Does National require an IDP in Jordan?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
National in Jordan: the policy in plain terms
Asks for a licence translation for non-Latin-alphabet licences and where local rules call for one. Business-traveller brand known for Emerald Aisle.
Jordan drives on the right and accepts the 1949 Geneva IDP; tourists should carry it with their national licence to rent and drive.
In Jordan specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Jordan ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so National will typically ask for it at the counter. Amman and airport desks request an IDP for non-Latin-script licences.
National runs a global network; at its Jordan desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format alongside the original licence. Jordan drives on the right, uses the JOD, and sets a minimum driving age of 18, so an IDP is the document that removes any doubt at the counter.
What to bring to the National counter in Jordan
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the 1949 Geneva Convention format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the JOD deposit; Jordan drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Jordan National renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Seatbelts mandatory.
- Zero-tolerance alcohol for driving.
- Desert Highway speed cameras are common.
National's rental terms that affect your IDP booking
The minimum age to rent is typically 21 (18 in Michigan and New York, as required by state law); renters aged 21-24 pay a "Youthful Surcharge" of approximately $25 per day (varies by location, lower in some states such as $5/day in New York) and may be restricted to certain car classes.
A major credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Amex) in the primary renter's name with sufficient available credit is required; National generally does not accept debit cards, and renters without a ticketed return travel itinerary must provide a hold/deposit typically between $300 and $400 depending on location and vehicle class.
The renter's spouse or domestic partner who meets the same age and licence requirements drives free; other additional authorized drivers cost about $15 per day (typically $5/day in New York), and must be at least 21 with a valid licence. National requires a valid, unexpired full driver's licence held by the renter; for under-25 drivers some locations require the licence to have been held for at least one year, though National does not publish a uniform minimum tenure across all locations.
Vehicles rented in the U.S. or Canada are prohibited from being driven into Mexico; U.S.-Canada cross-border travel is generally permitted but one-way US/Canada drop-offs are limited to participating locations, and rentals originating in certain Mexican cities (e.g. Tijuana, Mexicali, Hermosillo, Monterrey, Saltillo) may cross into the U.S. after purchasing an extension of liability protection (about $10 USD/day).
National states that an International Driving Permit (IDP) is commonly requested in select countries and is generally recommended when travelling abroad; specifically, overseas travelers whose licence uses a non-Roman alphabet may need to present an IDP alongside their home-country licence.
Once you collect the keys in Jordan
Jordan currently has no toll roads, so no vignette or e-toll is needed; the Desert Highway, Dead Sea Highway and King's Highway are all free to use.
Street parking is generally easy outside central Amman and Aqaba; in Amman's busy districts attendants and metered/blue-marked bays apply, and a small cash fee is common, so avoid kerbs marked for no-parking.
Speed and AI cameras on dual carriageways catch speeding and phone use; the minimum fine is about 20 JOD rising with severity, and on a rental the camera fine is forwarded to the agency, which bills the renter (often months later).
Call police on 911 and remain at the scene; a police report is mandatory for any insurance claim and for the rental company, and vehicles should not be moved until police authorise it.
Full driving guide for Jordan →