What it costs
| Item | Guide | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Economy car | about 21 USD a day (a comparison-site average), deals around 15 USD | Varies with the season; March and July cited as cheaper |
| Mid-size car | about 39 USD a day | Figure from a blog |
| Large car | about 50 USD a day | Figure from a blog |
| 4x4 | about 75 USD a day | Useful for tracks, not for main roads |
| Deposit | variable | A credit card is generally asked for the deposit |
These guides come from sources that are not precisely dated: compare the rates for your dates before deciding. Add petrol and any fees for a second driver or for a one-way return to another city.
Rental conditions
- Age: at least 21; the licence must have been held for at least a year.
- Licence: your national licence; an international permit is recommended: official requirements say to carry it when driving a rental car.
- Insurance: insurance is compulsory, but extra insurance is not always necessary. Compare what each offer covers, the excess and the deposit before taking the cheapest option.
- Payment: a credit card in the driver's name for the deposit, generally.
The roads
- Desert Highway (Amman – Aqaba): fast road, about 330 km and 4 hours; the most used for Wadi Rum and Aqaba.
- King's Highway: wide, well maintained and mostly straight, with signs in Arabic and English; it is the road of the castles and Petra. See the King's Highway.
- Dead Sea road: for the resorts, the baptism site and Wadi Mujib.
Speeds according to one guide: 60 km/h in residential areas, 80 km/h in less built-up areas, 120 km/h on the highway. Drive on the right.
The pitfalls
- Speed bumps: very frequent in towns and on main roads, rarely signed. Slow down as soon as a built-up area appears.
- Animals, potholes and sandstorms on secondary roads and in the desert.
- Checkpoints: keep your passport or an ID within reach.
- Fuel: stations are common in towns but scarce in the desert: fill up before leaving a town.
- Navigation: have an offline map; signs are bilingual Arabic and English.
Car, driver or excursion?
Renting is not always worth it: for Petra from Amman, a day excursion is simpler; see Petra from Amman. A private driver costs more but avoids the deposit and the fatigue: see the private driver. For a multi-day circuit, compare with an organised tour.
| Option | For | Against |
|---|---|---|
| Rental car | Freedom, low daily price for several people | Driving, speed bumps, deposit |
| Private driver | No driving, sites combined | More expensive |
| Group excursion | Low price per person | Fixed schedule |
Jordan Pass and visa
The Jordan Pass gives the visa from two consecutive nights in the country and includes the Petra entry: see the Jordan Pass and the visa for Jordan.
Going further
Where to stay in Jordan, the private driver and Aqaba.
The Jordan Authority editorial team
