RENTING & DRIVING A CAR IN JORDAN
If you have decided to visit Jordan, get ready for the trip of your life because this Middle Eastern country really has it all, from stunning desert landscapes to one of the seven world wonders and delicious cuisine! You are bound for a once in a lifetime experience!
One of the best ways to explore this country is to get a car rental in Jordan, and we’re going to explain how you can do just safely and responsibly.
There’s one fact about Jordan that is indisputable and that is that public transportation is limited in many places. We all know that relying on public transport and even taxis to get to the best spots in the city and/or country is many times pain and in Jordan, it can be quite a time consuming and almost impossible!
After considering the options of public transport and tours we decided that renting a car gave us the most freedom to see everything we wanted to see in Jordan and allowed us to follow our own timings and itinerary. It was a great decision for our trip to Jordan as it really allowed us to follow our own schedule and see the country in a way we probably otherwise wouldn’t have.
If you are looking to rent a car in Jordan, there are many things that you have to take into account. It’s a totally different country with its own culture and different rules, so renting a car can be quite a challenge.
Read our experience of Jordan here
IS IT SAFE TO DRIVE IN JORDAN?
The short answer is yes. We had absolutely no problems on the roads in Jordan, no accidents, and no close calls. However, as with anywhere, use caution. There were some quirks to driving in Jordan that we were not used to at home and of course that means being alert and taking extra care.
On security in Jordan, travelers are worried, but that is absolutely unjustified. Jordan is one of the countries in the Middle East where it has been quiet and safe for years. The country is therefore not only popular with travelers but also has a large influx of refugees from neighboring countries. At present (2020), there are only warnings for the northern borders with Syria and Iraq. That corner, as a tourist, will probably not be on your itinerary in Jordan.
FOR EXAMPLE
a lot of the highways do not have visible lane markings so cars tend to weave in and out, straddling several lanes. Just stay alert, keep your distance, and use your mirrors.
Drivers in Jordan are not great at using their turning signals. Again, keep your distance.
Traffic in Amman can be extremely hectic and busy, it was the only place we encountered heavy traffic. Everyone is pulling out and turning at the last minute, we found just moving slowly and keeping distance was the easiest thing to do until the traffic cleared.
There are a lot of large lorries or trucks which seem to drive very fast. Be aware of them pulling out in front of you.
The main safety warning is therefore for crossing animals and thresholds. In Jordan, it is not surprising when a herd of goats, a camel, or donkey will block your way. Therefore, always be alert to the crossing animals, especially if you see them walking along the side of the road.
You will undoubtedly also encounter many police checks during your road trip. You don’t have to worry about this. When you stop at such a check, you show the car papers and your driver’s license. In most cases, you will get a sociable chat and you will receive sincere questions about your travel and destination. A fun way to talk to the locals again!
WHAT IS THE SPEED LIMIT IN JORDAN?
Highways – 120kph (75mph)
Single lane/country roads – 80kph (50mph)
Built-up areas – 60kph or less (38mph or less)
You drive on the right side in Jordan.
RENTING A CAR IN JORDAN
Of course, there are plenty of options for car rental in Jordan. After shopping around we found the best-priced car from Rental Cars
They had significantly cheaper prices, a variety of options with different suppliers, and a car with both automatic & manual configurations along with pick up points straight from the Airport.
The same goes again for your return flight, just drop your car and key and you are all set to go.
The website lists the types of cars so you can select a size in advance to suit the driving you’ll be doing. We picked a mid-size car as we were not doing any off-road activities but we would be covering a lot of mileage.
SHOULD YOU TAKE OUT FULL INSURANCE COVER ON YOUR RENTAL CAR?
This is such a debated question, people say not to bother as you’ll probably be fine and it can be a big additional expense. However, we always take out full cover for zero liability just to be on the safer side.
FIND YOUR WAY AROUND
You’ll be tempted to take your own GPS navigator or even to book one for the occasion together with your rental car.
Don’t Forget car navigators.
Last time in Jordan we took our own navigator and found that Middle East maps from big names like TomTom or Garmin are not updated fast enough to keep up with the ever-changing Jordanian road network. Think about how much time it will take for you to find your way around unofficial road works and switched one-direction streets.
Instead, buy a prepaid SIM card with a suitable data plan from any of the telecommunications shop counters right at the airport (at least Umniah or Zain have shops on the land side of the arrival hall) and use Google Maps on your smartphone. That means, better destination search and real-time traffic situation to safely take you to where you want to be as fast as possible.
We opted to go for a separate GPS provided by the car company.
There is definitely great benefit for rent a car in Jordan.
Without our Jordan rental car, we most likely would not have made it to the Dead Sea to float in a spot where the locals hang out. We couldn’t have visited the nearby hot spring across the street to rinse off – all for free.
The increase in tourism from people wanting to experience the Dead Sea means many resorts (both in Jordan and Israel) have privatized the coastline.
They charge a hefty price to use it and prevent non-guests from using their facilities.
Without a car to give us flexibility, we would have missed the more local experience – and perhaps the Dead Sea altogether.
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