Road trip stop
Petra
A hire car lets you decide when to arrive and how Petra fits into the rest of your journey through southern Jordan.
Jordan · Queen Alia International Airport
Car rental at Amman Airport
Compare car rental at Queen Alia International Airport — including the things that can make one rental very different from another.
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Queen Alia International Airport
Hiring a car in Jordan
Hiring a car at Amman Airport
Queen Alia International Airport is Jordan’s main international airport and a convenient place to collect a car if you are planning to explore the country independently.
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.
If your plans include places such as Madaba, Mount Nebo, the Dead Sea, Petra, Wadi Rum and Jerash, a rental car can make it much easier to connect them into one trip. If you are spending most of your stay in Amman, however, you may not need a car for the entire visit.
Jordan road trip
Where can you go from Amman Airport?
Collecting a car at the airport can work particularly well if Amman is the starting point for a wider journey through Jordan.
Road trip stop
Wadi Rum
Drive to the Wadi Rum area, leave the rental car behind and explore the desert using suitable local transport.
Road trip stop
Jerash
Head north from Amman to visit one of Jordan’s major archaeological sites and its extensive Roman-era ruins.
Also worth considering
Madaba
An easy place to incorporate near the beginning or end of a road trip, particularly if you are travelling south from the airport.
Also worth considering
Dead Sea
A rental car makes it easier to include the Dead Sea as part of a wider itinerary rather than treating it as a separate organised excursion.
Also worth considering
Mount Nebo
Mount Nebo can be combined naturally with Madaba and other stops in this part of Jordan when travelling by car.
Car rental at Amman Airport: Starting your Jordan trip
Queen Alia International Airport is a convenient starting point for exploring central and southern Jordan by car.
You can begin with Amman, visit Madaba or the Dead Sea, and continue towards Petra and Wadi Rum.
Collecting your rental car
Check your booking confirmation for the collection location, supplier contact details and instructions for finding the desk or meeting point.
Airport collection arrangements can differ between suppliers. Some may operate outside normal daytime hours, but do not assume your booked branch will be staffed when your flight arrives.
[VERIFY: terminal desk locations, off-site collection arrangements and any shuttle instructions.]
Carry your driving licence, an IDP and your passport. Confirm the document requirements with your supplier before travelling.
Your first drive from Amman Airport
Madaba is approximately 30–45 minutes from the airport. It can be a convenient first destination.
The Dead Sea is around one hour from Amman. If you are travelling towards Petra, the Desert Highway usually provides the faster route, while the King's Highway offers a slower, more scenic alternative.
Check your navigation route before departure. These times are approximate; check live journey times.
Arriving late at night
If your flight arrives after dark, consider whether a long onward drive is sensible. Roads may have limited lighting, and unexpected obstacles are harder to identify.
You may prefer to collect the vehicle the following day, depending on your plans and supplier arrangements.
Returning at another airport
You may be able to collect in Amman and return in Aqaba. Enter the different return airport when comparing prices and check any additional fee.
Read our driving in Jordan guide before you travel.
Look beyond the headline
What to check before booking
Two rentals at Amman Airport can look very similar until you examine the conditions. A cheaper-looking car can have a larger deposit, higher excess, restricted mileage or less convenient collection arrangements.
Don't compare rentals on headline price alone.
01
Total price
Look at the overall cost rather than simply the first price shown.
02
Security deposit
Check how much may be blocked on your card during the rental.
03
Insurance excess
Understand how much you could be liable for if the car is damaged.
04
Mileage
Especially important if you plan to drive south to Petra and Wadi Rum.
05
Fuel policy
Check how much fuel the car should have when you collect and return it.
06
Collection method
Check whether collection is at a terminal desk, by shuttle or elsewhere.
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.
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.
Always check the individual rental company’s conditions before driving on unpaved roads or taking a vehicle somewhere outside normal rental use.
Before you book
Car rental at Amman Airport FAQs
What is the main airport for Amman?
Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) is Jordan’s main international airport and is located south of Amman.
Should I collect my car at the airport or in Amman?
It depends on your itinerary. If you are heading away from Amman soon after arriving, airport collection can be convenient. If you are spending several days in the city first, it is worth comparing the cost and convenience of collecting the car later.
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 my hire car into Wadi Rum?
You can drive to the Wadi Rum area, but do not assume your rental car can be driven into the desert itself. Check your rental company’s conditions and leave the car at an appropriate parking or meeting point. The protected desert is normally explored using a local 4×4 with a driver or guide.
Should I simply choose the cheapest rental?
Not necessarily. Compare the final price alongside the deposit, excess, mileage, fuel policy and collection arrangements before deciding which offer suits you.
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