Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Checkpoints
There are many checkpoints in Jordan, particularly when driving along the Dead Sea
Highway near the sensitive border with Israel and the Palestinian Territories, or on the
roads that climb out of the Jordan Valley. Always stop at checkpoints. Foreigners are gen-
erally waved through without any fuss, though you may have to show your passport. As
such, always keep your passport, driving licence, hire agreement or proof of ownership
and registration papers handy.
Fuel & Spare Parts
Petrol stations can mostly be found on the outskirts of major towns, and at some junctions.
Along the Desert Highway (the only fully dual carriageway) there are plenty of stations.
There are fewer along the King's Highway, and
very
few along the Dead Sea Highway.
Unleaded petrol
(khal min ar-rasas)
is only reliably available in Amman and even then at
only a few petrol stations.
Garages with mechanics can be found in the outskirts of most towns. They can handle
most repairs. Check with your car-hire company first.
4WDs
Four-wheel drives are only necessary if you're going to remote parts of the desert, such as
Burqu. You are highly advised to have prior experience of off-road driving before at-
tempting soft sand: getting stuck in 45°C heat, for example, is a recipe for disaster if you
don't know what you're doing.
Four-wheel-drive vehicles can be hired from reputable agencies in Aqaba (
Click here
)
and Amman (
Click here
)
; they are far more expensive than normal sedans, costing at least
JD150 per day.
Hire
Hiring a car is a great way of getting the most out of Jordan, especially if travelling the
King's Highway or Dead Sea area.
There are many car-hire agencies in Amman, a few in Aqaba and one or two irregularly
staffed offices at Queen Alia International Airport and the King Hussein border with Is-
rael and the Palestinian Territories. Most car-hire agencies outside these areas usually con-
sist of an office with one guy, one desk, one telephone and one car for hire (usually his!).
The best deals are in Amman (
Click here
)
, where competition among agencies is fierce.
The following are some of the more reliable agencies. Daily rates run at around JD40 to
JD50. This usually includes unlimited mileage. You can normally drop off the rental car in
