Amman serves as the gateway to Jordan's ancient sites and desert landscapes. Localrent lists rental companies that operate from the airport, deliver to hotels throughout the city, and maintain offices near the main circles.
The Localrent widget above displays live inventory from local car rental companies operating in Amman, Jordan. These providers offer multiple pick-up formats to suit your arrival time and location within the capital.
Most travellers rent a car at Amman Airport - officially Queen Alia International Airport, located 35 km south of the city centre along the Airport Road. Rental company desks are in the arrivals hall, and parking is directly outside the terminal. If your flight lands late or you prefer not to wait at the airport, many local companies listed on Localrent will deliver a vehicle to your hotel in West Amman, near Rainbow Street, or around the 1st to 8th Circle districts. Some operators maintain offices in Sweifieh or near the 7th Circle, where you can collect the car during business hours.
Your voucher - issued after booking through Localrent - states the exact pick-up address, contact phone number, and what documents to bring. It also lists coverage details, liability limits, and whether a deposit is required. The rental agreement itself is signed with the local company named in the voucher, and any balance due is paid to that provider at pick-up as stated in the voucher.
Queen Alia Airport is 35 km south via Airport Road, roughly 30 minutes in light traffic.
Right-hand traffic. Speed limits: 60-80 km/h urban, 100-120 km/h on highways. Roundabouts are numbered circles in Amman.
Airport desks, hotel delivery throughout Amman, and company offices near the 7th Circle or Sweifieh.
January to March: Amman 5-15C, occasional rain. Petra and Wadi Rum are crisp. Aqaba stays mild at 18-22C.
Covers entry to Petra, Wadi Rum, Jerash and other sites, plus visa waiver if you stay three nights.
Enter your pick-up location - Amman Airport, a hotel in the city, or a specific circle - and return date in the widget above. The Localrent system retrieves offers from local car rental companies serving Jordan.
Review vehicle classes, deposit requirements, included mileage, and coverage options. Each offer card shows the rental company name, so you know who you'll be signing the agreement with.
Confirm your selection. You pay an advance payment online through the Localrent booking engine; the remainder is settled at pick-up with the rental company as specified in the voucher.
Present your voucher, passport, driving licence and payment card at the pick-up point. The local company completes the paperwork, inspects the car with you, and hands over the keys.
Local car rental companies in Amman stock a range of vehicle types suited to city driving and longer highway trips. Below is a summary of what Localrent offers typically include.
| Class | Typical models | Suits | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | Kia Picanto, Hyundai i10 | Solo or couple, urban Amman | Narrow streets, easy parking near circles |
| Compact | Kia Rio, Hyundai Accent | Short trips to Jerash, Madaba, Dead Sea | Comfortable for four, light luggage |
| SUV | Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage | Desert Highway, Petra, Wadi Rum | Higher clearance, better on rough sections |
| 4x4 | Toyota Fortuner, Mitsubishi Pajero | Kings Highway via Kerak, Dana Reserve | Recommended for mountain routes in winter |
| Minivan | Kia Carnival, Hyundai H-1 | Groups, families with luggage | Eight seats; practical for multi-stop tours |
Amman sits at the crossroads of Jordan's main highways, making day trips and overnight excursions straightforward. Winter temperatures in the capital hover between 5 and 15C, but Aqaba on the Red Sea remains warm.
| Destination | Distance | Drive time | Road |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dead Sea | 60 km | 1 hour | Highway 40 descending 400 m below sea level |
| Jerash | 50 km | 50 minutes | Highway 35 north; Roman ruins |
| Madaba | 35 km | 40 minutes | Kings Highway south; Byzantine mosaics |
| Petra | 230 km | 3 hours | Desert Highway 15; route via Ma'an |
| Wadi Rum | 320 km | 4 hours | Desert Highway 15, then Highway 5 east |
| Aqaba | 330 km | 4 hours | Desert Highway 15 all the way to the Red Sea |
The Kings Highway - Route 35 continuing south through Kerak and Dana - offers a scenic alternative to the faster Desert Highway, but expect winding mountain sections and occasional fog in January and February.
