Why hire a car in Jordan?
Hiring a car gives you more control over a wider itinerary and makes it easier to connect places such as Madaba, Mount Nebo, the Dead Sea, Petra, Wadi Rum and Jerash without arranging each journey separately.
Jordan · Car rental
Car rental and car rental in Jordan
Compare rental options and plan the practical side of driving in Jordan, from airport collection and rental conditions to choosing a car for a route through Petra, Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea and beyond.
Driving around Jordan
Why hire a car in Jordan?
Hiring a car gives you much more control over a Jordan itinerary. You can decide when to leave, where to stop and how long to spend somewhere rather than organising the whole journey around transfers and organised tours.
Places such as Madaba, Mount Nebo, the Dead Sea, Petra, Wadi Rum and Jerash can be connected naturally as part of a wider road trip.
The important distinction is between driving to a destination and driving off-road. A normal rental can suit many established road routes, while places such as the Wadi Rum desert itself require different transport arrangements.
Airport car rental
Compare car rental by airport
Airport pages combine rental search with practical information about collection, driving conditions, vehicle choice and onward routes.
Amman · AMM
Queen Alia International Airport
Compare car rental at Jordan’s main international airport, with practical guidance for beginning a wider road trip from Amman.
Amman Airport car rental
Aqaba · AQJ
King Hussein International Airport
Compare car rental at Aqaba Airport, a useful southern gateway for Aqaba, Wadi Rum, Petra and a wider road trip through Jordan.
Aqaba Airport car rentalLook beyond the headline
What to check before booking
Rental offers in Jordan can look similar until you compare the conditions behind the price. Deposit, excess, mileage, road restrictions and collection arrangements can all affect which option suits your trip.
Don't compare rentals on headline price alone.
01
Total price and extra charges
Compare the complete rental price, including additional-driver, one-way and collection charges. Check cancellation and amendment terms before paying.
02
Payment card and deposit
Confirm accepted cards, whether the card must be in the main driver’s name, the deposit amount, how it is held and when it is released.
03
Insurance and excess
Check your potential liability for damage or theft and what the cover excludes, including tyres, glass and the underbody.
04
Fuel policy
Check the fuel level required at collection and return, and any refuelling charges.
05
Collection and vehicle details
Confirm the vehicle category and any “or similar” wording, transmission, pickup and return locations, and whether collection is by desk, shuttle or meet-and-greet.
06
Drivers and eligibility
Check licence and age requirements, whether extra drivers must be named and any additional fees.
07
Mileage
Check the allowance for longer routes to Petra, Wadi Rum or Jerash.
08
Permitted roads
Do not assume a rental can be driven into desert or off-road areas. Confirm the supplier’s restrictions for your route.
09
Cross-border travel
Do not assume the vehicle can be taken outside Jordan without permission.
Jordan by car
The freedom of a Jordan road trip
A hire car gives you the freedom to build a Jordan trip around your own route, adding places such as Madaba, Mount Nebo and the Dead Sea along the way rather than treating every stop as a separate excursion.
A wider route can continue south to Petra and Wadi Rum or north towards Jerash, with the journey itself becoming part of the trip.
That does not mean taking a rental car everywhere. At Wadi Rum, for example, leave the hire car in an appropriate parking or meeting area and use suitable local transport for the desert itself.
Choosing your car
Do you need a 4×4 in Jordan?
Do not automatically assume you need to pay extra for a 4×4 simply because you are travelling around Jordan. Your choice should depend on where you actually intend to drive.
If your itinerary follows normal roads between places such as Amman, Madaba, the Dead Sea and Petra, compare suitable standard cars as well as larger vehicles.
Reaching Wadi Rum does not mean taking the rental car into the desert. The protected desert area is normally explored using suitable local transport.
Always check the individual rental company’s conditions before driving on unpaved roads or taking a vehicle somewhere outside normal rental use.
Travel inspiration from
8 Days in Jordan: Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea
Our eight-day route through Jordan linked Amman with Wadi Bin Hammad, the Dead Sea, Jerash, Ajloun, Petra, Aqaba, Wadi Rum, Mount Nebo and the Baptism Site. Having a hire car made it much easier to connect the route independently.
Read the full 8-day Jordan itineraryBefore you book
Car rental in Jordan FAQs
Why hire a car in Jordan?
Hiring a car gives you more control over a wider itinerary and makes it easier to connect places such as Madaba, Mount Nebo, the Dead Sea, Petra, Wadi Rum and Jerash without arranging each journey separately.
Do I need a 4×4 in Jordan?
Not automatically. If your itinerary follows normal roads between places such as Amman, Madaba, the Dead Sea and Petra, a standard rental car may be suitable.
Do I need a 4×4 to visit Petra?
You do not normally need a 4×4 simply to reach Petra using the main road network. Check the conditions for your own route and rental before travelling.
Can I drive a rental car into Wadi Rum?
You can drive to the Wadi Rum area, but do not assume a normal rental car can be driven into the desert itself. Check the rental conditions and leave the car at an appropriate parking or meeting point before using suitable local transport.
Is Amman Airport a useful place to collect a car?
Queen Alia International Airport can be convenient if you plan to begin a wider road trip soon after arriving.
Should I choose the cheapest rental in Jordan?
Not necessarily. Compare the final price alongside the deposit, excess, mileage, fuel policy, road restrictions and collection arrangements.
Compare car rental
Search car rental in Jordan
Compare the price, vehicle and rental conditions before choosing where to book.
