Lebanon Syria
Lebanon 
SyriaLast reviewed July 2026
Crossing the border
Lebanon and Syria share a land border you can cross by car. Keep your passport, national driving licence and International Driving Permit together, and check opening hours and any toll or vignette requirements before you travel.
Driving rules in Syria
- Drive on the right.
- Numerous security checkpoints.
- Carry passport, IDP and home licence.
- Drive defensively on intercity roads.
Once you're driving in Syria
Destination-specific detail sourced from national road authorities, motoring clubs and rental policies — the things that catch cross-border drivers out.
Driving on a foreign licence
Syria is a 1949 Geneva Convention signatory, so visitors should carry a valid International Driving Permit together with their original national licence at all times; the IDP serves as the certified translation presented at the country's frequent police and military checkpoints.
Tolls & road charges
There is no modern electronic toll network; intercity highways are generally untolled, though occasional checkpoints and informal fees may be encountered, and most road payments in practice are cash in Syrian pounds.
Parking in the cities
Parking in Damascus and other cities is informal and congested, commonly on-street with attendants collecting cash; there are no standardised colour-coded paid zones, and vehicles are best left in guarded lots where available.
Fines & camera enforcement
Traffic police levy on-the-spot cash fines for speeding, seatbelt and phone-use violations; enforcement is inconsistent and largely manual rather than camera-based, and driving without an IDP plus national licence can lead to problems at checkpoints.
If you have an accident
After a crash you must stop and not move vehicles until authorities arrive; contact police (general emergency 112) and obtain an official report for any insurance or legal process, noting checkpoints and language barriers make documentation essential.
Driving in the capital
Damascus city traffic is congested and unpredictable, mixing cars, motorcycles and pedestrians with little lane discipline, and numerous security checkpoints where you must stop and present your IDP and national licence.
Sources: internationaldrivingpermit.org · internationaltravelpermits.com · idaservice.org