Some local car rental companies in Jordan list vehicles on Localrent that do not require a deposit at pick-up. The voucher will state 'No deposit' in the relevant field if the offer qualifies. Other providers hold a deposit on your payment card, which is released after you return the car undamaged and with a full tank. Deposit amounts and conditions vary by company and vehicle class.
Coverage, excess and liability are separate items in the voucher. You can read more about how deposit rules work across different destinations on the no deposit page.
To rent a car in Amman through companies listed on Localrent, you must present a valid passport, a driving licence held for at least one year, and a payment card in the driver's name. Licences printed in Latin script are accepted; if your licence uses Arabic, Cyrillic or another alphabet, bring an International Driving Permit alongside the original.
Minimum age is usually 21, though some luxury or 4x4 models require the driver to be 25. Cross-border travel to Israel or the Palestinian Territories is prohibited by most local rental companies; the rental agreement will specify allowed areas. Always check your voucher for the exact documents and age criteria before you travel.
"Booked a compact through Localrent for a January week in Jordan. Picked up at Queen Alia without fuss, drove to Petra and back via the Desert Highway. Car was clean, paperwork straightforward."
"Chose an SUV for the Kings Highway route to Kerak. Local company delivered to our hotel near the 3rd Circle in Amman. No deposit was required, which simplified things at pick-up."
"Used the Localrent widget to compare offers in Amman. Ended up with a 4x4 for a trip to Wadi Rum and Aqaba. Voucher was clear, and the rental company at the airport was professional."
One-way rentals between Amman and Aqaba are possible with some local companies listed on Localrent, but expect an additional fee. Check the offer details in the widget or contact the rental company after booking to confirm the drop-off location and any extra charge.
If your driving licence is printed in Latin script - English, French, Spanish, for example - you do not need an IDP. Licences in Arabic, Cyrillic or other alphabets should be accompanied by an International Driving Permit alongside the original licence.
The Desert Highway from Amman to Petra is a well-maintained dual carriageway and safe to drive year-round. Winter temperatures can drop overnight, so start early if possible. The Kings Highway is more scenic but has winding mountain sections; occasional rain or fog may slow you down in January and February.
Deposit requirements vary by company and vehicle class. Some offers on Localrent state 'No deposit' in the voucher; others hold a sum on your payment card at pick-up, which is released after you return the car undamaged. The voucher lists the exact amount and conditions before you collect the keys.
Most local car rental companies in Jordan prohibit taking vehicles across the border into Israel or the Palestinian Territories. The rental agreement will specify allowed areas. If you plan to visit both countries, you will need to arrange separate rentals on each side.
If you choose hotel delivery in the Localrent widget, the rental company will bring the car to your accommodation at the agreed time. You can take a taxi or airport bus from Queen Alia to your hotel, then collect the vehicle there. The voucher will include the company contact number so you can coordinate arrival times.
Amman sprawls across nineteen hills, and navigation revolves around the numbered circles - roundabouts that serve as district markers. The 1st Circle is near Downtown; the 7th and 8th Circles lie in the western suburbs where most hotels and restaurants cluster. Traffic is heaviest between 07:00 and 09:00, then again from 16:00 to 18:00 on weekdays.
Street parking in central Amman is tight. Look for marked bays or use hotel parking if your accommodation offers it. Shopping malls like Taj Mall or City Mall near the 6th Circle have underground car parks. When leaving the city for the Dead Sea or Jerash, follow brown tourist signs; GPS is reliable, but printed directions or a downloaded map help if mobile signal drops in rural areas.
Fuel stations are frequent along the Airport Road and Desert Highway. Most accept cash; some newer stations take payment cards. Fill up before heading into Wadi Rum or the remote stretches of the Kings Highway, where services thin out.
Ready to explore Jordan from the capital? Use the Localrent widget at the top of this page to compare live offers from local car rental companies in Amman. Enter your dates, pick your vehicle class, and book online. Your voucher will arrive by email with all the details you need for pick-up.