Does Thrifty require an IDP in Jordan?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Thrifty in Jordan: the policy in plain terms
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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 Thrifty will typically ask for it at the counter. Amman and airport desks request an IDP for non-Latin-script licences.
Thrifty 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 Thrifty 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 Thrifty renters should know
- Drive on the right.
- Seatbelts mandatory.
- Zero-tolerance alcohol for driving.
- Desert Highway speed cameras are common.
Thrifty's rental terms that affect your IDP booking
Thrifty's published minimum rental age is 20 at most U.S. and Canada locations (18 in Michigan, New York, and Quebec); drivers aged 20-24 (or 18-24 in those exception states/province) are charged an Underage Drivers fee that varies by location, typically around $29/day and higher (roughly $35-$52) in New York and Michigan.
A valid credit/debit card in the renter's own name is required and a hold is placed for estimated charges plus roughly $200 extra for credit cards or $500 for debit (about $350 CAD in Canada); Visa/Mastercard/Discover debit cards are accepted only on Compact through Fullsize classes (not Premium and above) and a physical card must be presented as digital-wallet cards are not accepted.
Additional drivers must meet the minimum age requirement and hold a valid licence, and an additional-driver fee applies per day; it is waived for Blue Chip Rewards members, government renters on official orders, corporate-rate customers, and the companion/driver of a physically impaired customer. Thrifty's general policy requires a valid driver's licence covering the entire rental period but does not publish a fixed minimum tenure; in practice under-25 renters are typically expected to have held a full licence for at least one year.
Driving is generally restricted to the continental United States and Canada, and a Canadian resident is prohibited from driving a U.S.-owned vehicle into Canada; one-way rentals are offered within the U.S. and within Canada subject to location/availability with a one-way drop fee.
Foreign renters must present a driver's licence issued in their country of residence together with a valid passport; if the licence is not in English, Thrifty requires both the foreign licence and a current International Driver's Permit to be presented.
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 →