Does Sixt require an IDP in Jordan?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Sixt in Jordan: the policy in plain terms
Asks for a licence translation for licences issued outside the EU and not in the Roman alphabet. Premium European brand with a fast-growing global network.
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 Sixt will typically ask for it at the counter. Amman and airport desks request an IDP for non-Latin-script licences.
Sixt runs a europe / 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 Sixt 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 Sixt renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Seatbelts mandatory.
- Zero-tolerance alcohol for driving.
- Desert Highway speed cameras are common.
Sixt's rental terms that affect your IDP booking
Minimum age is region-specific: typically 21 in the US (18 in New York, where an under-25 fee still applies) and 18 in much of continental Europe such as Germany and France; drivers aged 21-24 pay a young-driver surcharge of roughly USD 25-30 per day in the US (about GBP 36 per rental in the UK, around EUR 5-6 per day in markets like Cyprus), and under-25s are usually limited to economy through full-size sedans, midsize SUVs and minivans.
A credit or debit card in the main driver's name must be presented at pickup; Sixt holds a security deposit of at least USD 200 plus the rental amount on the card, with substantially higher holds on premium/high-value vehicles, and debit-card acceptance and limits vary by branch and vehicle class.
A per-rental additional-driver fee applies; extra drivers can be added at any Sixt branch during the rental provided the main driver is present and the additional driver shows a valid licence (some European markets waive the fee for a spouse/partner). The driver must typically have held a full valid licence for at least 1 year (rising to 2-3 years in higher-risk markets such as Cyprus, while Germany requires the licence be held only since at least the day before pickup).
Most Sixt passenger vehicles may be driven across borders into listed neighbouring countries (e.g. France, Germany, Spain, Italy within Europe), but you must notify and get authorisation from the pickup branch in advance; a cross-border and/or one-way drop-off fee applies, and certain vehicle classes and destination countries are restricted.
Sixt does not require an International Driving Permit everywhere, but states that where local law requires it the IDP must be carried alongside the original home licence; if the licence is in a non-Roman alphabet (Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Cyrillic, etc.) the renter must present an IDP or an official translation, and an official translation is also required if the issuing country is not party to the international driving-permit treaty.
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 →