavy snow closes roads; lowland and desert areas have no winter rules.
Fuel in Iran
Fuel is heavily subsidised and extremely cheap; petrol is sold via a rationing fuel-card system (subsidised tiers then a higher free-market price) plus diesel (gazoil). Stations are usually attended and open 24/7 on highways, but foreign cards are not accepted, so carry cash and expect the rental's fuel card to be used.
Sources: saadatrent.com, remitly.com, globalpetrolprices.com, travelandtourworld.com